The Advantages Of Flagstone Pavers
Flagstone pavers are made from natural stone materials which are cut into many different shapes, thickness and sizes. They can transform any residential, commercial and community external areas and create paved walkways, driveways, pool areas or patio applications that ooze elegance, style and character with their natural beauty and uniqueness.  The advantages of flagstone pavers to manufactured pavers are they are exceptionally durability, they will outlast any man made pavers, they age gracefully, they have excellent resistance values and as for pavement presentation, they look outstanding. Another advantage of flagstone pavers is they are easy to install by DIY home owners as long as all of the preparation and installation guidelines and procedures are followed correctly.

Key Elements To Flagstone Pavers Installation
One key element to any successful project for DIY homeowners to undertake is proper pre-planning including excavation, base preparation, the laying/installation of flagstone pavers to the desired pattern and any final touches. Before commencing the flagstone paving project, sketch out on paper the design you want, measure the area and also don’t forget to sketch any applications such as garage, pool, patio or gardens in the vicinity of the area. This will give you a much better perception of whether the end result will tie in beautifully and complement surrounding elements in the area.

Two Common External Sub Floors
The two most common types of external sub floors where flagstone pavers are installed over are bare ground or concrete slabs. Depending on the sub floor and the thickness of the flagstone pavers you have opted for, some do require a bed of sand to install pavers as there are also some bare ground areas that don’t and flagstone pavers can be installed straight over. Seek professional advice if you are unsure for the recommended base requirements.

Four Stages To Laying Flagstone Pavers
The following are four stages from commencing flagstone pavers installation once you have sketched and selected the desired paving pattern. Order the appropriate base material suitable to the existing sub floor. Always consult with a landscape consultant if you are unsure. 

Excavation
Base Preparation
Flagstone Pavers Installation
Filling In Paver joints

Excavation/ Base Preparation For Laying Flagstone Pavers
Mark out the area with a string line or spray paint lines. Excavate the area to the required depth according to the type of base material/sand bedding and the flagstone paver’s thickness. The more common depth of excavation is usually 6 inches deep, where the base material/bed of sand is 2 inches deep and the 4 inches is the thickness of the pavers.  Compact the area before applying sand base {some may require crushed aggregates as the first base layer}. Apply sand and make sure its level throughout using a leveler or straight timber, then compact again. 

Installing Flagstone Pavers In Running Bond Pattern
Once the base preparation is complete, the flagstone pavers installation process can begin. Place the first paver in the top corner, tap into sand bed with a rubber hammer, then continue the first row in this manner, make sure you  leave a small gap in between each paver where the joints are filled with sand after installation is complete. Use a leveler to ensure the pavers are level and adjust sand level if required. For the second row, place a half cut paver as the first paver, as this creates a running bond pattern. For the third row, place a full size paver and continue with this offsetting pattern for the remainder of the rows.

Filling In Flagstone Paver Joints
Once the entire area has been paved and you are satisfied, compact over the pavers again. The paver gaps all have to be filled with sand. Place sand and by using a broom, sweep sand into joints and ensure all of the gaps are filled properly. Once all of the gaps are filled, use a broom and sweep off any left over sand, then compact the entire area again.