Building a Natural Stone Patio

The construction of a natural stone patio demands an adequate planning, which goes to include the selection of materials that are both functional and appealing, deciding on the tools required for the execution of the job, and the fixing of stones.

The planning stage includes estimating the expense and hence the budget, the preparation of drawings and arriving at the size of the patio in proportion to the overall area of the space where the patio is going to be installed.

Stone patios make use of natural stones, flagstones and / or paving stones. Another important consideration is the selection of the proper tools for installing the stones. Once you have taken care of these preliminaries beforehand, the construction of a natural stone patio involves a couple of additional simple steps.

Like any other project, a detailed planning helps saving a lot of effort and substantial sums of money while undertaking the construction of a natural stone patio.

It is always worthwhile to prepare a complete drawing of the patio and the area that it is going to occupy. This way, one can ensure that the size of the patio is in proportion to that of the house or building containing it. Moreover, the drawings and blueprints will allow the builder to accurately assess the quantity of various materials needed for the purpose, and thus get a good idea of the expense of procuring those materials. This way, the builder is able to choose the materials that fall within their budget.

The selection of stone should be on the basis of its durability and prettiness. A natural stone patio is expected to be smooth and flat. Since an evenly leveled surface is ideal for stone patios, the chosen materials should have an almost similar width.

Since paving stones and flagstones are flat by nature, with not that many jagged curves or lines on their exteriors, they are the most suited for the purpose. The range of natural stones that one may use varies from fieldstone and bluestone to slate. These stones may impart a more natural and genuine look, but working with such stones is rather difficult because of their varying shapes and sizes.

The area that is going to contain the patio will need to be excavated with the help of axe picks and shovels. Mason's saws are used to cut stones at different angels, as per the shape they need to be, while a carpenter's level is employed for ensuring the evenness of the surfaces. A suitable bonding agent, like concrete, is used for securing the stones in place.

First, concrete needs to be poured. This is followed by the positioning of stones in the area already excavated, according to the blueprint of the plan. After the stones have been positioned and the concrete becomes dry, a sealing agent needs to be applied on the stones, so that these do not get stained, and thus allow the patio to retain its aesthetic appeal.





If you need help with your stone patio design, or you'd just prefer leaving the task of building the patio to professionals, please visit our website. Other then patio projects, you can also call us when you need a pool design contractor!

Article Source: Building a Natural Stone Patio