How to Install a Flagstone Walkway With Concrete
Installing a flagstone walkway with concrete is a fairly challenging do-it-yourself project. Building with concrete rather than sand has several advantages though: a concrete base will ensure a more solid and stable foundation and concrete requires little maintenance over the years. Although installing a flagstone walkway with concrete might be a challenging, time-consuming project, the money you can save by doing it yourself can make it worthwhile. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Flagstones
- Wood posts and string
- 2-by-4s
- Screws
- Concrete
- Mortar
- Trowel
- Rubber hammer
- Sanded grout
- Grout sponge
- Hand tamper or plate compactor
- Gravel
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure out the area for your flagstone walkway and use wood posts with string tied along the outside to mark the border.
-
2
Call your city's building department and find out if you need any special permits or licenses before you begin building.
-
-
3
Call your utility provider and ask them to come to your house to check for any underground wiring that would prohibit digging.
-
4
Excavate the entire digging area that you measured out with a shovel.
-
5
Compact the surface of the soil down using a hand tamper.
-
6
Line the inner border of your walkway with two-by-fours cut to the length and width of the area. Attach the two-by-fours to each other using screws.
-
7
Pour a 2-inch layer of gravel into the hole and use a hand tamper to compact the gravel down tightly.
-
8
Mix the cement according to the package instructions and pour a 3-inch layer of concrete over the entire gravel base.
-
9
Use a shovel to spread the concrete around and ensure the concrete is filled in thoroughly.
-
10
Level the concrete out by dragging a two-by-four across the top surface several times until it's flat and even.
-
11
Allow the concrete 24 hours to dry.
-
12
Mix the mortar according to the package instructions and pour a 1-inch layer of mortar on top of the concrete base, enough for one flagstone at a time.
-
13
Use a trowel to spread the mortar into an even 1-inch layer.
-
14
Place the flagstones on top of the mortar one at a time, starting in any corner of the walkway.
-
15
Pound each flagstone tightly into place with a rubber hammer.
-
16
Allow the mortar 24 hours to dry.
-
17
Mix the sanded grout according to instructions and use a grout sponge to spread it around and into the spaces between each of the flagstones.
-
18
Let the grout dry for 12 hours and clean the surface of the flagstones before using.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
