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Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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I'm planning to create a patio in my backyard. I'm doing it myself. I'm wondering if I should use flagstone, pavers or bricks? I definitely want something informal.
Does anyone have suggestions on which product I should use? Cost is definitely a factor.
Does anyone know from whom you buy the supplies? I know I'm going to need gravel, builder sand, and the flagstones/pavers/bricks; but where do I find suppliers for this stuff?
I would go with concrete pavers if cost is a major factor. A nice tumbled paver will also hold up better in an informal patio compared to natural stone -- scratches don't show as much and pavers won't crack under the concentrated force of a table or chair leg.
A local landscape material supplier should be able to deliver everything; you might also be able to rent the plate compactor from them.
Keep in mind the different weights of those materials if you are truly doing all the work yourself with no one to assist.
Flagstone patios utilize quite a few large pieces. They are heavy! Even an 18" x 18" concrete paver is pretty heavy. The small ones (4" x 8" or so) aren't heavy, but the work is more tedious.
Lowe's or Home Depot should have everything you need.
Which product to use will inevitably come down to budget. Then, you HAVE TO figure in your time AND physical condition. And last but not least- how long do you want it to last?
The cheapest and least physically demanding is flagstone. You could literally just plop-it on the ground, fill in the gaps with Mondo grass and be done.
Pavers/bricks are labor intensive, start to finish. They both require a lot of other materials to do a quality install, along with equipment; especially if you want it to last.
I've seen several DIY paver patios over the years and they all had the same result- uneven, angulating surface due to an inadequate base (too much labor removing top soil, not enough base material, and/or tree roots (building too close to trees).
Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
4,640 posts, read 11,931,469 times
Reputation: 9885
Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr
Which product to use will inevitably come down to budget. Then, you HAVE TO figure in your time AND physical condition. And last but not least- how long do you want it to last?
The cheapest and least physically demanding is flagstone. You could literally just plop-it on the ground, fill in the gaps with Mondo grass and be done.
Pavers/bricks are labor intensive, start to finish. They both require a lot of other materials to do a quality install, along with equipment; especially if you want it to last.
I've seen several DIY paver patios over the years and they all had the same result- uneven, angulating surface due to an inadequate base (too much labor removing top soil, not enough base material, and/or tree roots (building too close to trees).
I am definitely looking for the most cost-effective and easiest patio. I'm just hoping to get a few years out of it.
You could get the concrete "stamped", if you are looking for the look of stone or bricks.
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Concrete
