Laying natural stone flags with gravel joints - Combining materials

[beckwyles]

Hi there,

sorry if this question already exists but I couldn't see it...

How should you lay a patio with natural stone flags with wide gravel margins or joints?

We want to achieve a softer look than fully paved and want to be able to grow creeping plants in the gravel areas.

All advice welcomed!

Thanks!

[lutonlagerlout]

lay the same as for a normal patio but keep the joints say 50mm wide
then insert gravel
if you want to plant in between maybe use 50mm polystyrene while installing then remove and fill with soil
but you need to be careful on the planting as you dont want the roots to undermine the flags
LLL

[seanandruby]

details for natural stone here
As LLL suggests lay as normal and leave a gap, use some sort of a fillet for even spacing. Don't forget finished photo's here.

[London Stone Paving]

I like the idea and I have done similar things when I was landscaping. One thing too be aware of is the maintenance, you will need to do a lot of maintenance to stop the weeds establishing in these gravel areas. Not a reason not to do it but something to be mindful of.

You will also have the issue of the gravel between the flags migrating, so you will spend a lot of time out there with a brush.

I understand the need for having loose gravel in the margins (to grow planters) but have you considered cementing the gravel in place between the joints? that way you would still achieve your look but wouldn't have the maintenance issues

Steve

[beckwyles]

Hi guys,

thanks for responses...agreed it could be more work however it will give a softer look. Also, i bought one of those patio packs of natural stone that does 15 sq/m and as we only have 22 sq/m i didn't want to fork out for a second packet!

On the other hand it is annoying when you get bits of aggregate underfoot on a hard surface. Might try and do parts solid and parts broken up with gravel. Will get on CAD and see what i can do!

Hmmm.