What is Flagstone? Understanding The Most Popular Landscape Design Material
Walkways, patios, swimming pool decks, and stepping stones are examples of what can be built using flagstone. What is this popular design material, and what is the big deal with it?
Who doesn’t crave a beautiful compound? Over the years, people have resorted to natural stone for their design, and flagstone has grown to be a very efficient go-to when making walkways, garden edges, patio designs, among others.
One of the reasons why it’s popular is because it allows water to spread throughout instead of running off. Thinking of using flagstone in your landscaping projects?
Here’s what you need to know first.
What are flagstones?
Flagstone is a flat stone slab that can be cut into different shapes and can be used for paving walkways, floors, and roofing, among others. On the surface, you can see that it is a rock that is split into layers.
How are rocks shaped into flagstones? A stonemason cuts up larger stones into flat sheets. The last sheets of rock are then shaped into flagstone slabs.
Common Types of Flagstone
Are you thinking of flagstone patios? There are many flagstone options just that they differ in textures, colors, shapes, and uses. Here are examples of the popular ones you may get for your project.
- SLATE – fine-grained, metamorphic stone, transformed form of shale
Colors: silver, gray, green, and copper
As one of the most used, slate is utilized for making even wall cladding. In the US, you can get this flagstone rock in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and New York.
- SANDSTONE – a stone type of sedimentary rock made of layers of quarts grains and stones cemented together
Colors: beige, pink, gold, and red
Sandstone is used to make patios and in paving the walkways. In the US, it is usually found in the Southwest.
- QUARTZITE – stone formed from transformed rock
Colors: silver, gold, blue, grey, and green.
The flat pieces of quartzite can be applied when making kitchen countertops or as slabs on walkways, among others. This variety of flagstone is usually found in Oklahoma, Idaho, and Northern Utah.
- BLUESTONE – dense blue or greyish version of sandstone
Colors: blue, purple
Its flat stone pieces can be utilized on the surface when designing walls or cobbles. The bluestone is common in the Northeast of the United States.
- LIMESTONE – primal matter for cement but is a sedimentary rock made of calcite stones
- BASALT – an igneous rock resulting from volcanic activity
Colors: gray, beige, and black
Its materials – basalt can be put to use when designing walkways, swimming pool beds, and garden edges, among other landscaping use.
Different Ways of Using Flagstone
Here are examples of how you can use flagstone to add a natural view to your landscape projects
- Redefine your outdoor living space using a flagstone patio.
- Ease foot traffic by paving your walkway using flagstone.
- Place the flagstone rocks a few inches apart to act as stepping stones in your compound.
- For people in hilly areas, use flagstones to give your terraces and retaining walls a natural look.
- Beautify your flower garden by adding flagstone edges to it.
- Add a beautiful border to your swimming pool using flagstone to give it a natural feel.
What to Consider when Choosing Flagstone
From choosing the right kind of flagstone to installing it, there’s a lot to consider when choosing the best flagstone for your project:
- First, you need to understand that flagstone varies in different regions. It’s necessary that you research where particular material, colors and types of flagstone are sold for the best landscaping results.
- Consider consulting experts. You don’t want to get duplicate products that won’t last a long time. You will also be able to learn a lot from these experts on care for the flagstone.
- Add an extra percentage to your flagstone material requirements to cater for cuts and irregularities in your landscaping.
- Some flagstone types change color over a certain period of time. Take note of that as you plan long or short term.
