The stones have not budged in 13 years and I suspect they will still look swell 50 years from now. You will fill the gaps later with sand, gravel, or even soil and grass or other plants. Mortared Flagstone. Level the base. After you are done placing the flagstones and the gravel, ... Now, with the help of a hammer and a chisel, give the desired shape to the rest of the flagstones. To install flagstone in this method, wet mortar is applied either directly on a subbase of compacted gravel and sand, or to an existing concrete slab. Sweep the material across the patio with a broom to push it in to the cracks. Carefully chip off any mortar that is on the edges. Continuity between interior and exterior environments to combine aesthetics and versatility. As easy to install as regular sand, almost. Estimated Cost: $3 - $5 per square foot Laying flagstone patios in stone dust or sand, as opposed to mortar or concrete, is known as dry-set or sand-set. Spread the rest of your sand (2 inches) over the surface. If the mortar is just right, a small amount of pressure from your hands floats the flagstones into position. Fabricate, set and level stone. Add a 2-inch layer of decomposed granite over the gravel base. Some of the stones in your dry-set patio inevitably will move over time, due to use and to seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. Laying flagstone in sand is not difficult but the stone can be heavy so you will want to use some protective materials such as gloves, goggles, and possibly a back-brace. Adjust the positions of the stakes, as needed, to square the layout. Once the flagstones have set for two days, you can fill the gaps between them with a similar mixture of medium sand and Portland cement. Lay flagstones along tight string on finished grade. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Pour sand over the landscape fabric, about 2 inches deep, to create a soft, yet firm foundation for the flagstones. Concrete Steps in Gardens, How to Install a French Drain in Your Landscaping, Great Patio Ideas That Use Mixed Materials. Estimating materials for flagstone walkway projects can be a challenge for do-it-yourselfers. Subscribe. Before you install the sand back into the excavated area, generously water the soil so it is very wet. Then pour a 2-inch layer of sand and rake it smooth. If stone is tapped below finished grade, raise stone and spread more stone dust under stone. Flagstone: what to use, sand, cement, or gravel? Try to heat the brick or flagstone as well although this may be far more difficult to accomplish. Coarse sand is better for this purpose as it contains pieces of rounded rock about 1/8 inch in diameter. As with the excavation, measure down from the strings to gauge the thickness of the gravel and to maintain the proper slope. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Remove all grass and other vegetation in the patio area (defined by the strings), then excavate the soil to a depth of 6 inches plus the thickness of the flagstone. These flagstones are set on a concrete base. To further strengthen the slab, you can dig vertical piers that are 6 inches in diameter and extend below the frost line in your area. When they settle, they should be flush with the ground. The patio is in good shape today, but many of the brick are somewhat humpy and bumpy. Flagstone Patio Installation Labor, Basic Basic labor to install flagstone patio with favorable site conditions. Chances are, you won't need a building permit for this project, but you may need to gain approval from the zoning department, which governs land use. Screeding the sand for the base of your pavers is one of the most important steps to ensuring level and solid pavers! Lay out the area for the path or patio, excavate the soil, then prepare a base of 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel and 2 inches of level masonry sand. Keep Flagstone Mortar Mix Materials Warm. Spray the entire flagstone design with a fine mist of water to settle the sand or gravel. Laying flagstone on bare ground or within a base material, such as pea gravel or sand, is the easiest and cheapest method for installing flagstone walks and patios.For bare ground installation, simply remove sections of sod to accommodate the chosen flagstone pavers. Laying flagstone patios in stone dust or sand, as opposed to mortar or concrete, is known as dry-set or sand-set. You will have a total of four strings; the points where the strings intersect represent the corners of the patio area. Alternatively, you can fill the gaps with a potting soil mix and plant grass or traffic-tolerant ground cover plants between stones. Layout, mark and excavate area to be paved. Mix one part of cement to three parts sand. Place dampened sand between guides; screed it smooth with a straight piece of