How To Lay a Flagstone Path

An age-old problem with suburban homes is "How do I get to the front door?" Builders always assume visitors can walk up the driveway that connects to the walkway and voila you're there. Don't they know that in a home with a two-car garage at least two cars and sometimes more end up on the driveway and visitors end up on the grass or in the bark dust? The answer to this dilemma is a walkway just for your visitors!

I ran into just this problem in my new-to-me Hillsboro home. Having scaled down in house size after divesting ourselves of two college-bound sons, much of our valuable junk was sitting in the garage. And as all things work out, my zippy red car and my husband's big blue truck hog the driveway with only inches to spare alongside. Not only were our visitors walking on the grass, I was doing the very same thing, wet socks and all.

My one advantage was that I was planning on redesigning the front yard anyway, so I incorporated a new 3' wide walk into my design. To give the walkway it's own identity I chose flagstone laid over gravel.

Following is a step-by-step description on how I did it. I am eternally grateful to my 21-year-old son, Paul for his hard work, strong back, and company.

Step 1
Remove the sod.

I only needed to remove 3' X 17' of sod for the path so normally I would have done it by hand. But, I decided to redo the entire lawn, as it was laid over hard packed clay with no organic matter added, and looked like a dried up piece of concrete. So I used a sod cutter, which I found was a wonderful tool. However, if you only need to dig a path, I'd use a squared off spade. The goal is to dig an area the size of your path, usually 30" - 36" wide and four inches deep with straight sides and a flat bottom.

Step 2
Edge the path.

If the path is next to grass, you will need to edge it to keep the gravel out of the way of the lawnmower. I used a 1" x 4" piece of treated wood and 1' stakes pounded in on either side of the board every 4' or so to keep it in place. Other options are steel, brick or concrete edging. Three layers of 1/4" bender board works well for curved paths. If the path is laid through barkdust I'd omit the edging and then sweep barkdust between the stones when It's finished, so they look like they're laid in barkdust. I did that for my less formal paths in the back yard.

Step 3
Place the gravel.

Lay 2 inches of gravel evenly in the pathway. I used 1/4" minus gravel, rather than sand as a base for the flagstone. It does not wash out as easily in a sloped area and supports the stone quite nicely.

Step 4
Lay the flagstone.

There are many types of flagstone available. I chose Rocky Mountain Gold Quartzite. It has shiny flecks of gold in it that reflect light at night and sparkle when wet. The typical thickness needed for this type of path is 3/4" - 1 1/4". I purchased a one ton pallet of flagstone because I added paths in my back yard as well as the front. You may purchase it by the pound or the ton. Typically 1" thick flagstone will weigh 13.3 lbs. per square foot or you can figure 1 ton will cover 150sq ft. My 52 square foot path weighed around 700 lbs. The 1 ton pallet of flagstone was loaded on the bed of my husband's Ford F250 pick-up with a forklift. That works fine if you have a big rig. I wouldn't try that with a little pick-up. I'd have it delivered. Once I got the rock home, we hand carried the rock two or 3 pieces at a time and placed it beside the length of the path. We moved our ton of rock in less than a half an hour with the help of a few extra kids.

Now the fun begins! Lay the rocks in a pattern that is pleasing and varied. Safety is of utmost importance for a front public walk, so try to use large pieces of flagstone and lay them fairly close together, within an inch or two at the most.

After I laid them in a pattern I liked, I worked them into the gravel, by shifting them back and forth. Next, I walked up and down the path to find any stones that shifted or tipped underfoot and then I adjusted them. I also eyed the stones to make sure they were level with one another so they wouldn't cause a tripping hazard.

Step 5
Sweep the gravel between the flagstone.

You actually have a few choices of materials at this step. I usually sweep gravel or barkdust between the flagstone, but you can use sand, soil or any filler you desire.

.......Options and variations

If you'd like to plant low growing herbs between the stones, space the stones three to four inches apart. I still recommend using 1/4" minus gravel as a base but you could use sand, soil or barkdust between the flagstone.
Flagstone can also be used as stepping stones through a bed or even the lawn. It's best to dig out the 4" path, then lay the 2" base of gravel. Next set the flagstone in an offset manner like someone would walk. I actually walked along the future path and laid the stones where my steps landed.
When two paths meet, place a larger than normal stone at the intersection.

Paul and I completed the entire project, minus the sod removal, in less than four hours. It was a most satisfying morning's work.

Sources in the Portland Oregon Area:
Oregon Decorative Rock Co. 503-646-9232,
11050 SW Denney Rd, Beaverton
Interstate Rock Products, Inc. 503-285-6342