Flagstone Paver Installation

Measure and mark out the area you want to excavate with a tape measure and marking paint.

Excavate your building area. The hole you excavate should be around eight inches deep into the ground. Excavate two extra inches on each side lengthwise to account for your edging material and to allow for proper drainage.

Fill in your excavation area with four inches of the base material, which is usually some type of gravel or composite stone.

Use either a hand tamper or plate compactor and firmly compact the gravel base material.

Set a level on top of the compacted surface. Allow a slight slope away from your house to account for proper drainage and prolong the life of your flagstone pavers.

Fill the excavation area with a one-inch bed of sand. Set a screed rail on the two longest edges of the sand so they are parallel to each other and drag a two-by-four across the sand to create an even layer all the way across.

Lay the flagstones down onto the sand bed one stone at a time beginning in a corner. Place them onto the sand bed and tap them down gently using a rubber hammer. Place 1/8-inch paver spacers between each of the flagstones after you tap them into place.

Install a flexible edge on each of the two longest sides of the building area to ensure the pavers don't shift over time. To do this, line the edging material along the edge of each side, then pound stakes through the spaces in the edging and into the ground.

Spread bonding sand evenly into the joints between the flagstone pavers. Sweep any excess sand off the surface of the pavers with a broom. This is important because once the sand gets wet, it's much harder to remove from the surface.

Spray a fine mist of water onto the joints. Wait 30 minutes and repeat. Wait another 30 minutes, then spray one more mist of water onto the joints. Let your pavers set for at least 12 hours before putting any weight on them.