Landscape Architect Articles

LCDBM Hardscapes October 2009: Moving Blocks and Rocks/Eco-Friendly Pavers10-06-09 | News

Moving Blocks and Rocks

By Samantha Robles, editorial intern

Serpentine is the set of minerals, chromite, magnesite and cinabar, that make up serpentinite. It gets its name from its resemblance to snakeskin, with a mottled color, waxy or resinous luster and curving, polished surfaces.

Moving rocks and blocks is a skill familiar to landscape contractors. Smaller rocks need to be handled with just as much care as the bigger rocks. Managing functionality with proper safety is something that makes moving rocks and blocks a breeze.

Placing rock or blocks is hard and dangerous work; ask anyone who does it for a living. Safety should be the main concern. Bad backs, crushed fingers, and bad hands are part of the trade. The best way to keep all those injuries from happening is to mechanically set the rock or block.

Using the proper tool and following the ratings for the equipment is the one of the most important parts of any job.

Sandstone is known as Sedimentary Rock and is formed from layers of sand-grain like material being compressed together over time. This stone would have had some help in being compressed from the glaciers of the last ice age. Through pressure and heat, the minerals in the sand grains bond together and form the hard material we see today as sandstone.

Popular Types of Rocks

Granite: Granite is a very hard stone that is not porous. It is usually a combination of colors and may even contain sparkly mica and quartz deposits. Granite comes in white, pink, grey, and black varieties. Granite is a very good stone for large landscaping boulders, walkways, or walls. It holds up very well to time and weather. Granite is a heavy rock. One cubic foot is 172 lbs roughly. Granite has a density of 2.75. It is heavier than sandstone.

Sandstone: Sandstone landscape rocks come in various warm tones from white, golden, tan, and brown. Sandstone is porous. Moss and lichens grow on this type of rock quickly. Sandstone has a density of 2.6. It is heavier than serpentine.

Serpentine: California has a greater number of minerals and a wider variety of rock types than does any other state. Serpentine, a shiny, green and blue rock found throughout California, was named the official State Rock in 1965. It contains the state?EUR??,,????'?????<

Quartzite: Composed of fused quartz sand grains, quartzite is a dense, hard rock that is generally uniform in texture. This rock is usually white or gray, but other pale colors are common. It is very resistant to chemical weathering, and has a glassy luster. Quartzite is used to cover walls, as roofing tiles, as flooring, and stair steps; crushed quartzite is sometimes used in road construction and railway ballast.

Limestone: Limestone is a very common sedimentary rock that is composed mainly of calcite. It is long-lasting and stands up well to any exposure, with the Great Pyramids as proof of limestone?EUR??,,????'?????<

Slate: Slate is a rock derived from volcanic ash or clay, and it is mainly composed of quartz, chlorite, mica, calcite, and other minerals. This hard-wearing, non-porous stone is resistant to acids and impervious to heat, and it comes in many different colors: gray, green, purple, black.

This forklift is being used to lift a small bolder. Forklifts have the power to vertically lift rocks, but cannot rotate for precision rock placement. Forklifts have limited rock moving capability, and should be used when rocks require easy placement.

Ways To Move Rocks

When moving rocks, it is important to remember that rocks are heavier than they look. Wearing heavy-duty gloves while moving rocks is a must. To move smaller rocks, a wheelbarrow is necessary to transport rocks short distances. A back brace should be worn when moving smaller rocks to help prevent strain.

Big rocks should be moved using tools such as the rock and tree handlers, which act like a human hand, easily picking up and placing rocks exactly where desired.

Granite: One of the hardest rocks found on earth, second only to diamonds. Commonly found in shades of pink, greys, blacks and whites. One single section of Granite can have all the colors mixed within. It can also be speckled with different flakes of color/texture or solid in composition. Usually seen as a rounded, smooth stone unless it is split, cut or shaped by tools.

For a simple way of prying rocks up from the ground, a lever and fulcrum is useful to lift rocks. To ensure the lever does not break under pressure, a flat steel bar is recommended.

Big rocks and blocks can also be moved using a forklift. Forklifts are best when moving very heavy loads. The average weight limit for a vertical lift forklift is about 5,000 lbs, but forklifts can lift upwards of 15,000 lbs.

The rock handler is an attachment that can move and handle rocks just like a giant human hand. It?EUR??,,????'?????<

When moving smaller rocks, a method used by gardeners is to place a plastic trashcan with wheels on it?EUR??,,????'?????<
Whatever the project, moving rocks and blocks requires having the correct equipment. Big rocks can be problematic, so it is worth the time and energy to invest in a machine to handle the strain.

Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying amounts of iron oxide (Fe2O3). Other colors, such as yellow and orange, are due to other mineral impurities.

Eco-Friendly Pavers

By Ashley Harbaugh, assistant editor

Rubber pavers?EUR??,,????'?????<

These different types of paver materials present both an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly landscaping option.

With many landscapers using environmentally aware landscaping practices, pavers made from recycled materials and turf offer another way that landscapers can create beautiful surfaces while minimizing their impact on the environment.

The hollow turf pavers are first installed in a grid pattern, then a layer of topsoil, sand or gravel is placed in the grid, and then the turf is planted.

Recycled Rubber Pavers

Pavers made from recycled rubber have the same look as traditional stone pavers, but without the worry of environmental damage. These long-lasting pavers are very durable and can resist the harshest environments with very little, if any, color fading (in fact, some pavers can look more natural as they weather). They can be used for driveways, patios, parking lots, pool areas, sidewalks, flat roofs, or any other site that encounters vehicular or foot traffic.

Since rubber pavers are not affected by water because of their outstanding slip resistance, they are considered a very safe flooring choice. Rubber pavers come in a variety of colors, styles and patterns, and they do not require intensive maintenance. Cleaning away any dirt or grime that builds up on the surface with a high pressure hose is the most effective method, but a simple sweeping can also be helpful.

Grass/Turf Pavers

Turf pavers are hollow pavers assembled in a grid-like, ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Another major benefit of turf pavers is the easy installation and minimal amount of maintenance. Assembling the grid does not require any extra tools, and if a surface is uneven or sloping, the grid can simply be placed on top without any other work needed. Once the turf pavers are installed, the only maintenance that needs to be done is the maintenance that is typical for any lawn: watering and mowing the grass. Also, it is important to look out for any debris or dirt that may clog up the drainage surface.

Since they are permeable, turf pavers absorb rainwater into the ground, thus reducing the pressure of stormwater runoff on drainage systems.

Recycled Glass Pavers

In addition to pavers made from recycled rubber and plastic, recycled glass can also be used as a paver material. ECG, a company that has its own unique process of recycling glass for manufacture of its green products, produces pavers made from 20 percent recycled glass. The company takes all forms of recycled glass from local recycling programs?EUR??,,????'?????<
The pavers are tough, durable, and can handle severe weather conditions and heavy traffic areas. Along with the different types and styles of pavers that are available, the company also offers a permeable pavement surface, which soaks up and stormwater runoff into the soil beneath it. They can also be easily removed and re-installed in order to access subsurface facilities or fix any individual damaged pavers.

With these new recyclable and natural choices for pavers, landscapers can continue to incorporate environmentally conscious materials into their designs.