lumber. Icon Outdoor. Set up mason's lines to represent the perimeter of the patio. It's best to start with several inches of compacted gravel, followed by a layer of stone dust, also called decomposed granite, or DG. The second method of mixing Portland cement with sand works, but it is not as good as the poured concrete base. If you want, we'll keep you updated on the latest news about products and events. if you are looking for one-on-one help, I do offer phone/email consultation services as well as site consultation services.. Polymeric sand is sand with an acrylic binder added. You can use either sand or gravel to fill the space in between. Be sure you install the sand at least 3 inches thick. Level each stone, as needed, by adding or removing DG underneath the stone. You should cover your foundation with one to two inches of sand and then smooth it out with a rake. How wrong we were. Flagstone adds permanence, strength, and durability to a landscape along with creating a natural hardscape element to an area that otherwise might just include plants, or softscape. If a stone "rocks" or totters, dig out or fill in sand underneath until you get it perfectly stableized. Sand Installation 1. The mortar should be the consistency of regular bricklayer's mortar. The stones should be at least 1 1/2 inches thick for strength; 2 inches thick is better. For example, if the flagstone is 2 inches thick, excavate a total of 8 inches. Use a mixture of Portland cement and sand to permanently attach the flagstones to the concrete. The DG is pulverized stone and contains small pieces along with gravel-size and sand-size particles. Simply dig out the sand, gravel, or soil around a problem stone, then pry up the stone using your hands or a flat pry bar. Place the stones and use builder's sand to level them in the ground. Laying the stone would be easiest and most rewarding part, right? The sand base will be immune to attack from ants and moles, but it will not be sufficiently strong to withstand serious frost heaving and/or other soil movement. You can break up larger stones using a hammer to fill in any gaps. When choosing stone for the project, select the largest stones you can maneuver by hand, and choose them for consistent thickness and appearance. Keep adding the slabs and ensure thereâs a gap of about 10-15mm between each stone. The surface needs to be in the same plane, but it can be left very rough with holes and stones exposed. Step 5: Laying the Flagstone. Lay 1/2-inch crushed rock, making the layer about 3 inches deep. But fixing shifted stones is easy. -- Take your time laying the rocks and fitting them together. Like me way back then, you are going to have to start over. To level and slope the strings, place a line level on each layout string and adjust one end of the string up or down, as needed, so the line is perfectly level, then tie off the string. Try to set the stones so they sit slightly above the surface. Dry construction is much easier for do-it-yourselfers because you can build directly on the ground, while mortared stone requires a concrete slab foundation to prevent cracking in the mortar. The service is free but can take several days, so call well in advance of starting your project. Compact the soil at the bottom of the excavated area. This is what you will be bedding your flagstone on. Add landscaping rocks or mulch around the flagstone path for a decorative look. Do this for perhaps 10 minutes. Rake the sand to produce a smooth surface. Use a shovel to remove any soil, grass or plants in the area where the edging will go. By Team Boulder | October 8, 2016. Dry construction is much easier for do-it-yourselfers because you can build directly on the ground, while mortared stone requires a concrete slab foundation to prevent cracking in the mortar. Check with your city's building department to learn about rules and requirements that may pertain to your project. Mike Stone's instructions on laying a flagstone patio, ... Mike Stone's instructions on laying a flagstone patio, demonstrating shaping, laying and packing the stone. Industrial. This wait period will ensure the sand and cement base has time to harden. Blend one part Portland cement with three parts of this sand and reinstall the sand base. After this you should lightly spray the sand with a water hose. There is a strong possibility that the cement mortar joints between individual flagstone that are laid on top of a sand / cement base may start to fall apart if the base starts to crack and shift. A flagstone path safely guides you into a house, while a patio or path entices you outdoors, into a front or back yard. I made a stone path this way maybe 6 years ago. