Winter Walkways: Designing Durable Paths with Stone & Gravel

Winter can be a treacherous season to navigate your property, with snow and ice presenting a significant safety risk. By designing durable, slip-resistant paths and walkways around your home, you can create a safer environment for traversing outside through the cold months ahead. Garrity Stone, Inc. has an extensive selection of stone materials available for your project that will not only make your outdoor space safe for walking but will also enhance your curb appeal. Let’s take a look at a step-by-step guide for creating the perfect winter walkway with our premium stone products.

Step 1: Plan Your Walkway Design

The first thing you need to do is plan out your walkway design and decide whether you want it to be straight, curved, or winding. Consider the areas of your property that get the most foot traffic, as well as which elements you want to connect together. You'll need to measure the length and width and use our aggregate coverage calculator to determine the amount of materials you will need.

Step 2: Prepare the Ground for the Walkway

You'll need to prepare the ground to ensure a sturdy, long-lasting walkway. You can do this by removing grass, plants, and debris within the path’s boundaries. Next, you'll want to dig about 4-6 inches deep to accommodate the base layer, gravel, and stone. Be sure to check the ground to ensure the area is even, and level it out where necessary.

Step 3: Create a Solid Base for Your Walkway

A solid base will prevent shifting and cracking in freezing conditions. You can first lay down landscape fabric to prevent weed growth and help with drainage. Then, add a gravel aggregate and spread it to a thickness of about 2-3 inches across the base, verifying that it is nice and compact. Our gravel will provide excellent drainage and prevent water from pooling and freezing.

Step 4: Place the Stones You Have Chosen

You are now ready to place your flagstones or stone slabs. It would be best to choose a textured stone to improve slip resistance. Lay your stones on the gravel in your desired pattern, and be sure that each piece is stable and level. You can test the stones out by walking on them to ensure they don't wobble. Also, adjust the gravel underneath them as needed.

Step 5: Fill in the Gaps & Add Finishing Touches

Fill in the gaps with a filler to stabilize your walkway. We offer a variety of aggregate materials, such as gravel, crushed limestone, or sand, that you can use for this purpose. Lastly, add any finishing touches you desire, such as landscape boulders or stone edging to frame your walkway and prevent gravel from spilling over the edge.

Choose Your Stone Products Today

Let Garrity Stone help you find the right products for your winter walkway project. Contact us today at (317) 546-0893 to learn more about our available stone products. We serve residents in Indianapolis and Fishers, Indiana, along with the surrounding communities, and we can also arrange for an out-of-state delivery.