Planning a Flagstone Path

Check your local building codes to find out whether you need a permit before breaking ground. The codes might also have guidelines regarding how deep you'll need to dig when you build your path. You can acquire a property map from your local building department, which might show the location of underground utilities. Be cautious about building a path over these utilities--if you or your city must access these utilities in the future, your path might become a casualty of the resulting excavation.

Plan the dimensions of your path. You can create a simple path of equal length and width or you can create a winding path with curves. The curving path will be a bit more difficult when it comes to the excavation and placement of flagstones but can pay off if you want a path with a different look or a walkway that winds through your yard.

Decide on the tools you'll need for the job. You will create a trench that is at least 6 inches deep. This trench will have a 2-inch-deep layer of gravel, followed by landscape fabric and a 4-inch-deep layer of sand. Take into account the length, width and depth of your path and calculate the amount of sand and gravel you'll require. Landscape fabric provides a barrier between the gravel and sand base to prevent weeds from growing up through the path. Calculate the length and width of the path to determine how much landscape fabric to purchase.

Decide whether you need any heavy-duty equipment. Once you've excavated the path area and placed the gravel in the trench, you'll need to tamp the gravel down to level it. In smaller projects, you can do this with a shovel. If you want a very wide and long path, you might want to consider renting a power tamper to make the job easier.

Purchase your flagstone. You can buy flagstone in bulk at local quarries. Find pieces of flagstone that are flat so that you can install them easily in the sand bed. You'll want to purchase flagstones in various sizes and dimensions. Don’t choose pieces of flagstone that are identical to one another--you'll want your path to have a natural look that differently sized pieces will give it. If you don’t know how much flagstone to purchase, it’s better to buy more than less. Having extra flagstone on hand can be useful if you ever need to replace a piece.

Determine the placement of the flagstones. Once you've excavated the site, poured a layer of gravel and rolled out the landscape fabric, you'll need to add a layer of sand. Wet the sand down with a garden hose, then level it by dragging a two-by-four over the surface. Next to the sand bed, start laying out the flagstones like puzzle pieces. By performing this dry run, you can play around with the look of the flagstones before you place them permanently. Allow approximately 1 inch of space around each flagstone.

Plan on the possibility that you'll need an assistant for part of the project. If you choose to use large pieces of flagstone, you might need someone to help you lift and place them.

Pound each of the stones into the sand bed with a rubber mallet. Then make sure you have a straightedge on hand to ensure the stones are level. When all of the stones are in place, you'll add a layer of sand on top of the finished path. The sand must fill the cracks between each stone. You'll then wet down the sand to make sure the stones are thoroughly packed.