Introduction: A patio outside your home where you can lounge around and entertain friends is a good alternative to building a deck. Decks are great home additions but they require more maintenance than a patio.

Patios basically set at ground level, just a step down from your kitchen or living room door. Building a patio is an easy DIY project that can be completed in one week end.

There are a number of options when choosing the materials to use for your patio but one of the best that you can use is flagstone. Building a flagstone patio makes an attractive and colorful patio. Flagstones are natural flat stones that come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes.

One of the advantages of building a flagstone patio is that the flagstone is inherently attractive. Its natural appearance creates a rustic look to the finished patio. Flagstones are also ideal for use in walkways and flower bed walls.

Flagstone is also very durable. It is very strong and does not easily crack or break. A flagstone patio area can last for decades and without the need to perform any special maintenance to maintain it. A flagstone patio is much superior to a wooden deck that requires near constant maintenance to prevent from rot and decay from the elements and termites.

Often patios are made with stamped concrete. The problem with stamped concrete is that it does not look natural at all and looks cheap. You can save money from using concrete but if you really want to build a patio that you will enjoy and that you can be proud to show to friends, use in multiple colored flagstones.

How to Build a Flagstone Patio

1. The first step is to make a form using 2x4s around the perimeter. Hold the form in place by stakes. Once the patio is complete the form is removed and the patio is backfilled with top soil.

2. The flagstone can be either laid on a bed of compacted sand, stone dust, or in concrete. Either way the results will be a beautiful and colorful patio. The flagstone should be laid in a random pattern of sizes, shapes, and colors. The stone should be laid close together with the edges separated by approximately one inch.

3. If you are laying the flagstone in cement the cement should be poured as a loose mixture so the flagstone can settle into the cement with the surface flush with cement. Once the cement hardens the residue can be cleaned off using a mixture of muriatic acid and water.

4. Once the patio is completed you can surround it with a mixture of flowers and shrubs to present an enjoyable setting to entertain family and friends.

Building a flagstone patio is quite easy and makes a great family weekend project. The design and size of your patio depends on your needs. Most home owners tend to design and build oversize or undersize patios and decks. Take time to get your flagstone patio design the right size but consider all the activities you will use it for before you make a decision.

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