AboutMarc Chapelle, ASLA Expertise As a licensed Landscape Architect, I can answer general questions about style and design, ideas and suggestions for site amenities, larger site-planning issues, or recreation and park design.
IF YOU JUST WANT A PLANT SUGGESTION GO HERE: http://www.growit.com/PlantInfo/LandScape.htm
I prefer you ask somebody else why your petunias are not as perky as they should be...I'd LOVE to tell you how can use those petunias to increase your home's value!
Experience Member, American Society of Landscape Architects (ALSA.org); Past clients have been mostly contractors, developers and local civil engineering/architecture firms, plus the occasional homeowner. Currently, I design recreational facilities for the National Park Service (DOI).
I am located in the dry Great Basin area (Greater Nevada/Utah), so the use of landscape materials OTHER than plants is emphasized. As a licensed Landscape Architect on the East and West Coasts, I have been in practice over 20 years.
Organizations ASLA (ASLA.org)
Education/Credentials BSLA in Landscape Architecture, 1989
Many additional seminars, educational venues, and classes (both taught & attended)
Awards and Honors Best Multifamily project, 1993
Best Model Home Landscaping, 1993
Question The stones outside my screen enclosure have crushed granite between the stones. This keeps washing away in the rain and I am left with mud between the stones. I saw an episode on HGTV where crushed granite was mixed with Quikrete concrete mix swept into the gaps between the stones, watered and the crushed granite and concrete hardened to create a form of "grout". What I missed was the portion or mix. Would this work to solve my problem of the granite washing away and what would the formula be? Thanks so much
Answer Hello, Rockie – I searched the HGTV websites (HGTV.com & DIY.com), but didn’t find the program you were referring to on either. I had not heard of mixing quickrete with the crushed rock to create a “permanent” joint. It should work though, IF you have the correct proportions. I would think that it may cause a bit of discoloration if not applied correctly, as the lime dust may "bond" to the actual paver surface, graying the color down in the process.
I have heard of polymer products that you can mix into the sand (or as a direct substitute for the sand), that achieves the same thing - No erosion of the mortared joints.
The definitive source on “all things pavers” is the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's website, ICPI.com They have a homeowner’s section for general installation - no mention of the quickrete method.
If you are looking for the polymer material, I mentioned, you can go to their on-line magazine (or you can subscribe, and they’ll send you one every month!) and peruse the ads. I'll save you some time. Here are 6 manufacturers of this polymer joint-stabilizing material I'm refering to:
Polysweep, found at sek.us.com
Super Sand, at supersandbond.com
Gator Dust, found at gatordustbond.com
For a “green” method, Envirobond, at envirobond.com
Techniseal, at techniseal.com
Surebond joint stabilizer, at surebond.com
I think, from what you’ve described, you'll want the “gator dust” as it is designed for larger gaps in pavers. If you want to “go cheap” using quickrete & stone dust, then you’ll have to search yourself at HGTV.com, as I came up empty. I'd use caution if you do go that route, because of the "discoloration" potential I mentioned - if the pavers are already "gray" colored, maybe not so much an issue.
