How to Install a Flagstone Walkway
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version)
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An inviting flagstone pathway is the perfect way to
welcome visitors to your yard or favorite flower garden. Flagstone
paths are a practical way to control traffic patterns and provide a
perfect accent to your landscape. There are many options and a wide
selection of styles and colors to blend in seamlessly with your home
and its surroundings.
You can build it! Installing a
flagstone pathway on your property is an easy project for the "do
it yourselfer". As with any project, the key is planning.
Selecting the correct style of flagstone material is an important
starting point. For example, does your project require irregular
shapes or precut flagstone with uniform shapes and sizes? The
following are other factors, which should be taken into consideration
before beginning your project;
• What is the length and width of your
pathway? Correct estimates can save time and labor.
• What is the proper base material for your
pathway? Sand, pea gravel, and chipped limestone are all
suitable materials.
• Will a drainage system be incorporated into
the construction of the pathway?
• Will steps be built into the pathway to
address changes in elevation?
If you are searching for ways to create a beautiful
and useful flagstone pathway, your friends at GE Landscape Supply are
here to assist you with all your landscaping needs. Whether it
is estimating quantities of materials, determining which material best
suits your project, or assisting with site selection, our goal is to
help you create the landscape you desire.
Recommended Tools
• Shovel
• Rake
• Flexible Tape Measure
• Hand Tamper
• 2 x 4
• Broom
• Level
• Rubber Mallet
• Garden Hose
The materials needed for a 4’ wide by
20’ long flagstone walkway are as follows:
• 1 ton of Wash Sand for base material*
• 1.5 tons of Flagstone (sizes and weights may
vary)
• .25 ton of Pea Gravel to fill gaps between
flagstones
• Sandlok may be used to mix with gravel to
harden flagstone bedding material (optional)
• 50 feet of Brick Edging to secure the edges
of the pathway (optional)
• Glacier Accent Boulders (optional)
* Material may vary based upon path size or builder
preference
Installation
1 Place the stones where you think they will work
best. Arrange them so the spaces between them provide a comfortable
stepping distance. Adjust the stones to create gradual curves if
desired. Walk the path in both directions a couple of times
and make any final adjustments.
2 Once the flagstones are in their permanent spots,
cut into the sod around them with a sharp shovel to mark the shape.
Remove two inches of soil plus the depth of the stone to make room for
the base material and the stone.
3 Add about two inches of sand and smooth it out to
make a stable but pliable base for the stone. Without sand, the pathway
would be less stable and the stones would be prone to cracking.
4 Place the flagstone into the layer of sand or
other base material and gradually twist the stone into place.
Stones should not rock or teeter.
5 Check to make sure the stones are level to the
ground. If they aren’t, adjust the sand and stone
accordingly.
6 Lay a 2x4 board across the surface of the
flagstone and tap the board with a rubber mallet to seat the flagstone
firmly in place. Double check the level of the stones.
7 Fill the area in between the stones with mulch,
gravel or sand. Sweep the filler material into all of the gaps.
Thoroughly water the pathway to wash the stones and help them and the
material settle.
8 Sit back, relax and enjoy the functional beauty
that a flagstone walkway provides.
