Flagstone and natural stone Nanaimo

A quality and long lasting flagstone surface starts with proper prep work and a good base. For a functional as well as durable flagstone seating area, there is a process that must be followed in order to get a 10-20 year lifespan out of it.

STEP 1: The flagstone area must be excavated to a depth of at least 6-7inches to allow for a minimum of 4inch of compacted cart path or road base and the thickness of the flagstone 1-3 inch. Ideally we like to excavate down to clay for the best results. The base may need to be thicker if the subgrade has stability issues. We always add slope to our subgrade, so we reduce drainage problems for the base material, as well as compact the subgrade before we add road base or cart path

Step 2: We evenly spread road base in 2inch layers soaking and compacting each time. Once we are almost to grade we start to slope our flagstone area, so our pitch is going away from the house, 2 percent or 1/8” per foot.

STEP 3:  After the base is prepped, we spread a 1/4inch loose layer ready for laying flagstone.  Then we screed/level road base with metal rails and lay the flagstone, leaving small 1/2inch gaps between each piece.  Use a wet saw to cut flagstone making sure to keep pieces reasonably tight. This can be a time consuming task.

STEP 4: Once the entire flagstone layer is laid, we then go through again levelling each piece and spacings are correct. This is the time when grades and slope matter most.

STEP 5: We trowel concrete around the outside edges of the flagstone area, which helps to hold everything in place.

STEP 6: With the patio laid and concrete has hardened, we then fill in the gaps with fine cart path material, and give a light soak with a hose. This allows us to wash in the cart path into the gaps and lock everything into place. We also clean the flagstone surface, before letting it dry.

Step 7: Once flagstone is dry, we then sweep in polymeric sand over the cart path, remove all excess sand and lightly mist again with a hose. The area is then completed.

How much does a flagstone patio cost?

There are many variables to a flagstone patio such as access for material delivery and type and thickness of flagstone, excavation depth, amount of curves and necessary cutting, etc.  North Nanaimo is known to have some challenging terrain with no excavator access and there are is a lot of manual labour required.  To have a finished product that will last, cutting corners is not possible.  You do not want to have to relay the area in 3 years; repair is usually more expensive than the original installation even if we are re-using the same flagstone.

Larger projects may be more cost effective and less cost per square foot.  Flagstone is usually around 0.50- 0.80c per lb. with around 3000-4000lb per pallet plus delivery, depending on the type of stone you choose. Then installation labour is charged on top, and the overall labour cost is dependent of cutting, flagstone quality and size of area required.

A number of factors are considered before coming up with a quote, such as drainage, ground conditions and access. We also need to know what the area is being used for.

Please Note: Flagstone is a lovely product, however this is not the best surface for children, bare feet, wet feet, running on or ladies with high heels. This is because flagstone is uneven and often has sharp edges. We are happy to discuss and provide alternative solutions for surface materials, possibly with other hardscape contractors.

Flagstone for your new home?

If you have just built a new home, the foundation will have recently been backfilled with several feet of material and often without compaction. To compact such depths isn’t possible in one go without damaging the foundation, unless we remove it again and compact in lifts. This can be an expensive task, so most homeowners choose to have a pathway or patio away from the house on solid ground. Be sure to keep that in mind when working with local contractors from your neighborhood.

How long does a flagstone patio or walkway last in Nanaimo?

A properly installed flagstone surface — excavated to the right depth with a compacted base — typically lasts 10-20 years. Cutting corners on prep is the main reason flagstone patios fail early and need costly re-laying.

Can flagstone be installed on a sloped or uneven Nanaimo yard?

Yes. Flagstone works well on sloped terrain, though North Nanaimo’s rockier, harder-to-access lots can mean more manual excavation and labour. We always slope the subgrade during install to keep drainage moving away from the house, regardless of the yard’s natural grade.