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Gardening with Stone

Flagstone On Sand Patio - step by step, pros and cons

15 years ago

I just joined Gardenweb today! I just had my pool removed and filled with dirt on my sideyard (according to strict permit requirement). I would like to have Arizona Flagstone installed there. I don't want anything permanent, so I was thinking about laying it on sand (which some contractors are dead against). I'm getting mixed advices. I would love your input on the following:

1. Should I wait until the area settle or can I install patio right away?

2. A. What is the difference between gravel, road base, base rock and II class base rock? B. Which one is the best for laying flagstone? C. How many inches would you advice?

3. Some people seem to advice laying flagstone after laying on base and some say to put sand. What is the best method? If laying sand, what kind of sand and how many inches?

4. What are the pros and cons of laying flagstone on sand?

5. Has anybody installed square cut Arionzona flagstone? If so,what do you think? Any photos?

Thank you so much! I look forward to getting your help.

Maxumma

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Comment (1)

User
15 years ago
Let it settle, or accept that you will be lifting and relaying the rocks to compensate.

In Zone 9, where you have no freezing and frost heaving to deal with, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with laying flagstone on plain dirt. I'm doing a path and patio now, and it's going right on top of the packed dirt, with dirt added or removed to level the stones.

The only question is how rustic do you want? If you absolutely want a perfectly level, needs no adjustment ever patio, you need to do the expensive kind with rebar, concrete and all the rest.

If you are willing to accept some differences in level, and to occasionally have to reset a stone that has drifted off-level ... laying it on dirt or sand is perfectly OK in your climate.
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