A Versatile Material Flagstone is one of those materials that offers a beautiful, natural way to enhance any landscape.
Flagstone is typically a stone that is flat and is around a couple inches thick.
The stones are sold as irregular stones (for a more natural appearance) or cut stones.
The main kinds of flagstone sold are made of granite, quartzite, slate, limestone and sandstone.
You can also pick flagstones in a number of shades and designs.
Because it offers such versatility, flagstone is well-suited to a variety of landscapes and goes well with several types of architectural styles.
However, this may cause some confusion when it comes to selecting a specific type of flagstone for your landscape or property.
Choosing Flagstone for a Patio You can incorporate flagstone into the construction of a patio, walkway or even a fence.
Using flagstone for a patio takes a lot of patience.
Because your goal is to achieve a level surface, you need to make sure that each stone is fitted so the overall area is even.
Stones can be heavy, so if you take on the task yourself, it is advisable that you retain someone to help you.
If you are seeking a simpler way to install a patio, it's probably best to choose pavers made of concrete or bricks for your construction.
Colors of Stone When deciding on flagstone for your patio, you'll need to determine the type of coloring you'd like.
For example, if you would appreciate a nice shade of brown and a stone that is easier to cut, then you might like the buff flagstone that is from New Mexico.
Arizona flagstone, always in ample supply, is also a good choice as it comes in several colors.
If you would like to include a blue stone in your patio, then Pennsylvania blue flagstone is a viable choice.
Colorado flagstone is also a premium stone, and comes in buff as well as red.
Wet Construction vs.
Dry Construction How you lay your flagstone is, of course, a basic consideration too.
If you use a wet construction, then you will be laying your stone in concrete.
This is much harder to undertake and is more time-consuming than the other method, or a dry construction.
Dry construction entails laying the flagstone in sand, and is often preferred by do-it-yourselfers.
However, once you're done with a wet construction, you normally are not faced with a great deal of maintenance or repair work.
If you choose a dry construction, you'll typically need to anticipate repairs as the stones can settle after a period of time.
For a wet construction, usually the only repair that may be needed is to fix any cracks that appear in the joints in the concrete.
A Slip-Resistant Stone If you want a stone that is slip-resistant, it is best to choose fieldstone for your patio.
This kind of flagstone has a rougher surface and is a better choice for reasons of safety.
Nevertheless, many people pick slate for its smooth and even surface.
Much, of course, depends on your own needs and personal preferences.
For magnifying the look of any landscape, you really can't go wrong with any flagstone material.