How Hard Can It Be...

T bone

I'm new to this and want to install (or more accurately my WIFE wants me to install) flagstone on a 540 sq ft patio at our home. I want to use it to train my crew on the installation, but none of us are masons. We do pour a lot of concrete foundations and slabs, but that's it. The local stone store recommends thin stone (about an inch & a half) set in white masons mix, and use the same for the grout. (White mix because we want to mix with brown sand to get a tan color). Since the stones are definitly not equally thick, how do you get the overall surface to come out reasonably flat? Is this a terrible idea or do we have a chance at getting it right?

Dik Redi

white mason mix(( federal white)) and brown sand??? i wish i could have a constant sand blend let alone color lol,, and flag stone do you mean blue stone or that flacky crappy slate flag ??

T bone

Thanks Dik. It's called Oklahoma Thin by the dealer, Whiq-Q.com. It doesn't layer like I have seen slate in layers--layers you could split apart for instance. Probably the 'flappy crappy' you mention. I ordered a DVD called 'Hans How-to Lay Flastone' so maybe can learn enough to not totally embarrass myself.
The biggest worry to me is that it varies in thickness a lot and I don't want to lay a whole lot of mason mix under it so that it doesn't get too high up next to the door threshold. Probably could get 3/4' under it tho.

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T bone

I fat fingered the dealer website--its Whiz-Q.com.

Dik Redi

just prime the bottom of stone and not to wet of a bed mix and u can get away with 3/4" stone(( depending the bed joint thickness))

Dik Redi

it doesnt matter the thinkness of ben mix just as long as its tapped done so theres no pockets(( im not saying that a 3 inch mortar bed is ok lol that means the beginning lay out was wrng)) remember this isnt tile its natty stone and comes in dfrnt thickness esply blue stone (we just layed some blue stone and was the 1 1/2 " but must were 2" plus as big as 3 1/2 " thickness and we only had 2 1/2 max at a point then on last to platforms we adjusted and were able to use the thicker stones but it was one hell of a chess game at first lol luv it