Flagstone & Brick Walkways

Brick walkway with a herringbone design

Many homeowners use flagstone or brick pavers in walkways to give them interest and appeal. Whether used for the approach to a home or as a meandering path through a garden, these pavers have features and advantages that make them attractive landscaping materials.

Identificaton

Flagstone and brick walkways feature natural materials with distinct characteristics. Flat, thin slabs of flagstone with irregular edges offer a timeless look in a variety of colors that range from natural tones to deep blues. Brick walkways feature neat geometric-shaped stones made of fired clay that lend an old world style to an outdoor environment. The colors of brick pathways are usually earth tones: red, brown, gray or tan.

Types

Flagstone walkways usually feature randomly shaped slabs pushed snugly together. Landscape designers sometimes plant grass or ground cover between stones or lay the stones in mulch. Alternatively, they may use materials like gravel or mortar between the stones. They may choose to leave the borders of the walkway irregular or cut the stones to form a more uniform edging. Flagstone also comes in pre-cut square slabs.

Brick walkways have a pattern in the design. The Jack-on-Jack pattern features bricks laid side by side with all joints aligning. Running bond has side-by-side bricks with the joints staggered. Basket weave uses two bricks side-by-side vertically next to two side-by-side horizontally, laid in an alternating pattern. Herringbone, the most intricate of the designs, has brick laid in a staggered v-pattern. Some homeowners add a personal touch to their walkways with stamped or oddly shaped accents.

Advantages

Flagstone and brick walkways have natural joints between the pieces that allows them to give with pressure and contraction, meaning they won't crack as quickly as a concrete walkway. They give outdoor landscaping warmth and texture that concrete does not. They resist water and heat, withstand heavy traffic and have a non-slip surface. You can quickly repair a walkway made with either of the materials by removing the damaged pavers and replacing them with a new ones.

Installation

A motivated, organized homeowner can install a flagstone or brick walkway as a do-it-yourself project. The basic steps include planning the design, leveling out the ground, placing any desired base material such as sand and laying the flagstone or brick in the desired design. The stone should gently slope to allow for drainage. If the homeowner doesn't have the patience to do the job, he should consider hiring a reliable contractor.

Considerations

When choosing the material for your walkway, choose a color of stone that will complement your home. Plastic or metal edging placed along the borders of flagstone or brick will keep weeds and unwanted grasses from creeping up into the walkway. Keep the walkways free from slippery algae buildup by regularly cleaning with household bleach diluted in water.

References

• The Flagstone Experts: Flagstone Walkways Add Beauty to an Outside Project
• Great Landscaping Ideas: Walkway Design

Resources

• Paver Search: A Guide to Installing Flagstone Pavers
• Corner Hardware: How to Lay a Brick Path