Flagstone Versus Concrete For A Patio

Q: Would flagstone be cheaper than a cement slab if doing a 10x20 patio?

A: A 10 x 20 patio in concrete 6" thick is 100 cu.ft of concrete or aprox. 4 cu. yds at 4" thick it is aprox. 3 cu. yds. Depending on where you are you will pay between $125 and $175 per cu. yd. Then you need material to make a form, and wire mesh to help prevent the concrete from cracking. You still have to prepare a good base for the concrete and you will need some tools such as a float to finish the concrete properly.

Flagstone requires a sand base properly compacted. Some people like to mortar the joints. Quality flagstone will cost about $5 to $10 a square foot, depending on the thickness and where you are located. But the installation is easier and you can do it at your own pace.

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Walkway Recommendations‏

Q. There's a walkway in my back yard, which goes from the patio to the vegetable garden. It's made of cement pavers, about 18 inches wide and maybe 36 inches long. It makes for a narrow walkway. Plus it's too close to the garage, maybe 18 to 20 inches away from the wall, so when it rains, the water pours down on the walkway, and anyone using it. It also tends to be very slippery with snow and ice in the winter. I want to remove the pavers, relocate the walkway and use something else, hopefully something less slippery. My dilemma is that I can't think of something to replace it.

A. There are a couple of things that you can do:

1. Pour a concrete walkway and texture the surface.

2. Use flagstones, a path rather than a total walkway.

3. Use pavers that are textured.

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