DIY Network

Flagstone Patio Flagstone Patio From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-103

The tired, dingy concrete patio is ready for a serious makeover! Dean is going to teach the team how to lay a flagstone patio. One of the best things about this project: the flagstones can be laid directly on top of the concrete.

advertisement

Drainage is a very important consideration when you're planning an outdoor project like this one. Using a level, Dean determines that the patio already has good drainage paths; that is, that the water drains away from the house. He encourages Jackie and Nikki to check constantly to make sure they don't redirect the drainage by placing the stones in a manner that could impede or divert drainage.

Materials (Patio)
Pressure-washer
Flagstone
Wheelbarrows
Gloves
Concrete mixer
Bucket
Water
Electric mixer
Trowels
Spreaders
Hose
Sponges

Steps

One thing to remember when adding flagstone to an existing patio: the height of the patio will change. So before beginning this project, it's crucial to make sure there's enough clearance between the patio and the doorframe to allow for the height of the stones.

1. A clean surface makes it easier for the mortar to get a good seal. Prep the stones and the concrete surface by sponging them with water; this will prevent them from drawing too much moisture out of the mortar.

2. Mix mortar with a small amount of water in the concrete mixer to the proper consistency (it should be about the consistency of cake frosting). (Concrete mixers can be rented from home-improvement or rental centers. You can also find handheld mortar mixers as well as special mixers that fit on drills.)

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

3. Once the mixing is finished, use a trowel to spread it on the concrete to a relatively even thickness (figure A). For this project, the mortar should be an inch thick.

4. Set the first stone, gently tapping it down with the handle of the trowel (figure B). The stone should be set so that mortar is squeezed out all around it -- this indicates that the stone is well seated. And don't expect the stone to be held fast as if it had been glued: it will take six to eight hours for the mortar to set.

Note: If all the stones have already been set onto the patio without mortar to establish the pattern, all you have to do is replace them into the mortar in the same pattern.

5. Clean up mortar from around the stone with a trowel. Put the excess back on the mortar board -- you can still use it.

6. Continue placing stones in the above manner, using a level to make sure they are all set evenly (figure C). As you work, smooth the seams with the trowel and use a sponge dipped in water to clean the mortar off the faces of the stones very carefully.

Note: Mortar cleans up with either chemicals or water: If it's removed quickly, water and a sponge will usually do the trick. If it's allowed to dry, there are chemicals available for this job.

7. Add a layer of grout, cleaning off the excess as you work.

RESOURCES :

Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com

QUIKRETE® Information
To obtain expert advice on Do-It-Yourself concrete projects, to inquire about specific QUIKRETE® products, to find out where to buy the products or to order product literature, please call 1-800-282-5828.

To easily calculate how much concrete you'll need for a job, click here.

The QUIKRETE® Companies
Website: www.quikrete.com

Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com

Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com

Grill
TEC Infra-Red Grills
Website: www.tecinfrared.com

TimberTech Decking
Website: www.timbertech.com

Irwin Industrial Tool Company
Website: www.irwin.com