How to Build a Flagstone Patio

Flagstone is any type of flat stone used to build patios. It is a relatively easy building material since does not require mixing and pouring as concrete does. A flagstone patio only requires sand and water, which allows you to replace individual stones when they crack.

• Rake


• Twine


• 2x4-inch board


• Carpenter's level


• Sand


• Hose


• Mallet


• Flagstone


• Chisel


• Hammer

1. Rake the patio site to produce a smooth surface with an even distribution of soil. Mark the boundaries of the site with twine.


2. Remove the top three inches of soil from the patio site with a shovel. Ensure the surface is level with a 2x4-inch board and a carpenter's level.


3. Fill the patio site with two inches of sand and rake the surface smooth. Level the surface again with a 2x4-inch board.


4. Moisten the sand with water from a hose. Tamp down the moist sand with a mallet and board.


5. Lay the flagstones on the patio site, beginning with the outside of the site and working your way in. Start with larger pieces and fill in the gaps with smaller pieces.


6. Make flagstone pieces with specific shapes by scoring the stone with a chisel and carefully breaking it with a hammer.


7. Remove the twine from the patio site once you finish laying the flagstones.


8. Pour sand over the flagstones to fill the cracks. Sweep the sand into the cracks and wash the loose sand with water from a hose. Repeat this step until the cracks are completely filled with sand.