Flagstone Walkways

 

Most photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

All design work by Green Art

 

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Flagstone is any irregular stone that is naturally broken and more or less thin or layered. This includes irregular bluestone (see page for Bluestone Walkways), however, it also includes other flagstones such as quartzite or gneis. Colors can vary from almost black to tan to light beige, and often there are rust tones included.

 

Flagstone walkways typically have a rustic appearance, but it is possible to use flagstone in more formal settings, like at the house entrance on the photo to the left. In this case it is necessary to use the highest quality, most even flagstone and make sure that joints are very tight. This requires a large amount of fitting and cutting.

The image on the right shows well the difference between a flagstone walkway and a steppingstone walkway. The more rustic steppingstones (leading to the right on this photo) have larger joints between them, and usually they are set as a single row, leaving ragged edges at the sides. 

 

This job (images 1 to 6) was installed in cooperation with 'Sahin Stonework' and included walkway, granite landings, granite posts, ornamental rock boulders, stepping stone walkway, soil work and planting.

 

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The wooden step and landing were replaced with large granite slabs that had a thermal-treated surface

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Finished entrance with flagstone walkway, granite slabs for landings and ornamental rock boulders

     
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Although the existing landscaping was functional, it did not meet the homeowners requirements for beauty.

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The redesigned entrance area (fence posts installed but fence still missing) is based on natural stone, which always looks more refined and beautiful than a man-made material such as concrete, as in the before photo on the left.

 

 

 
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Another flagstone project involved creating a spacious patio in  a natural setting. Rock boulders were placed to enhance the informal character of the location. In order to connect with the background, a river and marsh land with tall grasses, we planted Japanese Maidengrass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Grazillimus') in the beds surrounding the flagstone terrace. The grass also contrasts beautifully with the round rocks, which can not be seen on this photo since it was taken in the winter and also before the planting had been established.   The same patio, in a different direction, features a fire pit with granite blocs as benches (background). It is separated from the main patio by a small planting space.

Design of this landscape (photos 7 and 8) by Green Art, installation by 'Blue Ledge Stonework' from Rye, NH.
     
     

 

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