You’ve probably heard about flagstone patios if you live in or around Rockville, MD. When done well, flagstone patios are beautiful and last a long time.

What is Flagstone?
Flagstone is a sedimentary rock composed of feldspar and quartz. It is a layered quarried stone, held together by silica. It is harder than sandstone – and that’s important in our climate of heat and hard freezes.

Flagstone comes in many gorgeous colors: blues, browns, tans, grays and reds. Some homeowners choose to mix colors, some go with one color, with slight variations (darker or lighter). Homeowners should choose a color or colors most complementary to their homes.

Things to keep in mind when you are choosing the flagstone for your patio:

• Pick a flagstone that comes in as many shapes, sizes and thicknesses as possible.
• Glittery flagstone can lose this sparkle under wear and tear.
• Brightly colored stone may prove softer than more uniform muted tones.
• Stone which is quarried nearest to your site will cost less to ship.

Flagstones can be in their “natural” form, or cut into geometric shapes (i.e., squares or rectangles) to be used in patterns. The shape of the flagstones in dependent on your patio design. Here are some ways flagstone can be quarried or cut:

• Ledgestone: Relatively flat strips of stone for stacking.
• Milled: Flagstone cut to an edge on one or more sides.
• Mosaic: Patterns made up of random pieces.
• Pavers: Cut flagstone into square or rectangular units.
• Steppers: Flat stones used as pathway step stones.
• Sawn Bed Veneer: Stone cut to a certain depth with natural surface on one side.
• Slabs: Large flat pieces of stone with irregular outlines.
• Snapped Veneer: Stone snapped to provide flat surfaces on both sides.
• Thin Veneer: Flagstone cut to lay on concrete slab.
• Treads: Stone machined to suit step treads or risers.
• Tumbled: Processed to soften edges.

For more information on flagstone patios in Rockville, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. The East Coast Landscape Design team has over a quarter century of experience in the design, installation, and care of practical and beautiful flagstone patios, walkways, and driveways in Rockville, MD.