Whether it’s a patio area around your pool, a new driveway, or a walkway to your front door, a beautiful interlocking stone feature can be a wonderful addition to your home. Interlock can add significantly to the value and curb appeal of your home and provide a versatile and easy-to-maintain place for your outdoor activities. Interlock stone projects are highly customizable and can be created to meet your exact specifications.
The most common way to install interlock is to dig an area at least 6” deep, fill the space with ⅞” crushed stone, and level off the top with stone dust. Greely Sand & Gravel offers both products to provide a solid base for your interlock project. As you add gravel to the space, tamp and level every two to three inches to compact the material. Once all the gravel is spread, tamped, and levelled, spread the stone dust on top to create a 1”-2” thick layer across the whole area.
Another option for the top layer is concrete sand, which allows for easier levelling and better drainage compared with traditional stone dust. However, either product will achieve the desired result.
Another alternative is the Premium Bedding Stone, also known as the High Performance Bedding Stone. This stone performs the same function as crushed stone and stone dust but in one convenient product! When contained by edging material, the particles in Premium Bedding Stone provide a very rigid and stable surface where you can place your interlocking stone. Additionally, Premium Bedding Stone drains water very effectively and wicks the water away, especially when well-compacted. Because this method requires only one product, it may be a good option for those looking for an efficient, simple way to create a patio base in an enclosed area.
When you have your level, compacted base, it is time to lay your interlock! This is where your creativity and personal preference can play a huge role. There are many different options on the market regarding interlocking stones’ colour, size, and shape. We recommend laying out your stones roughly in the pattern you plan to follow before placing them on the base to ensure that you like the arrangement. Try our BEAST Plastic Paver Edging to improve alignment when installing your interlock.
Once this work is complete and you’ve laid your patio stones, we recommend filling the joints (empty spaces between the stones) with polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is a specially formulated mixture of sand and high-performance polymer. This product can be used for joints up to 4” in width. In addition to providing a stable joint between your patio stones, this product also reduces weed growth and the formation of ant hills and prevents erosion. We offer this product in four colours: beige, grey, white, and black. Spread and sweep the sand into the joints of your interlock and wash over with a hose to fill the joints. Once this is done and allowed to dry, your patio will be ready to use!
You can pick up any of the products mentioned above at our convenient landscape depots, or have them delivered to your house by dump truck load or in a Greely Gardening Bag. Our Greely Gardening Bags come in three sizes - Full Yard, Half Yard, and Quarter Yard - so you can order the exact amount needed for your project. If you have more questions about the products, please visit our online store or call us at 613-821-3003 to talk to one of our qualified team members.