Stone Selection
Granite, limestone and local fieldstone behave differently underfoot and against frost. How to match stone to a path's use and drainage.
Read articleDurable garden paths, built stone by stone.
Practical reference notes on selecting stone, preparing a base that resists frost heave, and laying garden walkways that hold up through Canadian freeze–thaw cycles.
Core topics
Three stages of a lasting path
Most path failures trace back to one of three stages. These notes treat each one separately.
Base Preparation
Excavation depth, granular sub-base and compaction. Why frost heave drives base depth in much of Canada.
Read articleLaying Techniques
Setting bed, jointing and edge restraint for flagstone, stepping stones and dry-laid surfaces.
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Why it matters here
Built for freeze–thaw ground
In a large part of Canada the ground freezes and thaws repeatedly each year. Water trapped under a path expands as it freezes and lifts whatever sits above it. A path built on bare soil tends to tilt and separate after a single winter.
The notes on this site keep returning to the same principles: move water away from the path, build on compacted granular material rather than topsoil, and leave the joints free-draining. These are long-standing dry-stone practices rather than products.
Contact
Questions about a path project
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