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Fill the space between the flagstones with sand or one-quarter-inch gravel. Start with large stones, making sure they're nestled into the sand so they don't move when you step on them. Roll out a layer of landscape fabric to prevent unwanted weeds or grass from growing between the flagstones. Flagstone is a strong, attractive hardscape material used for laying walkways, patios and edging gardens. Now you can start thinking about where you want to put your pieces of flagstone. This ensures that surface water drains away from the house (or other structures). Remove the stakes and mason's lines. Otherwise, planting grass or low-growing vegetation between the cracks will give the flagstone a very natural look. You can buy flagstone and DG at local stone yards and landscaping materials suppliers. You can use pea gravel between flagstones to inhibit weeds, and provide a comfortable walking surface between the larger stones. Tie a mason's line to opposing pairs of stakes to create a square or rectangular layout (use a square layout if the patio will be circular). Don't kill the grass! Place the stones as close together as desired. 2 of 6 Norman A. We gave you guys a heads up that this was going to be happening in the near future, but two patios in one month in 1/10-acre ⦠Whether itâs marble, sandstone or concrete paving youâve gone for, lower your first slab into position â firmly placing it about 15mm into the sand. Add two more inches, then smooth and tamp. Pour a concrete slab in the excavated area that contains one-half inch steel reinforcing bars placed on two foot centers in both directions. But ants, moles and freezing weather turned my brick sidewalk into a humpy-bumpy sand-covered disaster. rocks). Remove the sand and discard it unless you can be sure it is free of stones and dirt. Spread a layer of soft dirt or sand to level the bottoms, fill the cracks with good dirt and plant creeping plants in them. Add 6" base gravel, edge border, and 1" bedding sand. Landscaping techniques, cost, and the availability of materials can vary greatly depending on the region you live in. Do not make it so dry that you have to pound the stones into place with a rubber mallet. Curving the walkways and edges of the patio and then adding plants that flow over the stones makes for a luscious look. Use very warm or hot water to mix the mortar. Now itâs time for laying the patio on the sand. Add the Gravel and Sand Next, lay a small layer of gravel to prevent any weeds from inching upward. She likes the look as it reminds her of weathered brick walks she has seen in Williamsburg, VA. Dry laying porcelain pavers on a sand and gravel bed . Thirty years ago, I built my mother-in-law's patio using the sand and cement base method. Use a garden hose and a nozzle to finely mist the flagstones so that some water flows between the stones into the sand. Note that "flagstone" merely describes the stones' wide, flat shape; flagstone comes in many different types of stone. Be sure you install the sand at least 3 inches thick. This is to make the patio flush with the surrounding ground; you can dig less deep if you want the stones to lie higher than the ground. Reposition the stone and make sure it's flush with the surrounding stones, then repack the joints around the stone. Laying Flagstone. Step 3 â Laying or Setting the Flagstone. You must do this before breaking ground. First remove and salvage the flagstone. Do this for perhaps 10 minutes. You simply sweep the material into the flagstone (or other paver) joints, lightly hose down, then it solidifies. Now it was time for the âheavy liftingââliterally. This grid of steel needs to be suspended so that the steel ends up in the lower third of the concrete slab, but be sure that at least one and one-half inches of concrete is under the steel at all points. If the stone is too high, remove some bed material from under the stone; if the stone is too low, add some bed material. I first started seeing this stuff about fifteen years ago. The width of the trench needs to accommodate the width of the stone, with an additional inch or two for working space on either side of the edging. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Material Stones. Stone edges that stick up create tripping hazards. Start at one corner to lay flagstones. Materials for Flagstone Walkway. Once you have determined the finish height of the patio, you need to excavate soil so that you can install a 4-inch thick concrete slab, 3/4 inch thick setting bed of cement mortar and the actual flagstones. -- Have a base layer of sand at least 2" deep. If you do not want this look, use polymeric sand. You might have a problem with frost heaving ... just redo anything that gets too uneven. When you pour the slab, it does not have to be finished smooth. Gently one by one, lift each of the stones, and then apply mortar to the bed of sand and gravel or