This DIY article; and the rest of the how-to section of my blog, cover most of the basics of how to properly build a flagstone patio. These articles provide general guidance, or at least advice, useful for hobbyists, DIY landscape designers/builders, and professional builders alike. So, what type of foundation should we build for our flagstone patio: sand, cement, or gravel? Short answer: It depends. Quarry screening (if one is available in your area) is usually best done under flagstone. Screening is also one of the best options among gemstones, but there are other options available to achieve different aesthetics. First, we'll address the structural question of "what to use under the slab." Cement - at some point it (may) break. It may last a long time, but when it does break down, fixing it will be a lot more work than repairing dry slate. Sand – ants will dig it up and leave it everywhere…sand can also be washed away, causing rocks to settle. Gravel – There’s really no problem here, just use the right type of gravel. Even better, use modified gravel as a base and then stone powder (aka quarry screening, aka grit, aka quarry dust) as the final leveling agent. Okay, so let's be more specific.

Cement will (probably) crack. Especially grade level cement. Especially in a climate with winters like ours in Pennsylvania. Worse way to go about it would be to lay the flagstone upon a bed of gravel and then cement the joints between stones. Horrible idea. The gravel base is flexible and will move ever so slightly during freeze-thaw. Well, if the base was done poorly the movement might be more then slight, but let’s assume the base was done well. A gravel base will definitely move a bit — looking at any of my patios, you’d never know that, but the movement does happen. Cement is rigid — if you put a rigid top on a flexible base then systemic cracking is inevitable.Cement is of course a fine joint filling material if the flagstone happens to rest upon a concrete foundation. But why on earth would you want to have a concrete foundation anyway? The concrete itself will crack, eventually. In a northern climate it will likely crack within ten years — and the chances of it cracking within the next three years are pretty high too. Environmental impact of concrete production is no small issue either. Anyway, I personally prefer dry stone work. More harmonious, warmer, just better. The feeling you get from a well done dry laid flagstone patio, IMO, is just better than a flagstone patio set in cement. My opinion.A flagstone patio set in cement can of course look good and last a long time. I’ve built many that look great,–many years later too. But if there is cement between the joints, there just had better be a concrete foundation. I mean it.

Cement based mortar is a fine joint filling material if the flagstone happens to rest upon a concrete foundation. But why on earth would you want to have a concrete foundation anyway? The concrete itself will crack, eventually. In a northern climate it will likely crack within ten years—and the chances of it cracking within the next three years are pretty high too. Environmental impact of concrete production is no small issue either. Anyway, I personally prefer dry stone work. More harmonious, warmer, just better. The feeling you get from a well done dry laid flagstone patio, in my humble opinion, is just better than a flagstone patio set in cement.

This DIY article; and the rest of the how-to section of my blog, cover much of the basics of how-to properly build flagstone patios. These will be of much use to the hobbyist, DIY landscaper/builder, and to professional builders as well. If you need guidance for site-specific issues for your stone hardscape installation I offer consultation services as well.

Many homeowners have the experience, skills, and confidence with do-it-yourself projects that will allow them to install manufactured stone veneer themselves.

If you recently stepped up to your home and noticed cracked concrete, wobbly bricks, or sagging wood on your front door steps, it’s likely time for a much needed replacement. Outdoor steps ideas come in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes, colors and finishes – from natural to synthetic. But before you rush to replace your entry stairs with the same material, or something else that’s only going to fail again in a few years, take a moment to consider natural granite as the fail-safe solution.Aesthetically pleasing, durable, and long-lasting, granite may surprise you as an alternative to the standard wood, brick, and concrete options that quickly come to mind. Here’s why granite steps are better for your concrete front steps makeover.

Granite or limestone? These two natural stone products are often compared when homeowners in Columbus and Cincinnati are shopping around for natural exterior building materials. Granite and limestone are hard, durable, and resistant to cracks and weather, which is why they are widely utilized in residential homes and commercial buildings.

We have often noticed that procurement and quality control departments are puzzled when it comes to gauging the quality of natural stone slabs (marble, granite, limestone, sandstone or slate). To fill this gap, we have formulated an overview of simple to use techniques that anyone can use to easily check the quality of granite/marble. We will lay out very simple steps that anyone can follow. But before that, there are some basics:First and the foremost aspect of buying stone is realizing that names of these stones don’t really matter much unless you’re looking for very popular industry-standard stones like black/grey granite etc. Best way to go is to actually see the stone slabs in person. However, this is not always practical. Samples are a great alternative, but one must know:Never decide based on the sample alone. At the very least, a high-resolution picture of the slab is imperative. Samples cannot convey the entire picture.

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