Landscape Paving 101: How to Use Bluestone in Your Garden

Thanks for the share!

Some of the information in this article is incorrect. The term "flagstone" refers to the thickness/layer that the stone came from in the quarry. Flagstone is generally found only in the top layers of the quarry. As the quarry is blasted further down the layers get thicker and become step layers which is generally 6 to 8 inches, then outcropping or wall stone layers which can be 8 to 25 inches in thickness. True Bluestone is called Blue-Blue and everything else is called Mixed Color that can range from blue-green to blue-gray with many colors mixed into the base color. Flagstone is either considered "irregular" shaped (triangles, squares, rectangles of different sizes) or cut into squares and rectangles-commonly known as Pattern A (even numbered sizes) or Pattern B (odd numbered sizes) or also called an Ashlar Pattern. Bluestone is not a sandstone. It is considered to be a form of Limestone that has a somewhat consistent surface with natural clef or shaling occurring in the layers. Thermal treated stone has been cut into an exact thickness of 1-1/2" then heat treated to give it a non-skid texture and the true color. Cut stone, if left with a sawed surface is extremely slippery when wet. There are many types of Flagstone on the market and the type or name usually comes from where it is being quarried. I work at a quarry in Lannon WI so ours is known as Lannon Stone, but we buy stone from Chilton WI known as Chilton Flagstone-a very colorful type of limestone and so on. Hope this helps clear up any confusion on the correct terminology to use when talking to a Landscaping Professional. And to the guy who mortered his flagstone on top of cement; Cement under flagstone is never a good idea unless you have at least 5" to 6" of a crushed limestone base between them. If you are in a cold environment, a flagstone patio needs to be able to move and shift with any freezing or thawing that happens over the winter. I would find a professional Hardscaper in your area to help you with your issues.

Have had blue stone pavers as decking and coping around my pool since I built my house more than 20 years ago. The pavers get extremely hot in the sun, rendering the pool almost unusable in the mid-summer sun. I am having all of them removed this spring and replacing with sod around pool, and 2" travertine pool coping. I hope to repurpose some of the bluestone pavers in relatively shady locations in my large backyard. I would not recommend this stone in a hot climate, and very sunny location.