A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install Flagstone Patios

Mark the desired patio area using stakes and string, or spray paint.

Dig the ground in the desired patio area 5 inches deeper than the thickness of the flagstone. Rake the soil to even the ground surface. Place and move a board across the ground with a level to check for evenness and make any corrections. Compact the soil to create a firm bed, using a garden roller or a hand tamper.

Unroll sections of eco-friendly weed-blocking fabric, cut them to fit and line the excavated bed. Cut the fabric to extend up the sides of the excavated bed.

Top the layer of weed-blocking fabric with 4 inches of gravel. Tamp or roll the gravel layer. Use the board and level again to check for evenness. Create a slight slope if water runoff away from a building is necessary. Add a 1 1/2-inch layer of sand on top of the gravel. Tamp or roll the sand. Mist the gravel and sand with the garden hose to dampen and allow the layers to settle. Add more sand to any dips that develop.

Begin laying flagstones in a corner. Strike each flagstone with a rubber mallet to embed it securely in the sand. Fit regularly shaped flagstone pavers tightly together in successive rows. Install irregularly shaped flagstones more organically, thinking of the stones as puzzle pieces to be fit together. Split pavers to fit better, as needed, by striking at the desired split line with a chisel and hammer.

After all the stones are in place, pack soil around exposed edges to prevent horizontal stone drifting. If necessary, embed vertical stones deep in the ground as edging or stake discreet plastic edging around the perimeter of the patio.

Pour an excess of sand over the flagstone patio surface and sweep the sand into the gaps between stones to ensure tight joints. Spray the patio surface with a hose to settle the sand in the joints. Add more sand to any cavities that form.