Flagstone Mortar Installation
- 1). Sketch up the area where you want to put the flagstones. Include all of the dimensions of the area and make it as detailed as possible. This will help when the time comes to figure out how many flagstones are needed.
- 2). Mark out the area the pavers are going with spray paint or rope. Excavate the entire area to a depth of six inches using a flat shovel. Put the extracted soil on to a tarp or section of durable plastic to keep the surrounding area clean.
- 3). Lay down a base mixture made from rocks and dirt. Compact the dirt using a hand tamper every few inches of the mixture that is laid down. Continue this process until the compressed base layer is four inches thick.
- 4). Lay down a layer of builder's sand and tamp it down for every few inches. Continue laying down more sand and tamping it until you have a two-inch layer of compressed sand.
- 5). Cut a small section of wood to a thickness of one inch. Tape the wood section on to the end of a four-foot level. Mix up a batch of mortar following the directions on the bag and apply it in small amounts using a trowel. Hammer the flagstones in to the mortar using a rubber dead blow mallet. As you install the pavers over the mortar set your level on them with the un-taped end facing the direction you want the water to run off the stones. Tap down any new stones until the level reads perfectly level. This will keep water from building up on the stones and cutting their life span short.
- 6). Allow the stones to set for a full day after they have all been installed. Pour loose sand on top of the stones and sweep it in to the joints until they are full. Sweep away the excess and wet the joints down. Apply more sand and wet the joints down again. Repeat the process until the wet joints are completely full of compacted sand. Allow the joints to sit for a week to settle down and add even more sand.
