One solution is to use a less defined pattern and put more space between the stones. If your patio has a lot of border areas, it can take skill and time to shape the stones to fit them correctly. It takes time and an artistic eye to know what pieces should go together and how to shape the stones to match the desired area. The naturally occurring irregular shapes and colors of flagstones mean that putting together a patio is more like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. DIY vs Contractor: It takes an artistic eye You’ll need less stones to cover the area, and you’ll still have a nice, natural-looking space.įlagstone Patios & Walkway Project Ideas 4. Style tip: Place the flagstones farther apart and plant grass or groundcover between them. Adding vegetation to your patio will soften the look of the stones. Or include short plants with small flowers to add a touch of brightness. A short grass can be a wonderful accent to the natural colors of the stones. Now, if you are looking for a softer look for your patio project, consider planting low-growing groundcover plants in the spaces between the stones. Landscaping sand is coarser and won’t settle as much as time goes by. You can even use colored gravel to make a singular design statement. Small size gravel and landscaping sand are the less expensive way to go, and they’re easier to install since you don’t have to do any mixing. They keep the stones from shifting and provide a level surface for furniture and décor items. Flagstone mortar or grout, crushed rock or gravel base, and sand are the most common. Several materials can be used for fillers between each stone. Base Install: Think outside the box for joint fillers As long as the bed and joints are filled and compacted correctly with sand or gravel, the stones will stay in place for years to come. One good thing about using these heavy rocks is that they don’t have to be settled in a bed of mortar. Equipment helps, but someone needs to know how to operate it effectively and safely. Plan on recruiting additional manpower to help you lift the stones into place. Flagstones can vary in size, from cobblestone size to gigantic slabs, and can weigh quite a bit. Usually coming in standard sizes, pavers are fairly easy to handle and haul from place to place. DIY vs Contractor: Flagstones are heavyįlagstones are much heavier than traditional clay or concrete pavers. If you’re on a budget, definitely consider the volunteers first. To help with all this moving and lifting, you should recruit volunteers or hire a contractor to do the heavy lifting. You may find that you have to move stones around several times to get the desired look. Designing your flagstone patio is done on the fly, as each stone must be set into place and arranged according to color and size to achieve the desired fit and layout. It’s difficult to plan the layout of your flagstone patio before you see the stones you purchase, because you don’t know what exact sizes, shapes, and colors you will receive. These larger flagstones are typically used when setting them in mortar.Īdditionally, installing flagstones takes more time and labor than pavers. With thicker flagstone (2-3 inches) you should generally expect to pay a little more. If you are comparing just material costs, flagstone with a thickness of 1-2 inches is generally comparable to concrete pavers or other materials. Cost: Flagstones are comparable to concrete pavers when it comes to price Here are some things homeowners need to know about using flagstone pavers to build patios, and some suggestions to make working with these beautiful stones easier. Features like their distinct colors and shapes, and cost need to be taken into consideration before adding them to any patio project. Their uniqueness as a material is wonderful from a design aspect but does present a few challenges when it comes to working with them on a DIY project. If you’re thinking of using them for a patio space, you will need to build some flexibility into your patterns. Because they’re 100% natural stone (one of the only all-natural materials you can use for a patio), they offer one of a kind color combinations and shapes. Flagstone patios make a unique design statement in your outdoor living space.
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