I have this pathway made up of hard tamped down soil and small rocks. It holds up well, even during heavy rain, but it's uncomfortable to walk on without shoes. I want to lay down some stone slabs to make it smoother. Do I need to dig up the existing pathway to prepare for this? And what kind of base is recommended for the slabs, and how thick should it be?
2 Answers
It's hard to say for sure from the pictures, but if your gravel is really compacted, you might not need to dig anything up. You could just put down 2'x2' stone slabs that are at least 60mm thick, using some leveling sand to help with smoothness. Just make sure that the surface is level before laying down the stones!
Sounds like you have solid groundwork! If the gravel is compacted well, simply adding the stone slabs on top might be enough. Just remember to add leveling sand underneath to create a smooth surface. It typically should be about an inch thick for good support.