Flagstone patios can transform any backyard into a beautifully unique and vintage treasure. These building materials are quarried or harvested from the Earth without any color or chemical manipulation. Over the years, our team has encountered many impressively cultivated creations and would like to share a patio we had the pleasure of working on, located near Clifton, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Managing Flagstone: Challenges and Solutions
Flagstone, while of the highest quality, can also be high maintenance. Due to the much larger gaps between the stones compared to a typical paver patio, mold and weed growth can excel. Water tends to pool up on top of the large gaps, causing significant erosion and providing a breeding ground for mold. Our process on flagstone includes a thorough steam cleaning and removal of loose material in the joints. We allow everything to dry out before returning to complete the installation of polymeric sand and application of sealant. This process differs from what we perform on regular concrete or clay pavers.
Innovative Solutions for Lasting Beauty
We use different polymeric sand products in these large open spaces between flagstone than we use in regular concrete paver joints. Customers can choose from NOCO Tan (Beige) and NOCO Iron (Gray), which is a dry sand but has finer granules than regular polymeric sand installed between pavers. Then there is the latest product to be released, NOCO Storm Tan, Ivory, Granite, or Black. This product reverses the process in a sense. Instead of using water saturation or a joint stabilizing sealer to achieve hardening, the sand comes in a vacuum-sealed bag with moisture already present. Our team keeps the product wet during installation, and exposure to oxygen activates the polymers, hardening the product in each joint. This product is intended for bigger joints because it is permeable, allowing water to drain through the sand instead of sitting on the surface and causing puddles.
Preserving Flagstone’s Natural Beauty: Flagstone Sealing
Flagstone also has a much different density than regular clay or concrete pavers, with more variation in porosity. Therefore, we use a different sealant than what we apply on regular pavers. We offer two finishes on flagstone patios: Enhanced and Invisible. The enhanced finish, shown in this project, enhances the stones’ appearance, while the invisible finish preserves the natural look of the stones while keeping them clean.
We always strive to research everything to ensure we are using the best materials for each situation. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Over the past 10 years, we have used trial and error to develop our best practices. Here at Perfect Paver Co., we want to provide everyone the opportunity to restore their outdoor living space. Whether you choose us for your project or use information found on our site to achieve your landscape and hardscape dreams, thank you for your time, and good luck with all your outdoor home endeavors!
