We've never had a real walkway to the back gate, just this path between the garage and the beach daisies. 
Lately I've been thinking that a formal walkway would be nice.
Saturday night, while walking the dog, we spied a pile of slate out with our next-door neighbors' trash.
Mind if we grab it? I texted her.
Enjoy, she replied.
Plus there was more that hadn't yet been dragged to the curb.
So we now have this pile of slate.
How to best turn it into a walkway? What base material do we want to use? I haven't yet test fit the pieces, but I'm thinking/hoping there's enough.
We're in Florida with rather sandy soil. The path's use would be rather minimal.
I'd be tempted to just plop them down and see what happens. Adjust if there are any that are wobbly or that stand higher than the rest.
I'd go with a pad of 919 screenings as a base.
I did a brick patio with just a sand bed, it has held up well for the past few years.
Its like painting a car. The prep work is far more difficult than the actual install of the slate. Its all about the base.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Limestone sand basically. It'll form your base as pointed out above. I get it in a 5 gallon bucket at my local stone place for like $2. Maybe $3 now with inflation.
Also looking at above I'd want something done about those pvc pipes. I'm not an expert or anything but I did sleep last night.
Crushed limestone for a base, tamp it down, set the stone and put more limestone between and sweep it in.
You fancy Floridians and your lack of frost depth.
In reply to Stampie :
Do I want to ask what's wrong with my PVC pipes?
And thanks for the help. Sounds like I need some limestone sand. And my shovel.
David S. Wallens said:
In reply to Stampie :
Do I want to ask what's wrong with my PVC pipes?
They seem to be a little intrusive into your new to you cool ass slate walkway.
In reply to Stampie :
Ah. Well, the path will have to deal with it. :)
eastpark said:
I'd be tempted to just plop them down and see what happens. Adjust if there are any that are wobbly or that stand higher than the rest.
I've seen it done that way and the results weren't pleasing to look at nor to walk on. I've seen some nice ones with grout or cement between the pieces. Maybe the slate was set in motar.
Establish the plane of the walkway, shoot some lines and lay it out. You want it flat, and pitched away from buildings.
Dig it down a few inches - enough for 3-4" of base minimum, lay down some traffic bond (basically limestone of different sizes and clay to keep it all together, also called "road base" depending on where you live)
Tamp down the traffic bond,,then an inch of sand, then lay your tops. These things look pretty thin, so try to get a good feel for the average thickness and use that in your calculations
Once its all done, you can use sand or chemically bonded sand between the pieces. The chemically bonded is nice if you dont want weeds or nature coming up between the stones as frequently.
My opinion - in Wisconsin that slate would be way too thin to use for a walkway, it would look like the surface of the moon in a matter of months because the stones dont have enough weight. My limestone patio is 2-3" thick pieces x 18 square minimum. Things are likely different in Florida
