Handmade Arbor Swing: How to a Install Flagstone Patio

This porch and patio walkthrough stays in the order the work happens.

We’re sharing step by step as we build a Handmade arbor swing in a striking backyard! This is Step 13: how to install a flagstone patio using polymeric sand instead of mortar.

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Watch the full Handmade Arbor Swing Step-By-Step video playlist here.

A flagstone patio makes a great addition to any landscape, and this hardscaping is especially nice to have in a high-traffic area (such as around fire pits or in outdoor kitchens). This new flagstone patio was the well fitted finishing touch around the swing arbor area and this will ensure that the porch swing is straightforward to get into and there are no ruts in the ground from feet dragging.

And just a note: this type of hard surface is fine for around a porch swing like this, but for a kids’ swingset or play area, you’ll want a softer surface for their inevitable jumps and falls.

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How to Install a Handmade Flagstone Patio

Flagstone pavers are a striking natural stone alternative to concrete pavers. The installation process is much the same – hard labor-intensive work that requires attention to detail. Because the flagstone pavers are all different, there’s no real “pattern” to mess up like with brick, so this is a good option for DIYers and homeowners who want a natural rock pathway that’s straightforward to walk on.

When purchasing flagstone pavers for a patio or walkway, there are different sizes to choose from and many different stone colors and types of flagstone including slate, sandstone, bluestone, quartzite, limestone, etc. You can buy smaller amounts or larger bulk pallets, depending on how many square feet you need. Take the slope of your area into consideration when choosing flagstone paver size, too.

BEFORE YOU DIG: Call 811 to have the utilities marked. Do not dig until you know where the lines are!

Installation Method: Mortar-set vs dry laid flagstone patio

Many professional contractors will use mortar to set the flagstone patio pavers in place. For this project, I chose to use a dry laid flagstone patio installation.

For wet-laid flagstone patios, a wet mortar (a concrete-like mixture) is spread beneath the stones to hold the stones in place, and then any gaps are filled with mortar or grout. This is a process similar to tiling, and requires a solid slab beneath the stones.

For this dry-laid flagstone patio, I added polymeric sand after the stones were laid on a sand base with the compacted soil below. When the polymeric sand gets wet, it bonds together so it won’t wash away or be worn away by foot traffic. This process is much simpler and easier for homeowners who want to install their own Handmade flagstone patio.

Ground preparation: Depending on the previous surface and soil conditions in your outdoor space, you may need to rent a plate compactor or tamper to ensure that the ground beneath the paver base is compact, to reduce shifting and extend the life of the paver patio.

Edging: The area we were working had boundaries already established by the fence and the curbing, but if your area doesn’t have defined edges, use stakes and string to establish the edges or install some landscape edging to define the space.

Step 1: Install the gravel base

We installed a layer of paver sand in the area 2-3″ thick. Each natural stone slab will be a slightly different thickness, so the base thickness will vary a little bit with it. You can also add a layer of stone dust (aka decomposed granite) to make the base more durable, if you’d like.

It’s important to pay attention to the area where you are installing to ensure that the base + paver depth will fit with any edging or, in our case, the depth of the plastic protective coat we put on the base of the posts.

Step 2: Dry fit the flagstones

Check the stones for cracks, and dry fit the stones in the area. As you can see in the video, we used an angle grinder to trim some parts of the stones to fit better in the area where we wanted them. Be sure to wear proper protection for the stone dust that this creates!

Step 3: Secure the flagstone patio layout

For a dry-laid flagstone patio, you can fill the gaps between slabs and secure the layout using either additional sand/gravel or, my go-to, polymeric sand. Sand or gravel may erode and wash away and can also shift as you walk on the pavers. Polymeric sand still allows for water drainage while holding the pavers securely in place, and it comes in many different colors to match the stone.

Just fill the cracks with polymeric sand and sweep to ensure that all the gaps are filled with no sand left on the surface. Wet the sand (or, bonus if there’s rain in the forecast!) and bada-boom, your flagstone patio is ready to party.

Stay tuned and subscribe to see how how we add the swing + the finished project reveal!

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Flagstone Patio Costs

A flagstone patio is a great investment for your landscaping, but it’s not exactly a dirt-low-cost backyard hardscape option. (See what I did there?) DIYing the flagstone install helps save on the labor costs, if you’re willing to exercise your Handmade muscle.

The average cost of a flagstone patio in the US is around $3600, and prices range from $15-30 per square foot. The cost of flagstone itself ranges from $200-550 per ton, and one ton of flagstone will cover anywhere from 70-140 square feet depending on the thickness of the stone.

For a professional flagstone installation, the quote will vary depending on how much preparation the area needs previous to the installation. As with any landscaping project, you may be able to do some of the prep work if you want to save on labor costs for a contractor. Depending on the area, you may also require permits, so get a couple of estimates from locals to ensure that you are getting accurate square footage.