Sorry, for possibly repeating my message, but as it hasn't appeared on the forum, and I don't know what your timing/patterns are I am repeating in case it did not get through. You can ignore this if you have my prior from yesterday.

A few years ago, I poured concrete steps from my sidewalk to my front yard, in anticipation of facing them eventually with flagstone. Eventually has arrived. I laid a nice flagstone walkway accross the yard (several inches of gravel, gardening cloth, crushed stone bed - should last) and now am ready to attack the steps with the same flagstone. (Don't worry, when framing the concrete, I lowered the first step to account for mortar and flagstone.)

(There will be questions soon on the landscaping forum related to the front yard....)

I have questions about the best way to deal with the wet/freeze/thaw/freeze cycle of DC winters.

The steps are about 43" wide with normal rise and run, and each riser and tread will have two stones, with a joint in the (approx) middle (and about a 1/2" overhang on the 11" tread - OK?).

All joints will be quite narrow, so unsanded caulk.

RISERS: I intend to caulk (a) the very narrow vertical joint between stones; (b) the joint between the bottom of the riser stone and the cement (there is mortar in that joing to make up for unneveness and to help hold); (c) the joint at the top of the riser between the back of the stone and the cement (before mortaring on the tread stone, which will cover that joint); and (d) the joint at the top of the riser where it abuts the botttom of the tread stone.

This is to keep moisture from getting under and behind the stones. re (b) is it better to NOT do this so that any moisture behind the stones can escape out the bottom (but it will only go under the tread stone, howeve it would be dissipated somewhat)? re (c) is this unnecessary given the tread flagstone on top? Should I just caulk for a few inches under where the tread joint will be?

TREADS: I intend to caulk (x) the middle joint, and (y) the joint at the back of the tread where it abuts the riser.

SIDES: I intend to caulk the joint at the side of the step where it meets the stucco covered retaining wall for my driveway. (One side only, the other side is free.)

CAULK vs. GROUT: Should any/all of these joints be grouted and sealed instead. Will sealing really do the job and really hold up? (I am prepared to have to mend the caulking every several years.)

WHAT CAULK: I bought a tube each at HD of "mortar" caulk and "driveway repair:" caulk. They claim to be waterproof, elastic, and long lasting. Not sure the difference, but bought two to get best color match. Is there something I should be using instead?

FINISH: Should I seal the stones? I'm not inclined to as I don't expect the sealant would hold up long term and would need regular maintenance, and I do not require a continual "new" look to thing, although I don't want thing to turn shabby. Advice here? (This wiill pertain to the walkway too - btw it has only crushed stone in the cracks to maintain stability. OK?)

Thanks in advance.

Red in DC