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Flagstone Patio Contractors
Flagstone Patio Design and Installation
While there’s nothing wrong with a poured cement patio, there's no doubt a traditional flagstone patio has much greater visual appeal. For older homes, especially, the textured look of a natural flagstone patio will complement the architecture and materials of the home much better than concrete, and a natural stone patio looks much better with the surrounding landscaping.
Loomis Landscaping can design and install virtually any type of flagstone patio in any size or configuration. Our stone patio contractors have installed patios and walkways for homeowners and businesses all over southeast Wisconsin, and chances are good you've walked across a few without even knowing it.
What is “flagstone” anyway?
Flagstone is the most commonly used material for stone patios, but the word itself causes some confusion. The term “flagstone” is actually a generic term for various sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They’re called “flagstone” because they can be easily split into flat sections of varying shapes for use on walkways and patios. There’s speculation the word “flagstone” is derived from the Old Norse word flaga, which means slab or chip.
Flagstone can be irregularly shaped and installed in a mosaic pattern, or shaped into squares and rectangles (known as “pavers”) for a more linear installation. Large sections of flagstone are known as “slabs.” Some types are available as “tumbled” flagstone, which undergo processing to smooth the edges.
Types of Flagstone
Slate: This is a widely used rock for patios because it is easy to chisel and shape, is available in a range of gray, green, copper and silver colors, and is priced reasonably. Sealing is required for stain resistance and to minimize efflorescence.
Sandstone: This is a sedimentary rock formed by layers of sand. Colors range from pastels to beige, red and gold. Because it’s porous, our freeze/thaw cycles can cause it to split.
Quartzite: This is a type of metamorphosed rock characterized by a smooth, glossy surface. Available in a wide range of colors, it’s stands up well to wear and tear and has a rough textured surface that’s virtually slip-resistant.
Bluestone: This is a blue-gray sandstone with a flat, rough texture. It holds up well to harsh winters, but requires sealing to preserve its color and protect against scratches and stains.
Limestone: This is a common sedimentary rock made of calcite. It’s available in a wide range of earthy colors, is long lasting and weathers our climate well.
Travertine: This is a type of compacted limestone characterized by a weathered look and pitted holes. It’s available in varying shades of brown, tan and grayish blue. It’s extremely durable, but harder to work with than some other options.
Basalt: A lightly textured igneous or volcanic rock, basalt is typically gray, beige or black. It has a great look, but can take on a dull look over time.
Professional Installation of Flagstone Patios – It’s Worth It
You may have seen DIY shows on flagstone patio installation and thought about taking on the project yourself. While you may end up with an excellent patio, we can’t tell you how many times we’ve been hired to fix poorly installed patios. When you hire Loomis Landscaping, you can count on a perfect installation.
Preparation of the site is a critical first step in any patio installation. The area will be graded to keep water from draining into your foundation wall and leveled to ensure you won’t have problems with water pooling on your patio. Before putting down the gravel base for the flagstones to rest on, we lay down a weed-blocking landscape fabric.
Laying the flagstone is a bit more challenging than working with man-made pavers or bricks due to natural variations in the thickness of the stone. For instance, an order of 1”-thick flagstone can have pieces that range from ½” to 1 ½” thick. This requires custom fitting the bottom of each stone in a sand base, and sometimes chiseling off pieces of stone. Obviously, this takes more time than installations of stone or brick with uniform thickness.
Once the flagstone is in place, the spaces between the stones are filled with sand or stone dust and you have a beautiful, natural stone patio that will look great for as long as you own your home and also increase the resale value.
One last thought: if you’re considering having a patio installed, give some thought to landscape lighting. The best time to install an electrical line to patio lighting is before the patio is installed. We can get you a quote for adding outdoor lighting to your patio.