Platform Decks

Can someone give me some flagstone advice?

Am renting a power washer tommorrow to strip all of the old patio paint from my concrete patio, trying to get the patio ready for flagstone. What is a good type of bonder-concrete grout that I need to use with the flagstone and information on how to do/use it?

Public Comments

1. mix sand and cement (NO WATER) and just brush into gaps it will harden itself
2. 2/3 decomposed granite to 1/3 mortar. sweep stones well, spray them off well. this will set the mortar and granite mix.
3. It sounds to us that you are planning to place flagstones over an existing concrete base. There are two ways that you can go with this. The first, which would eliminate the need to strip the old concrete, would be to put a layer of sand down over the old concrete and place the flagstones on it. You should use a couple of lengths of 1" PVC pipe and a straightedge to give yourself an even base. Pull up the pipes as you go and fill in the voids with sand. This will give you a good, even base to set the stones in. The second way is to set the flagstones in a bed of mortar. You can use an epoxy bonding agent to help the mortar to bond to the old concrete. Spread a good layer of mortar to set the stones in, leveling them to a string line as you go. In either case, you can fill in the joints with sand or rock dust to finish the work, depending on the look you are trying to achieve. If you are in and area that is subject to freezing and thawing, we thing that the first method would result in the longest lasting job. Visit our website for more gardening ideas at- http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/ Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!