Hey everyone! I'm trying to create a flagstone walkway and could really use some advice. I've dug out a space and have hit hard dirt, clay, and remnants from an old pathway. I'm planning to use sand as a medium under and between the stones but I'm not sure if it's the best choice. From what I've read, polymeric sand seems to be popular, but I have some questions:
- Is polymeric sand the way to go?
- How tough does it set?
- If I decide to switch to creeping thyme next year for the gaps, how easy is that to do?
- Can I sweep off the stones without disturbing the sand?
- How does it hold up against rain and weeds?
As for the installation, I was thinking of leveling out a layer of sand, tamping it down, then laying the stones and adjusting with more sand as needed, then adding sand in between to finish. Am I missing anything here? My goal is to have a nice and clean walkway that's low maintenance, especially since I want to avoid the mess of weeds like I have now. I also thought about laying down cardboard or garden fabric to keep weeds at bay initially. Any help would be appreciated!
2 Answers
I’ve had some bad experiences with sand, especially on hard clay. I’ve seen flagstones get super uneven within just a couple of years due to frost heaving. Weeds can also be a pain! I usually prefer to use gravel, packed down really well, for a solid base. Gravel tends to have less silt which helps it drain better and reduces moisture buildup, so frost isn’t as much of an issue. Once the flagstone is laid, you can fill the gaps with more gravel until it’s flush. And make sure to use a weed barrier too!
In my area, I lay down what’s called crush-and-run (or DG). It gets packed down, and then I add a layer of sand before putting the stones on top. You can still use polymeric sand for filling gaps, but avoid the stuff from home improvement stores since it often doesn’t set up well—it tends to wash out. There are better-quality brands out there that hold up much better in rain. Just a heads up!
Thanks for the tip! I was also considering crushed limestone for the base to prevent shifting. Still debating on whether to go with polymeric sand or creeping thyme between the stones though!
I’ve heard that polymeric sand hardens better than regular sand, so it might not have those same issues.