What is Flagstone?
Flagstone is a flat stone slab that is shaped into various shapes and used for flooring, roofing, fireplaces, paving, steps, patios, and walkways. Flagstone is an excellent stone for patios because of its close-filled links that permit water to pass through. It is the go-to in efficiency when making garden edges and when used in patio designs.
There are many different types of flagstones all with their own features. Just like snowflakes, no two flagstones are alike. They have varying thickness, textures, and levels of permeability. Some popular varieties include sandstone, quartzite, bluestone, and limestone.
Most flagstones come in one of two shapes:
• Cut Paver Stones different-sized rectangles with straight edges and clean lines.
• Irregular, roundish stones used for “crazy paving,” which means fitting those random shapes together for an informal, natural look.
Flagstone can be dry-laid on a bed of sand or gravel for either choice or concrete can be wet laid. Thinner flagstones are best laid in concrete because they can shatter easily.
Benefits of Flagstone:
• A Natural, distinctive, and reasonably -priced replacement for concrete pavers
• No two pieces are alike; Each is absolutely unique
• Long lasting, versatile, and low maintenance
• Natural non-slip surface
• User-friendly installation
• Can be purchased in any amount
Types of Flagstones available today:
• Slate: most commonly known, comes in silver, gray, green, and copper variations
• Sandstone: sedimentary rock formed by layers of sand gives a contemporary or earthy look
• Basalt: igneous or volcanic rock. Natural gray, beige, or black variation
• Quartzite: a form of metamorphosed rock. It offers a glossy, smooth surface for an ageless appearance that withstands the tests of time
• Limestone: one of the most common sedimentary rocks. Composed of calcite. Offers a natural split surface that can be polished. Offers a more elegant stone finish
• Travertine: a compacted variety of limestone and comes in various shades of brown, tan, and gray blues
• Bluestone: type of blue-gray sandstone and offers a much denser composition. Most commonly comes in shades of blue, gray and purple
• Arizona Flagstone: a type of sandstone. Most commonly used for making patio areas. Able to stay fairly cool in the hotter seasons and most commonly available in pinkish shades, as well as reds for a warm-toned finish
When deciding on designing with flagstone, there are several factors to take into consideration:
• Choose a flagstone that comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and thicknesses to accommodate your design
• Stay away from glittery flagstone since it has the tendency to lose its sparkle over years of wear and tear
• Bright-colored stones often end up being softer than more muted, uniform tones
• Verify the stone has been tested in residential landscapes over time