Contractor for stone walkway?

I did a search and didn't find much, so I'm posting a new thread hoping someone will have some suggestions.

We are looking to add a stone path/walkway from the driveway, around the yard and through the gate back to the shed. We'd also -- eventually, depending on cost -- like to have the walkway from the driveway to the front door and up the steps redone with stone, or faux stone, or something nicer looking than the lovely concrete we have now.

If you've had this done and could recommend someone (or even tell me someone worth avoiding) I would appreciate the input. Thanks!

 

Hi there - last year we did a WHOLE lot of landscaping to include a stone entrance, two paths and a patio... 1) I'd stay away from Meadows Farm - way too over priced, 2) Blue Mount Nursury - still pricey...3) we went w/ August Landscaping, here is Ray's email augustllc@verizon.net.

I am pretty certain he has done at least 4 projects in Southern Walk since he completed our last fall...if you want to take a look at his work - we are at the corner of Ridgeway and Claiborne Pkwy. Let me know if you need his #. Good luck!

 

Stamped concrete. Looks as good, much less expensive. We used C.J. Salzano in Chantilly.

 

I'm interested in doing something similiar but have no idea what the costs are like for this type of work. Can anyone clue me in regarding possible ranges? I'd love to find a good landscaper to get the front yard looking better.

 

Ignore my previous post. I found the other threads with specifics.

 

I should add that I was hoping the same person/company could do the walkway AND some landscaping around it, rather than having to use two different outfits.

I did a search and didn't find much... typicalfamilyoffour, what did you find, if you don't mind sharing? Clearly I missed it.

 

The thread was titled "Suggestions for patio contractors" and prices for concrete and stone were provided. The thread wasn't about landscaping companies though.

I haven't found many recommendations for landscapers and I've been looking for a year. I called one company I saw working around several homes near Mill Run but they insist on doing the implementation as well as the design. I think I want to pay for a master plan and implement myself. It looks like the best way to keep the costs reasonable. I don't remember that company's name. I can try to hunt that down if you're interested. If anyone has any comments about attempting to implement a master plan themselves, I'd love to hear them.

A friend suggested River's Edge Landscapes and I got an estimate of $15k for my front yard. That astounded me. We have sizable plant beds and several trees already in place. Her price included doing something to the front sidewalk, either slate or stamped concrete, and a stacked stone wall on one end. I just wanted some tweaking to give the yard a bit more curb appeal.

Also, somewhere in these forums someone recommended Main Street landscapes in Leesburg for a master plan.

 

I know Potomac Patio just gave my neighbor a crazy estimate for a stone walkway/stoop. I think it was $4300-$4800. Lots of people here have worked with Potomac Patio and love them.

 

yeah. i just was told $5k for 250 square feet. ouch.

 

I was quoted the same amount. To do a stamped concrete overlay was less than $1800 and looks fantastic. Anyone who wants to see it, feel free to stop by.

 

Cliff... I'm copying and pasting from an email I received from one contractor:

"Hi,
We do not recommend using stamped concrete because we have yet to see a
patio or walkway of this type that does not crack in our area. This is due
to the extreme freeze and thaw cycles that we have.

A 250 sq. ft. paver patio would cost roughly $5,000
Paver patios are not subject to the cracking because they are constructed in
a manner which allows them to move with the freeze and thaw."


Of course anyone would try to sell me a more expensive product... I get that. But I wouldn't want to save money on the front end only to have to replace it (or live with cracks) a few years down the road. How long has yours been in place? No cracks yet I assume?

Thanks for the info.

 

Oh, and thanks for the referral, thepea. I expect to see Ray here next week to discuss design ideas and costs.

 

Could be Steve, but in the first few months we were here just about all the concrete driveway edges (what are they called?) were replaced on my street due to cracking. So we do know it cracks... that's a fact of life. Maybe our garages are thicker, or something? I don't know. Just trying to gather all the facts, good and bad, to make a wise decision.

Which probably means I'll end up doing nothing anyway.

 

Originally we looked into concrete (since our driveway it now cracking) and decided to use man-made slate stone (Devon Stone)...The base has over 22" of gravel tamped down with sand. In the event that one of the pavers cracks (it has a 30 year warranty) that stone can easly be replaced vs tearing up the entire contrete pad. ***just a thought ***...we put this Devon Stone on a 500 Sqf patio plus our front walk way.

 

SHarse - We went the stamped concrete route and have no complaints. Friends of ours also used stamped concrete which has been in place for over 3 years in these "harsh" winters with no issues. Everyone is going to give you their sales pitch - I'm guessing the paver company did not mention the fact that pavers can come loose and they'll charge you $50 a pop to fix them? I would highly recommend you calling CJ Salzano, as someone previously mentioned, to get a take on the stamped concrete route. So many decisions - best of luck! We have a stamped walk and patio should you want something to take a look at...

 

We used Potomac Patio for a slate walk. It's beautiful and well worth the money.

 

If you're having the whole patio done, by that I mean the slab poured and the stamped impression on top, it will most likely only crack if they did a poor job pouring the slab, not because of the stamping.
If, like what I did, you have the stamped concrete overlayed onto an existing concrete walk, there is the chance of cracks occuring in the joints in the existing walk. We have a cobblestone pattern, so if it were to crack, it would be in the joints of the "fake" cobblestones above the sidewalk joints.
Haven't had cracks yet, but we've only had it less than a year. Several of our neighbors have had it done and 3 years later, still no cracks.

By the way, this area doesn't even come CLOSE ti having "Extreme freeze and thaw cycles." Go live in New Hampshire where the winter frost line is 3-4 feet down!!

 

sharse-
Feel free toi stop by and look at my walk.
21454 Basil Court.
The house across the street had their patio done in stamped concrete.
I can take you to another house that had their front walk and rear patio done.