If you have a slate walkway, you’ll want to ensure that the slate doesn’t crack due to the distress caused by frequent usage and age. You’ll also want to do your best to prevent the slate pieces from shifting, which often happens as the soil beneath settles and compacts. To avoid such shifts and cracks, there a few precautionary measures you should take to care for your path:
1. To prevent dirt from settling into the joints, keep your nearby gardens and lawns at a level lower than the slate.
2. At least once a year, use a low-PSI pressure washer to remove any mould that has formed between the joints.
3. If you’d like, you can put a sealant on top of your path every year, but this step can make your slate look less natural, more artificial.
Keep in mind, however, that there is very little you can do to prevent the cracks that appear as a result of weather. The best measure you can take is to ensure that the soil and gravel beneath your walkway are extremely well compressed before the walkway is installed; even with this measure, cracks will likely appear over the years.
You may choose to deal with such cracks by sealing them with cement, or with having a partial removal and re-installation of your walkway.
In our experience, clients who have walkways installed directly atop their soil usually have to redo their walkways in part or whole soon after the installation, often within a year or two of the installation. Although it costs more to have a concrete foundation beneath your walkway, it will save you money in the long term.
Liberato Stonework 