1st tractor project

Fly_Rodr · Aug 20, 2002

Kevin,

Very nice work, I need to do a small walkway, thanks for providing some inspiration. It looks like there were some pretty large pieces (heavy) in the walkway.

Larry

GarageSmoker · Aug 20, 2002

You should be very proud of the job you did! Looks Great!

Thanks for the pictures. It helps us first timers see how a project evolves, start to finish.

GS

MDNY · Aug 20, 2002

Kevin,

Very nice work indeed. I really like the stone. It is giving me ideas of what to do after we are in for a while and I get my tractor (first I hope) to install a nice walk like yours.

I noticed your propane tank out in the front, how far away is yours and how hard was it for the gas lines to be installed????

Kevin_in_Mi · Aug 21, 2002

MDNY,
My propane tank is roughly two hundred feet away from where it enters my home. The location was my preference. I guess it just depends on how much you're willing to spend on having the copper line buried. The company contracted by my gas co. charged me close to $150.00. Sure wish I was able to dig the ditch myself but I don't have anything to dig as deep as our code requires. They burried the line about 3' deep. Just out of quriosity, what does propane cost in your neck of the woods? Just got a quote. 58.9 cents/gal. on the first fillup, then it goes to a dollar locked for the next year.

snowman · Aug 21, 2002

Kevin;

I know you weren't asking me, but I just signed a one year contract for propane at $1.09/gallon (central new york). When I first moved here, I had the same kind of deal you did - at the time, I think they charged me $.49 for the initial fillup and then regular price after that.

8NTX · Aug 21, 2002

Hi Kevin - it looks like you did a fine job of putting in your flagstone walkway. I just completed a mini-job of filling in some small flowerbeds around the pool with the flagstone leftovers from the pool deck and spa. They have been taking up room in the garage for the last few years and we got tired of the dog pushing the dirt into the pool.

I plan a slightly larger flagstone project - a short walkway and patio at our lakehome. The local rockyard charges $160 per ton. I want a very non-manicured natural look so I plan to let them run "wild" around the edges. We have sugar sand, so I will simply use the back blade on the tractor to smooth and level the areas then just fit them together as good as we can. We don't plan on using any mortar other than dry mix swept into the crevices and then wet down - at the advice of the rockyard. This should keep some of the weeds out. I was also told of a type of grass seed (can't remember the name) that you could sow into the cracks after filling with sand. Then you just mow over the walk and patio with the lawnmower.

MDNY · Aug 22, 2002

Kevin & Snowman,

I decided to go with Level Propane www.level.com as my neighbor is using them and had good things to say. I have to send my contract back, but I have a few questions about the types of serivce (fill ups) available and what the costs are. i was quoted $.94 9/10 per gallon good until 3/03. After that I can lock in, buy ahead etc. I need a 500 gallon tank and they will need to run about 50-60FT of tubing, they are running $1.00/foot tube & install so not bad. I have to put it on the side of my garage as that seems to be the best spot.

Snowman, who did you sign with and what are you getting?

Kevin_in_Mi · Aug 29, 2002

Thanks to all of you for the kind words. This was a monumental project to say the least and It's the feeling of accomplishment that keeps us all going. I frequent this site daily with enthusiasm and anticipation on everyone elses projects, questions and all of the replys. Thanks again for letting me share with you all my endeavor and I hope I inspired someone to build their own flagstone walkway.

Kevin