About our Walkways:
Here are a few pictures and ideas to pique your interest and to get you thinking about different options for your walkway. Phoenix Home Services recommends using concrete, stamped concrete, flagstone or clay brick pavers for this project.
If your existing walkway is in good condition, you may be able to save some money and cap it with flagstone or clay brick pavers. If, however, you want a new, updated design, or if you r current path is in bad shape, we may need to remove it and form up a new project. If the latter is deemed necessary, Phoenix will place #4 rebar in the walk and pour 4000 psi concrete with fiber for reinforcement.
Most often, your existing stoop will not be removed. Instead, the strip up to your door will be cut so that matching material can be mortared to that step.
A major concern to be addressed is how to make the area where your walkway meets your driveway a safe transition joint. This strip can be a hazard; it must be flush so that you and your guests safety is not compromised. Phoenix solves this problem by either removing 2 to 3 foot sections of your existing walkway or, when forming your new walk, grading and “pouring in” so that this area is below the grade of the driveway. When we cap the job with either brick or flagstone the finished project will be flush with your driveway.
Brick pavers have been used in northern Virginia since Colonial Times and are a timeless choice for a walkway. If your home is brick, you will want to find a clay brick pavers that approximate the color and style of pricks on your home’s façade. Unfortunately, your choices are often limited.
After settling on suitable clay brick pavers, you will need to choose mortar colors (mortar joints are normally 3/8” and are visible between the bricks). Mortar is a mixture of fine masonry, sand, cement and water. Phoenix uses only Type S mortar, which is best suited for walkways since it complies with ASTM C91 and also reaches 2100 psi in 28 days. for some home owners concrete pavers are the best option.
Flagstone as a surface for walkways is a beautiful option. At Phoenix Home Services, we prefer Pennsylvania flagstone over all others because it is strong and is a unique sand stone found only in northeastern Pennsylvania and south central New York. Pennsylvania flagstone comes to us in two forms. One is a patterned flagstone that quarry men cut into squares and rectangles. It has a uniform shape. The second is an irregularly-shaped flagstone and includes Tennessee Buff, Tennessee Blue, Colorado Red, Tennessee Plum, and Carolina Rose. Additional care should be taken with the latter group as they are not as strong (i.e. relative to the Pennsylvania flagstone).
On many occasions, we counsel our clients to visit local yards to see the variegated nature of flagstone. It is a natural product that can vary in color from pallet to pallet. Once laid, the different hues complement each other to create a beautiful canvas.
After your stone has been selected, it is set in Portland cement (the result of a chemical process that combines limestone and other materials) and sand. The final process includes acid washing the walkway and surveying the surrounding project area for grading and repair. We apply topsoil and seed these areas, if necessary. Finally for an additional charge and after 60 days we can seal your project with sealant.
Your walkway can add incredible curb appeal to your yard. Why not let Phoenix Home Services, a company with decades of experience, add grace and beauty to your home.
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