Make a flagstone patio-flagstone patio

Last spring, my wife and I got rid of our trampoline. It's a bit sad, but the kids are in college now. All that was left of our backyard was this huge circular void. So, I said, "I get it - let's build a patio and fire pit before the Martians think this is a new landing site." My wife loved the idea, and the rest is history, and a slight back pain.

This tutorial will show you how I created a 20 foot diameter flagstone patio. It took some hernia-inducing work, but now I stare at my backyard through shattered granite eyes and say, "Oh, yeah. I built that."

How to Make a Flagstone Patio. here we go!

Step 1 – Talk to your doctor。

Is there any mistake? Yes, this is a real step. In other words, I mean make sure you are physically fit for the program. Unless you rent the project or rent a Bobcat, you'll be doing a lot of digging and heavy lifting. The slate will become very heavy. I recommend getting some help, especially when lifting larger pieces.

Site selection. Trampoline removed.

Step 2 – Choose a site.

Check subdivision or deed rules. What about the neighbors? Would you like to place it in a more secluded location? Closer to the house? We decided to go about 100 feet away from the house because we added a fire pit in the middle of the patio. I also recommend choosing a site that is already level. My site is on a slight slope so I have to consider drainage issues.

Arrange horizontal strings.

First I had to build a retaining wall.

Build a level soil foundation.

Step 3 – Prepare the venue.

Since my patio is built on a slope, I had to build a small retaining wall. I purchase all of my retaining wall blocks from Home Depot. With the retaining wall in place, I dug out the high areas of the patio site and filled in the low areas. My goal is to create a dense base of soil about 3 to 4 inches below the ground. I use a leveling rope to help guide me and tell me what my final score will be.

Step 4 – Add the crush running base.

Once I have the soil base down, leveled, and compacted, I add a 3 to 4-inch crushed layer. Crushed material is a gravel mixture containing smaller particles and some larger particles. You can also use M10, which is mainly composed of smaller gravel particles. Spread it across your website and package it up. You can use a manual tamping machine, which takes longer, or you can rent a gas tamping machine.

Step 5 – Add the Fire Pit.

I decided to add the fire pit first and then build the flagstone patio around it. Rather than discussing all the steps here, you can refer to my separate tutorial on building a fire pit. Of course, this is completely optional. You probably don’t want a fire pit.

Honey gold slate flagstone mats

Step 6 – Get the Slate.

Check different landscaping stores for competitive prices. Tell them the dimensions of your patio and they will tell you how many pallets you need. A pallet weighs about a ton or more. Before buying, check the quality of the stones and make sure they are the color you want. I highly recommend 2 to 3 inch thick slabs. Anything lower than this will cause instability when you walk on it. Ask them to deliver the pallets to your home, preferably next to your patio.

lay down the slate

Make sure the stones are level and even with each other

Shape the stone by chipping away at its jagged or sharp edges

Crushed road for tamped stone edges

All the stones have been laid down and in place

Step 7 – Put down the slab.

In step 4, I added the crush run and tamped it down and leveled it to create the base of the flagstone. Placing the slabs is like putting together a big jigsaw puzzle. You have to picture in your mind how the pieces fit together. Add one stone at a time. Use a level to examine each stone. Extend the horizontal surface to the adjacent stone so that the top surface of the stone is flat. I like to hit rocks with a rubber mallet. I also stand on them to make sure they are stable. If a stone is taller than an adjacent stone, take out the crush run and reset it. If it's too low, add a crush run to boost it. It's a simple process, but I never said it would be easy. A 1- to 2-inch gap between stones is okay. You can choose tighter spacing. Slate is also easily broken and shaped. I made sure to carefully knock off any very sharp or jagged edges. Wear safety glasses.

A truckload of M10s did the job for me

Broadcast M10 and use push brush to fill the gap

Spray water on terrace to help stabilize M10

Another view of the finished patio

Step 8 – Fill in the gaps between the stones.

There are several ways to fill the gaps between stones, but I decided to use M10, which is a very fine gravel that fills well. Broadcast M10 on the stone slab with a shovel. Then take a push broom and move the M10 to fill the gap. Fill only part of the gap initially, then lightly spray the patio with a hose with a nozzle. Let the water settle on the M10 for a few minutes, then sprinkle in more fine gravel to completely fill the gaps. Spray the patio one last time.