Concrete pavers tend to effloresce. This is a problem for most manufacturers of concrete products. Attaching concrete pavers using grout or a concrete mix will trap water (when it is applied) in between the pavers causing the paver to turn white, especially around the edges of the pavers. My experience with an "overlay" has given me a new approach. I suggest to cut holes in the existing concrete walkway where the water stands or puddles for a drainage effect before you start your project. Next, lay a filter fabric over the areas you have cut. Then you need to install some (course) washed concrete sand. This allows for proper separation of moisture so the paver doesn;t wick the moisture causing the surface to effloresce. Then lay the paving stones over the screeded sand using an edge restraint along the edges to keep the stones together. You may need to build up to the edges dus to the height difference. This is the only way the you will ensure that you will not get ugly white stains on the surface of the paving stones. Water is the biggest threat to any paving job.

This is great to hear, I am in the process of building a few planters to section off part of a cement patio and I was thinking of leaving them without a bottom, but putting a couple inches of gravel as the first layer for drainedge, sound good? Also they are 18" deep, does anyone know if perenials, such as reed grass, or small emerald cerdars, would over winter in raised beds? It gets to -30 where we are. I am looking to create privacy with them. Thanks

I work for a builder so I have seen it many many times. I am with you about the texture, it looks too much like a wall for my taste. However, most of our customers that have it done have it stamped and stained with two different colors. The stamped spray deck we typically do looks more like rock. As far as chipping goes, we don't really have an issure with it except for springtime hail. Customers will call us over the tiniest imperfections about decks, but they paid good money for it so it's expected to last. I've noticed hail that is baseball size or larger will chip it. Here is a link that might be useful: stamped and stained spray deck pics

Do you know what kind of grass that is? Generally it's going to be fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. How much of the grass does this shade from your house cover? Or, how many hours of sunlight does the lawn get? What is your watering regimen? How often and for how long? When were the last two times you fertilized and what did you use? You used the word healthy. Healthy has come to be almost synonymous with at least occasional use of organic fertilizers. Are you opposed to organic fertilizers...assuming they don't cost an arm and a leg and they work as well or better than chemical fertilizers? Do you know why the grass is dead at the edge of the patio to the left? Don't get hung up on the possibility that you have clay soil. Chances are higher than 90% that you have absolutely no clay in your soil, but instead you have a mix of salts that makes your soil act like clay. If you think clay is a problem in your yard, then you might want a soil test to confirm the chemistry and give you an idea what to do to fix the issues. The best $25 soil test is from Logan Labs in Ohio. Sometimes concrete will leach chemicals into the underlying soil and throw the chemistry off.