Flagstone Paths: Characteristics

Flagstone is a traditional favorite for stone pathways. It comes in various colors and stone types, looks great in all kind of settings, and is available in a wide price range. And the best thing is, anyone with some free time and determination can install flagstone paths that are as long lasting and attractive as those installed by landscape professionals. Now, we will be discussing a number of areas regarding flagstone pathways, from characteristics, to its design and use, and also the cost. There is a lot of ground to cover, so let's get started with Characteristics.

Material Characteristics

Flagstone is sold under two classifications:

• Flagstone - large, irregularly shaped sheets of quarried stone
• Flagstone Steppers - smaller pieces of the same material

Flagstone is generally 18 to 40 inches in diameter. Larger sizes are heavy; much more weight than one person should lift (unless you are a bodybuilder). Flagstone is best used for pathways that are 3 to 4 feet wide or wider. Flagstone steppers are usually 12 to 20 inches in diameter. They are called steppers because they are of the size typically used in stepping-stone paths. One adult person can work comfortably with steppers. Steppers are best used for narrow pathways, ones 16 to 30 inches wide.

Thickness of flagstone and steppers varies between a 1/2 inch to 4 inches. Stone 1/2 inch thick should be used only where it will be set in mortar. Flagstone and steppers 1 1/2 to 3 inches thick are considered standard sizes, and work well for both mortared and dry-laid paths.

Types of flagstone and steppers include limestone, sandstone, slate, quartzite, and granite. This gives you a wide range of prices, textures, and colors to work with. Depending on how the stone was quarried, surface texture of flagstone and steppers will vary from almost counter-top smooth to rocky mountain rough textures with surface variations around a 1/2 inch.

Stone Pathways: Introduction (Part I)

Pathways will lead us somewhere. That is their sole purpose. When you are walking in the woods, you usually see a trail. When you walk outside, you have streets intertwining with one another, or even leading to a dead end with a trail into the woods. When you ski down a hill, you might see flags to show you where to go, because if you go elsewhere you might get hurt. These are all pathways, because they guide you.

Pathways not only guide you from place to place, but they guide your eyes as well. When designing pathways, consider both the practical and aesthetic possibilities within your yard and garden. Depending on your taste, you might go for one or the other specifically.

Make sure to start your design by laying out the main pathways. These paths are the routes leading to and from the house. Also ask yourself this question:

"Where do I travel most in my yard?"

If you travel to your shed (if you have one), that might be an ideal place to have a pathway. But, the main pathways for most home owners lead from the street or sidewalk to the front door and also from the garage or driveway apron to the back or side door. If you want to see a good example, it's right outside your front door (literally). These pathways need to be the widest and easiest to walk on. Why? Because this is what you'll be walking on when you come home from grocery shopping or clothes shopping.

A 4-foot-wide pathway allows two people to walk side-by-side very easily. Guests parking on the street or in the driveway and walking to the house will be appreciative of this. Pathways with smooth surfaces and few irregularities are best for guest entryways, but also can help if you are on a date or taking a walk with your spouse.

Stone Landscaping: What are the Possibilities? (Part I)

Choices, choices, and more choices. When it comes to choosing how to use something, you might not think of every creative way to use something. When it comes to stone landscaping, there are a lot of ways to use stone. With some planning and hard work, you will have a scenary that will catch anyone's eye. And even with every category of stone landscaping, there is even more variety. The only limitation is what your mind can think up.

Stone Pathways

Stone pathways can be constructed in many ways, each with a different look and style reflecting the artistry of the person who put it together. Pathways serve the purpose of providing a route through the garden to any visitors. The look, size, and style of a stone pathway is an important landscape accent, and can be considered a part of the garden itself.

Stone Walls

Not many features in a home garden can not match the charm and ageless appeal of a stone wall (look at the great wall of china, and historical landmarks all over the world). There is something about stone walls that appeal to us: their strength and permanence (it's stone and cement, only a bulldozer or a giant can knock those down). And guess what? Building a stone wall is not difficult at all (look to future blogs for information on building them).

Stone Steps & Staircases

Stone steps & staircases combine a simple purpose with a strong visual presence to add eye-catching beauty to your home garden/landscape (however you prefer to call it). Two or three single steps along a gradually rising pathway bring a visitor's eyes downward. If you have plants that you would like a visitor to notice, put them right along the sides of the steps (see picture above). A more formal, cut-stone staircase leading to a home's front door is something people normally do. If you design it well, people might feel like they are getting a red carpet treatment or entering a fancy home (as long as you keep the house clean!). Simple design ideas can bring beauty to any home. This is just one way.

Next time, we will finish up with the possibilities of stone. Then, we will dive into stone uses.

"But, wait! Aren't these possibilities stone uses?"

Yes, they are, in fact, ways to use stone. But, you can get more specific with ways to use stone. These are big projects to build around a garden. There are other ways to use stones. How so? Tune back here this week and I'll tell you.