How to Put In a Bluestone Slate Walkway

Sketch a few ideas on paper so you can decide what layout you like best. Chances are, your yard already has some form of a natural path that will give you something to go by. While installing a bluestone walkway gives you the chance to direct the traffic flow through your yard, it's usually best not to compete with pets, kids or Mother Nature when it comes to choosing the most natural route.

Outline the path with stakes and string according to your drawing. Stretch the string tightly across the stakes at the anticipated height for the finished walkway. This outline will serve as a guide for excavating the soil and leveling the stones.

Dig out the soil to a level of 6 inches below the surface. Use a level to ensure the soil level is consistent in all areas.

Compact the soil with a plate compactor. If you don't own one, most home improvement stores will rent them for a daily fee. If possible, find a compactor equipped with a water tank that moistens the soil while it works to ensure the soil is as compact as it can be.

Spread a 1-inch layer of bluestone dust over the compacted soil. Use a rake to spread the dust evenly throughout the area.

Compact the dust with the plate compactor. If your compactor does not have a water tank attachment, ask a friend to moisten the dust ahead of you as you compact it. This will prevent the dust from settling and making your walkway uneven in the future. Allow the dust to dry fully before moving on to the next step.

Lay a second layer of dust and repeat the compacting process. Do this a third and final time once the second layer is dry.

Position the first stone in one corner of the walkway. If your walkway leads up to the house, start at the near end and work away from the building. This step is particularly important if you are laying square bluestone tiles, because the positioning of the rest of the tiles will depend on the placement of the first one. Carefully check to make sure the stone is level and positioned at the proper angle. Then pound the stone into place with a rubber mallet and check again.

Lay the rest of the bluestone, leaving the gaps about the width of a pencil between each stone. Check each stone to make sure it is level with the other stones. If you find that one of the stones is uneven, hit a few extra times with the mallet, or lift it up and add a little more bluestone dust underneath it. Make any necessary cuts to the stone using a power cutter with a diamond grit blade. A circular saw will also suffice, but be prepared for large amounts of dust.

Sweep bluestone dust into the gaps between the stones. Gently wet the dust to allow it to settle into place.