How to Build a Blue Stone Patio
Blue stone only truly looks blue in certain light, but despite the slightly misleading name, the stones produce a rustic, natural appearance. The strength of the stones makes them an ideal choice for patios, and the look of the stones complements a variety of surrounding garden applications. Blue stones come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from perfectly cut and shaped rectangles to snapped or "broken" looking shapes. The most important part of building a blue-stone patio (as with building many things) is making sure you get the foundation right, so the patio can last for years. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rope or hose
- Chalk
- Stone grinder
- Diamond blade for grinder
- Brick hammer
- Shovel or spade
- Measuring tape
- Patio paver base
- Hand tamper or compactor
- Leveling sand
- Rubber mallet
- Level
- Joint filler
Instructions
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Wrap a rope or garden hose around your intended installation area, mapping out the outline of your patio. This should be an exact outline of your intended patio shape.
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Start at one edge of the outline area and dry lay your blue stones to create a pattern. This initial dry-laying allows you to get a feel for what the patio will look like, so that you can make adjustments as necessary before you actually install them. Work around the edges, laying larger stones with smaller ones to fit in between (or all blocks of the same size) and working your way toward the center.
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Set stones int place with a 1 ½- to 2 ½-inch gap between each stone. You can decide on this spacing based on how the layout looks, but keep the joints as consistent as possible among all of the stones.
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Cut stones as necessary to fit in your pattern. Mark the back of the stone with a chalk cut line that allows the stone to fit in place. Cut the back of the stone with a hand held grinder that features a diamond blade; the blade will score a line through the stone. Set the stone with the edge you don't need hanging off a ledge (from a work table or a stone you don't intend to use in the pattern) and strike the wasted edge with a brick hammer. This will break the stone along the scored line. Repeat this process to cut as many stones as necessary to fit your pattern.
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Complete your layout. When you are happy with the look, number each stone with chalk so that you can keep track of the layout. After all stones are numbered, remove the stones row by row, keeping them in order so that you can easily lay them later.
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Excavate the area to between 6 and 12 inches, or until you have removed all of the dark-colored topsoil from the patio area. If the patio is near a home or structure, you must grade or slope the patio away from the structure to aid in rainwater runoff. Dig an extra 1/8 inch deep for every foot you move away from the structure.
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Fill the dug out area with 3 inches of patio paver base, which is similar to gravel. Make sure the 1/8-inch differences remain as you pour. Solidify the base with a hand tamper or plate compactor to create a level surface.
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Add a second 3-inch layer of paver base and compact again. Continue to lay these layers until the base surface is set 2 ½ inches below the level at which you want your patio to sit. Remember to compact the last layer as well.
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Cover the area with 1 inch of leveling sand, smoothing it over with a garden rake. The base material should now sit 1 ½ inches below where you want your patio to end.
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Lay your first row of stones in order on the sand base. Gently tap each stone into place with a rubber mallet.
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Use a level to make sure each stone sits flush with one another. Set the level across two of the stones. If needed, add more sand or dig some away until the stones are even with each other. The stones are textured and so won't be completely flat, but the level will help you make sure the stones are not a tripping hazard.
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Lay all of the rows of stone, checking each one for appropriate level. When finished, dampen the patio with a hose to help the stones settle in. Fill in the joints with soil, moss or sand to complete your look.
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Tips & Warnings
When you first layout and number your stones, take a few digital pictures of the layout in case you have trouble remembering what it looked like while you are laying the stones for real.
If you are creating a lot of dust while compacting the paver base, sprinkle the base with a hose slightly before compacting.
Do not allow foot traffic over your stone patio until all stones are in place and all joints are filled. Otherwise you could throw off the level.