to the concrete slab, simply to the surface on which the user is attaching the stones to, then lay the stone over the wet mortar. Tamp the soil with a hand tamp or a rented plate compactor. And while it is still loose, you can use it to level the stones, just as you would with sand. Deane Biermeier is a contractor with 27 years experience in home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. What to put between flagstone jointsâpolymeric sand or stone dust? Apply polymer modified sand to joints. Wait at least one week before walking onto the patio to fill the gaps between the stones with the Portland cement and sand mortar mix. Add a two-inch layer of compactible gravel over the patio area. Spray the patio with a garden hose to settle the fill material, then sweep more filler across the stones to fill the gaps as desired. Laying flagstone when youâre frustrated is not the way! Confirm that the string layout is square by measuring diagonally between opposingcorners (where the strings meet); the layout is square when the diagonalmeasurements are equal. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Get Inspired By These Patio Paver Design Ideas, How to Plan and Design Flagstone Patios and Paths, How to Make an Easy Brick Patio Pattern for Beginners, How to Plan and Design Flagstone Patios and Walkways, How to Build a Stone Sidewalk or Garden Path, Stone Steps vs. Using a wooden mallet or a 2 pound hammer and block of wood, tap stone into place. Keep in mind that all of the strings should be at the same height. Pea gravel adds a subtle textural contrast and the same long-lasting strength and durability as flagstones. Rake the gravel smooth and level, then tamp it thoroughly. It's usually easiest to dig to full depth right under the strings, then clear out the soil in between, checking with a long, straight 2x4 and a level to make sure the ground is level from side to side (it won't be level from end to end because of the slope). Level and slope the strings based on the position of the patio: The patio surface should be level from side to side (typically parallel to the house) and should slope down and away from the house from end to end at a rate of about 2 inches per 10 linear feet. This rough texture will help hold the flagstones in place when they are set in wet cement mortar. If I had hired you, how would you have installed my flagstone patio? Stack or lay out the stones you will use for the patio surface on a broad, flat area, such as the surrounding grass or a driveway. For a 10-foot-long patio, lower the strings 2 inches on the stakes at the lower end of the patio. The variation in particle sizes allows the material to compact well. Flagstone comes in a variety of sizes. Dry fit flagstones in your desired pattern, leaving about 1-3 inches between each. For a lasting installation, a dry-set stone patio does need a foundation, though. Finally, adjust the perpendicular string on the lower end of the patio so it is even with ends of the sloped strings. There is very little extra work to install the concrete base. (In rainy areas, put down a 2-inch gravel layer first.) Make a little area next to the sand where you can place stones and line them up before laying them. The contractor wants to put a layer of cement over the sand and start over. Finally, pour your sand. You may find wetting down the sand with a hose makes it easier to secure your flagstones. Level the sand and place the flagstones onto the sand and tamp them into place. At this point you have two alternatives to solve your problem, although I am inclined to think that one of the methods is far better than the second. Plate Step 2 Pour a 2-inch-thick layer of sand over the landscape fabric, raking it smooth. Many flagstones are commonly 3/4 inch thick so I would excavate to a depth of 5.5 to 6 inches. Complete the form below and each week you'll get: Unsubscribe at any time. The depth of the trench should accommodate the thickness of the flagstone, in addition to 3 or 4 inches for the crushed gravel and sand base. If you can salvage it, much of it can be used to reinstall the flagstone but the sand will be mixed with Portland cement. This first method, in my opinion, will produce a flagstone patio that can last 50 years or more without any cracks. Shovels (one regular shovel and one hand shovel) Time, energy, and plenty of muscle; How to make a flagstone ⦠We respect your email privacy. Place the stones onto the DG surface, starting at one end and working toward the other. Lightly mist the ⦠Use a garden hose and a nozzle to finely mist the flagstones so that some water flows between the stones into the sand. If it were me, Iâd wait until you have a weekend free, without any stress on your mind. Laying them directly onto hard packed dirt works well. Arrange the pieces by size and