Just as the interior of your home is important, the exterior also needs attention. When it comes to home improvement, you will discover that incredible opportunities exist for do-it-yourself projects, ways that you can enhance the appearance of the home, whether inside or outside. In this article, we wanted to provide information for installing a new flagstone walkway. If your current walkway is outdated, stained, or damaged in any way, people would not feel welcomed when approaching your home, which is what you want.
As you are about to discover, installing a flagstone walkway is not as complicated as most people think. This particular material is a generic flat stone commonly used for paving walkways, patios, and slabs, as well as roofing and fences. However, flagstone is a material used for facades, memorials, and even headstones. Regardless of the purpose, flagstone has a smart look that works well with virtually any style home.
Typically, flagstone is a type of sandstone made from quartz and feldspar. For grain, measurements are anywhere from .16 millimeters to 2 millimeters with the different sizes creating unique looks. Additionally, most popular colors of flagstone include buff, red, and blue although a number of more exotic and elegant colors are also available. Then for binding, materials used include iron oxide, silica, or calcite.
To install flagstone in the front of your home to help with curb appeal, start by removing any grass, debris, or pavers in the area. The goal is to have a clear surface consisting of nothing more than dirt. Next, with a can of spray paint designed with an inverted tip to make spraying easier, outline the shape and size of the new walkway. The great thing about this process is that it creates a visual so if you decide you want something different, you would simply cover the paint with dirt and start over. Remember, there is no wrong or right choice simply what you like.
It is important that to install a flagstone walkway that it is perfectly even with other landscape. In other words, you want the finished walkway to be flush with grass, a flowerbed, border, etc. If the area for the walkway were near an area of bare dirt that would need to be filled in later with sod, you would want to set the flagstone down two inches. That way, the walkway would be level with the new sod after it has been installed.
Now, you want to add a layer of washed sand, which is important in that it will not absorb and hold much water. This type of sand can be purchased from gardening centers, home improvement companies, and soil yards. After the sand has been added to bring the base for the flagstone walkway to about one-half inch of the height needed, use a trowel, or rake to make sure it is distributed evenly.
Although flagstone can be installed in a variety of ways, one of the most appealing is by placing the larger pieces in the areas of the walkway that would get the greatest amount of foot traffic. After setting the large stones, you would then place other stones around, keeping them about one and one-half to two inches apart. To make sure the stone does not move after being set, move it back and forth slightly so it settles a little bit into the sand and to cover the bottom of the stone, as well as sides.
You would then need a bucket of decomposed granite, which is some type of crushed rock typically a tan color. Pour this over the walkway to fill the gaps between the flagstone rocks. As the granite settles into place, it not only creates a clean, finished look but also works to lock all the flagstone pieces securely into place. To get the decomposed granite into all the small crevices, the best method is to sweep it with a broom.
Now, take a garden hose to water down the flagstone walkway to allow the decomposed granite to settle and lock even more. As the granite pushes down further, pour another bucket on top, sweeping it into place, and watering again. You will need to repeat this process three to four times until all gaps have been completely filled. The goal is to go through this process enough times until the walkway is even and flush with the surrounding dirt or grass. If wanted, after the walkway has dried, a sealant could be added.
