Help with Dry Laid Flagstone Patio

Pa Pattern Flagstone can be installed by wet lay or dry lay.  Dry lay is easier for a DIYer to do themselves as long as the base is properly done.  

1)  Start out by drawing and measuring your planned area.

2)  Purchase your flagstone, make sure to purchase extra for areas that may need to be cut or for ones that you may not like.

3)  Dig out your area about 9" deep and about 12" beyond your ending area.

4)  Make sure your slope going away from your home is 1/4" per foot.  Example a 12' patio there would be a 3" difference from top to bottom.

5)  Place stabilization fabric directly on the dirt and 4" - 6" of 2a Modified (crusher run) above that.  You will need to run a compactor over the gravel.

6)  Install 1" of stone dust to be used as a leveling agent for the flagstone.  Screened the fines with a pipe.  If it is going to rain make sure to cover the fines with a tarp.  

7)  Hammer spikes across from each other and attach a string line this will help keep your lines straight as your installing the stone.

8)  Start against the house laying the flagstone using the stone dust to help level out each one.  Make sure you have your rubber mallet in hand.  You will use it to bang on the stone to help place it.

9)  Once you have your flagstone installed you will want to install paver edge restraints and polysand.

Adding Stone Veneer Inside Your Home

This project is set for an intermediate DIYer.

One of the big new things in interior home designs are accent walls.  Accent walls can be made out of recycle wood pallets, veneer thin stone, tile and or just paint.  The wall gives your home depth and character and it is generally a trend that will last.

USING STONE VENEER

MSI Stone Ledger

Tools:  
             Tile Saw
             Cement Board Score Tool
             Diamond Wheel Tool
             Notch Trowel
             Drill
             Mixing Paddle
             Chalk Line
             Level

Materials:
             1/2" Thick Cement Board
             2-1/4" Cement Board Screws
             Thin Set
             Mesh Cement Board Tape

How To:

             Place cement board directly on dry wall.  If you have outlets along the wall you will need to purchase outlet extenders so that once you have a finished product the outlets are not effected.  After the cement board has been screwed into the studs apply mesh tape.  Apply thin set and then apply the stone veneer.  You will use a tile saw to cut the ends of the veneer to fit into your wall.  The diamond blade is used to cut your veneer around your outlets.  Note one box of screws will do about 40 square foot of wall and one 50lbs bag of thin set will cover 70 square foot of wall.  The are some great You Tube Video's you can find online for more precise guidance.

Cost:
   
        If the wall you are trying to cover is 10' x 8' = 80 square feet

Cement board needed 6 pieces at $11.50 each = $69.00
Cement board screws 2 boxes at $8.50 each = $17.00
Thin Set Cement 2 bags at $15.00 each = $30.00
Thin Veneer Stone average $10 per square foot = $800.00
Electrical Outlet Extenders (if needed) $3.50 each

Your looking at an estimate of $920.00 for a 10' x 8' accent wall.

Start Enjoying Your Back Yard!

Delaware Hardscape Supply offers many products that will make your backyard the envy of the neighborhood.  Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Outdoor Tile, Natural Stone Panel Veneer, Boulders and a Little help with creativity.

 Fire Pits are an easy quick addition to any patio.  They are visually attractive as well as some where that your family and friends can gather on chilly nights.  Image provided by Belgard.

Fireplaces help take your inside living outside for longer into the year.  Belgard offers pre-built fireplaces that just need a footer and a machine, a few easy steps and you could be enjoying it that weekend.  You could also customize your fireplace.  The fireplace from Stone Farm Living gives you the options to place any type of veneer that you want to your custom size fire place.  The fireplace comes packaged in pieces and you mortar it together.  We are now offering panels of thin real stone veneer.  The veneer comes in sections in small manageable boxes.

Do you want an attractive island outside?  Stone Farm offers custom outdoor cabinets and grill options.  Enjoy yourself and your family outside, no more running into the house to cook.  This outside island is easy to design, ships easy, easy to customize and easy to install.