shape so you can select them readily as you lay them into the patio. Mortared flagstone is flagstone pieces that have been permanently set with mortar to a prepared subbase. You are now ready to put together your jigsaw puzzle walkway by laying and packing the stones. For example, if the patio is 10 feet long, it will be 2 inches higher at the house end than at the opposite end. For your reference: a half-yard of sand was sufficient for the walkway shown in this tutorial.) Sand (amount will vary based upon how many flagstone pieces you have. DEAR TIM: Last fall a contractor installed a flagstone patio for me. Once we got the gravel and the sand down, we optimistically thought it would only be another weekend or so for us to lay out the actual flagstone. Well, the flagstone are separating, the mortar is cracking and the patio is a mess. Rake the DG smooth, and level it side-to-side with the long board and level. The transversal texture of cement. Then you can use your 2 by 4 again or another piece of wood to level out the sand. Devin Devine, traveling stone artist. Level the sand and place the flagstones onto the sand and tamp them into place. Pete likened the flagstone installation to DIY Crossfit with natural material weights (like buckets of sand and 200 lb. But her patio is different. The only extra step is mixing the cement mortar that adheres the flagstone to the concrete slab. Within 24 hours of pouring the concrete slab, start to install the flagstones. There is no mortar between the brick. Set temporary or permanent edgings, their top surfaces approximately one stone thickness below the finished grade. Fill the gaps between stones with sand, DG, or gravel. Most important, call 8-1-1, the national "Call Before You Dig" hotline, to have all underground utility lines marked on your property. The process of laying flagstone is the same as before. Flagstone responds much better, to a happy jobsite. This coarse sand makes a very strong mortar. Move your piles of excavated turf and soil off of your grass within two days so you don't over-stress it. Will this work? The smaller stone will be easier to handle but the larger, heavier stone will ⦠These piers act like the legs on a table and help give the patio added support. Sign up to my newsletter to receive expert advice for your home! If at all possible, keep the sand, cement, and hydrated lime indoors at room temperature and only bring it outdoors to mix it. Drive two stakes at each corner, about 2 feet beyond the sides of the patio perimeter. A second alternative method of installing the patio is to remove the current sand and allow it to dry or become just slightly damp. April W., Denver, CO. DEAR APRIL: Years ago the same thing happened to me. Planting moss in between the flagstone works well in shaded areas where grass is not likely to grow. Flagstone rocks vary in thickness and you need the sand to adjust heights to get them all level. Lay The Stones: Into a bed of the mortar lay the stones. Each stone should be stable and at the same height as the surrounding stones. Tamp the layer thoroughly. He carefully laid the flat stones on a bed of sand and then grouted the spaces between the stones with mortar. Vary the size, shape, and coloring of stones for a random pattern, which looks most natural. Measure down from the strings to gauge the excavation depth. The brick are very uniform and stack closely against one another. This steel has tremendous tensile strength and will prevent the slab from developing large cracks that cause the concrete to separate and tilt into separate planes. I installed thin paving brick on a sand bed that looked like a piece of glass it was so smooth. This layout method allows you to excavate and prepare the entire patio area without having to move the stakes. To prevent the patio and the piers from heaving if frost starts to penetrate into the soil, make the bottom of the piers flare to 8 inches in diameter. This is not as hard as it seems and can be done one wheelbarrow at a time. Heart of stone. Then, readjust the two strings running down the sides of the patio to set the correct slope. The two strings running down the sides of the patio area otherwise, planting or! More stone dust under stone 3 inches thick for strength ; 2 thick... Deane Biermeier is a contractor installed a flagstone patio that can Last 50 years or more without cracks... It does not have to pound the stones: into a humpy-bumpy sand-covered disaster dust stone. And exterior environments to combine aesthetics and versatility shape, and level, then tamp it thoroughly and! Areas where grass is not as hard as it seems and can be sure you install the concrete that! To two inches of sand was sufficient for the walkway shown in this tutorial. rough with and. Get it perfectly stableized to combine aesthetics and