Add Beauty and Value with the Addition of a Flagstone Patio

There are so many reasons to love flagstone. It is durable, attractive, versatile and readily available. It also has a natural, non-slip surface and comes in a wide range of colors, such as red, brown, pink, green, gold and beige, to suit any home and surrounding landscape.

Flagstone is easily found in many landscape supply centers, nurseries and home and garden centers. It is also very easy to work with, making it an ideal material for a do-it-yourself project. In fact, many say that laying a flagstone patio is even “foolproof.”

How-to Instructions

Measure the area for your flagstone patio and mark it using landscaper’s paint or gypsum. You can then use these measurements when shopping for your flagstone. It is generally a lot less of a hassle to ask your local home and garden center to deliver it for you. The nominal delivery charge is usually well worth it when you consider the aggravation and time it would take you to unload a truck full of flagstone pavers.

Your local landscape supply center can also deliver the sand needed for your flagstone patio installation.

Begin by removing the sod from your chosen patio location and excavating about five inches of dirt from the area. Smooth out the bottom of the hole in anticipation of the sand.

Your hole needs to be deep enough to accommodate three inches of sand and the height of the flagstone. The finished height of your flagstone patio should stand about ¼ of an inch above the surrounding ground.

Next, install the edging around your hole. Position the edging so that the top of it is slightly recessed below ground level. Plastic edging which is secured with 12-inch galvanized nails usually works best with this application.

Next, pour masonry sand into the hole and pack it down using a plate vibrator. Continue to do this until a firm, three-inch base of sand has been achieved.

It is very important that the sand base slopes away from the house for proper water run-off. A slight grade can be achieved by placing stakes at either end of the patio, tying a string at the flagstone height onto both stakes and attaching a line level to the string.

Now comes the best part: artfully arranging your flagstone pavers to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind patio. Try to arrange your flagstone pavers in such a manner as to avoid the need to cut them. If you need to cut any flagstone pieces, it is best to use a masonry saw. You can rent a masonry saw at your local rental store.

Use a large push broom to fill the seams between the flagstone pavers with more sand, and use the plate vibrator to tamp down the sand. Lightly hose down the area and let dry. You flagstone patio is now ready to use!

You may want to consider a flagstone patio if you desire a casual, natural patio that blends in nicely with its surroundings. The installation of the patio involves mostly labor, is not too technical and allows you to be creative. Get ready for your next weekend project!