Flagstone Patio and Walkway, Drainage, and Timber Retaining Wall Installation in Kensington, MD
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Scope of Work
Project Overview
This Kensington home had a front yard that graded the wrong way. Water ran toward the foundation, collected against the retaining wall and flower beds, and got stuck in a trench near the front of the house. The hardscape had settled and worn down too, with a side path reduced to broken stepping stones scattered across bare, weedy ground.
The homeowner wanted the water problem fixed and the worn hardscape brought back to a clean, cohesive look. We regraded the base under the existing stone to move water away from the house, restored and extended the Pennsylvania blue flagstone, built new walkways with river rock drainage to solve pooling along the sides, and replaced the old scalloped planters with a timber retaining wall.
Before / AFTER
Site Conditions
The Property and Site Conditions
The main issue was grading. The front yard sloped toward the home instead of away from it, so runoff pooled near the foundation and along the flower beds rather than draining off to the sides.
Two side walkways had their own water problems. Along the three-foot path on one side, water pooled around the existing stepping stones with no clear way to drain. On the other side of the house, a long run toward the backyard gate also held water, which made that stretch difficult to use.
The existing hardscape added another layer to the work. The Pennsylvania blue flagstone in the front and along the left walkway had to be lifted so the base could be corrected, then reset to match. The old scalloped planters along the front walkway were dated and needed to be replaced with something more structural.
In Progress
ASSESsMENT
What We Did
Front Flagstone Patio Regrading and Expansion
We started by lifting the existing flagstone in the front patio area so we could correct the base underneath. The crushed gravel base was regraded and compacted to help move runoff away from the foundation and toward the yard edges.
The existing flower beds near the house were removed so the front area could be converted into a more continuous flagstone surface. This allowed the hardscape to run cleanly along the foundation instead of being broken up by planting strips that could collect water, mulch, and debris.
Once the grade was corrected, we reset and realigned the Pennsylvania blue flagstone so the patio tied back into the surrounding hardscape more evenly. The front flagstone was also power washed so the reset stones blended better with the existing materials.
Right-Side Flagstone Walkway and French Drain
On the right side of the home, we removed the outdated stepping stones and installed a new three-foot-wide Pennsylvania blue flagstone walkway. This created a smoother, more usable path connecting the existing flagstone area to the front patio.
A French drain was installed underneath the walkway and connected to a nearby downspout to help redirect runoff away from the side of the home. River rock was added along the walkway edges to help manage surface water, protect the border, and give the path a clean finished look.
Timber Retaining Wall and Raised Planting Bed
Near the right-side walkway, we removed the old planter setup and worn out timber border. The area had black planter pots, bare ground, weeds, and an aging edge that needed to be cleaned up and rebuilt.
We built a new timber retaining wall with fresh lumber, connected directly into the existing timber at the corner. The wall runs about 15 feet, stands roughly a foot and a half high, and was reinforced with steel ground anchors and structural ties.
Behind the wall, we backfilled with compacted soil and topsoil, then mulched the raised planting bed. This turned the cluttered strip into a cleaner, more stable area that frames the walkway and helps define the side yard.
Left-Side Flagstone Walkway and Drainage Corrections
Along the left side of the home, we lifted the existing flagstone walkway so the base could be repaired and corrected. The crushed gravel underneath was regraded and tamped to improve water flow away from the foundation.
We reset about 55 square feet of Pennsylvania blue flagstone along this side walkway. The stones were leveled, realigned, and adjusted so the walking surface felt more even and tied back into the surrounding hardscape properly.
Drainage trenches were also cut toward the nearby downspouts, including the buried downspouts near the walkway. This gave water a better path out of the problem areas instead of allowing it to sit along the side of the house.
Long Flagstone Walkway to the Backyard Gate
For the long side path, we built a new three-foot-wide Pennsylvania blue flagstone walkway running about 53 feet down to the backyard gate. This replaced the old uneven path with a more permanent walkway that matched the rest of the flagstone work around the property.
The walkway was built on a reinforced base and installed carefully around existing tree roots. It was graded downward and to the side so water could shed off the path instead of pooling on the surface.
River rock was added along the edges of the walkway to help carry surface runoff and define the border. This gave the side yard a cleaner finished line while also improving drainage along the path.
Completed Project
Thinking About a Similar Project?
Whether you are dealing with water running toward your foundation, walkways that pool after a storm, or hardscape that needs to be brought back to level, we can help you plan the right fix for your property.
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