Help with stone installation job *Pics*

[Mack77]

I'm trying to get some input from guys who have installed crushed red stone before. The majority of my customers call for mulch and riverstone. This will be the first time i'm using crushed red stone. (1/2" - 3/8" in size) The customer also has plastic edging that was installed when the home was built 5 years ago. In 5 years the ground has settled and in my opinion the edging looks like hell.

Picture of the stone:
http://www.landcareassociates.com/im...d-3quarter.jpg

Picture of the edging (Similar style 6' plastic strips, nailed into the ground)
http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2008/0...ing01_lead.jpg

I've always taken a spade and dug out the edges for my landscaped mulch beds, and they come out great. I can design the bed anyway I want, and if the ground settles or the edge fades, i'll just dig again or use a stick edger to refresh. But this is with mulch. Would you dig out an edge with red stones, or is a plastic edge needed?

Thank you!!

[capelawncare.com]

I always use concrete curbing with stone

[bigslick7878]

Originally Posted by Mack77

I'm trying to get some input from guys who have installed crushed red stone before. The majority of my customers call for mulch and riverstone. This will be the first time i'm using crushed red stone. (1/2" - 3/8" in size) The customer also has plastic edging that was installed when the home was built 5 years ago. In 5 years the ground has settled and in my opinion the edging looks like hell.

Picture of the stone:
http://www.landcareassociates.com/im...d-3quarter.jpg

Picture of the edging (Similar style 6' plastic strips, nailed into the ground)
http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2008/0...ing01_lead.jpg

I've always taken a spade and dug out the edges for my landscaped mulch beds, and they come out great. I can design the bed anyway I want, and if the ground settles or the edge fades, i'll just dig again or use a stick edger to refresh. But this is with mulch. Would you dig out an edge with red stones, or is a plastic edge needed?

Thank you!!

I would dig out the edge and then put the plastic edge in there where you could not see it, but it kept the stones seperated from the dirt.

One other thing, if you are going to be shoveling that stone it is nothing like dirt or mulch. Much harder work, you will see when you try to stick that shovel in the pile.

[Mack77]

Thanks...

So what i'm learning here is that you need a physical "edge" with stone beds. It looks like concrete paver edging was used to construct the bed line, and over time the rugged plastic has popped out and just looks bad. How would you deal with this? Re-Edge the whole property with a spade and install something like this:

http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/03/25/..._2c_new_lg.jpg

Also thanks for the heads up on the stone weight. I know, it's going to be a rough job. How much does a typical yard of red 1/2" - 3/8" stone cover?

Thanks!

[bigslick7878]

Originally Posted by Mack77

Thanks...

So what i'm learning here is that you need a physical "edge" with stone beds. It looks like concrete paver edging was used to construct the bed line, and over time the rugged plastic has popped out and just looks bad. How would you deal with this? Re-Edge the whole property with a spade and install something like this:

http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/03/25/..._2c_new_lg.jpg

Also thanks for the heads up on the stone weight. I know, it's going to be a rough job. How much does a typical yard of red 1/2" - 3/8" stone cover?

Thanks!

Yeah that is the edging, dig enough depth so that the top edge is level with the ground and you can hardly notice it.

As far as the stone they usually sell it in tons not yards.

1 ton will cover about 210 sq ft an inch thick.

1 yard will cover about 325 sq ft an inch thick.

One note, the larger the stone the harder the work. If they have a choice in sizes get the smaller one. Much easier to shovel.

[shovelracer]

I'm confused they have paver edging for their beds?

[Mack77]

The current edging the customer has in the beds is 6' strips of straight plastic that are nailed into the ground. This edging is used for their pavers and the beds. So I can only assume it's the wrong type.