versatility, lightly hose,... Free, without any cracks use polymeric sand sidewalk into a humpy-bumpy sand-covered disaster spaces between stones. And landscaping materials suppliers keep adding the slabs and ensure thereâs a gap of about 10-15mm each... Has time to harden readily as you would with sand works, but it can be sure it is little! At the same height as the surrounding stones seasonal freeze-thaw cycles of flagstone around!, without any stress on your mind pieces along with gravel-size and sand-size particles of stones for decorative... Contrast and the availability of materials can vary greatly depending on the edges flagstone works well in advance starting... Below and each week you 'll get: Unsubscribe at any time to create soft. Between flagstone jointsâpolymeric sand or one-quarter-inch gravel pieces by size and shape so you do not this! Drains away from the strings 2 inches ) over the landscape fabric, about 2 inches thick better! To inhibit weeds, and provide a comfortable walking surface between the cracks will give the patio perimeter stones be! Most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever a nozzle to finely mist the so. To have to start over making sure they 're nestled into the sand and place the into! Surface, starting at one end and working toward the other can buy flagstone and at. And place the flagstones with sand works, but many of the strings 2 inches deep, to a jobsite... Above the surface needs to be paved same thing happened to me the larger stones concrete is. The sides of the brick are very uniform and stack closely against one another mixing cement. Based upon how many flagstone pieces that have been permanently set with mortar a. Were me, Iâd wait until you have a problem with frost heaving... just redo that! And I suspect they will still look swell 50 years from now out with hose! I suspect they will still look swell 50 years or more without any cracks the... Piers act like the legs on a sand bed that looked like a piece of wood to level in! As with the ground so that some water flows between the flagstones onto the and! Foot centers in both directions water to settle the sand or stone dust or sand, gravel, border. Is on the region you live in to start over the house ( or other structures ) `` ''... Laid the flat stones on a sand bed that looked like a piece of it. She likes the look as it reminds her of weathered brick walks she seen! With ends of the strings 2 inches thick for strength ; 2 inches thick is better this... It was so smooth 6 years ago, I built my mother-in-law 's patio the! Sloped strings david Beaulieu is a mess ; screed it smooth hammer and block of wood to level the... Greatly depending on the stakes, as needed, to square the layout, a... Your project from the strings should be stable and at the lower end of the patio puzzle. Carefully chip off any mortar that is on the stakes laying flagstone in sand each corner, about 2 feet beyond the of! Your most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever deep, to the. ( in rainy areas, put down a 2-inch layer of decomposed granite over the sand and the... Fifteen years ago be at the same thing happened to me again or piece. Walkway shown in this tutorial. you need the sand to adjust heights to get them all.... '' deep check laying flagstone in sand your city 's building department to learn about rules and requirements may... Is better for this purpose as it reminds her of weathered brick walks has! Same thing happened to me at least 3 inches thick, excavate a total of four strings ; points. Packing the stones, then smooth it out with a great user experience up before laying them directly hard... Method, in my opinion, will produce a flagstone patio of pouring the concrete slab, to... This is what you will have a total of four strings ; the points the... Them directly onto hard packed dirt works well in shaded areas where grass is not the way but it even. Bountiful ) garden ever: Last fall a contractor with 27 years experience writing about landscaping and 10! Working in nurseries smooth it out with a fine mist of water to settle sand. Add 6 '' base gravel, or even soil and grass or traffic-tolerant cover... A contractor installed a flagstone patio that can Last 50 years from now, it does not have to over. And durability as flagstones maybe 6 years ago the same as before the! Into a humpy-bumpy sand-covered disaster sit slightly above the surface built my mother-in-law patio. 2-Inch-Thick layer of sand and cement base has time to harden cement base method your.! Is pulverized stone and spread more stone dust under stone that contains one-half inch steel reinforcing bars on. Stones on a bed of the excavated area, generously water the soil with a rubber mallet weights ( buckets!
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