Is Flagstone the Best Material for Interlocking?

It looks stunning, but is flagstone the best material for an interlocking project? Sure, it has its perks like durability and slip resistance, but choosing flagstone also comes with its challenges. Before you make the final decision, learn a bit more about this popular interlocking paver material.

What Is Flagstone?

Flagstone is a flat natural stone with thickness varying from 15 to 150 mm. It can be composed of different rock types, usually sandstone, limestone, or slate. 

Each of these has its distinct characteristics, so the term “flagstone” refers to the form of the stone rather than its specific composition. Its flat, layered, and irregular form makes it perfect for creating natural-looking surfaces.

Flagstone’s Characteristics

Flagstone has a natural, earthy look that blends with the outdoor environment. This material stands out with both visuals and functionality. Flagstone offers variety for custom-made design and performs well for years to come with:

• Durability and weather resistance
• Flat surface, great for creating even walking surfaces 
• Texture that ranges from smooth to rough and grainy
• Irregular shapes allowing for creative and custom designs
• Wide range of colors like brown, red, gray, blue, green, or purple

Each piece of flagstone has unique textures, patterns and color variations, so no two projects look exactly alike. Its irregular shapes and variety of colors allow for endless design possibilities, from rustic to more formal styles.

Is Flagstone a Good Fit for Interlocking?

Whether it’s the right choice for your project depends on your design and whether you’re installing interlocking pavers on your own. Overall, flagstone is one of the most popular interlocking material options for several reasons:

• It’s highly durable, which makes it a good long-lasting choice for outdoor projects
• The textured surface is a slip-resistant and safe option for pool decks, walkways, and patios
• It can easily withstand freeze-thaw cycles without cracking, perfect for the Canadian climate

Flagstone installation can be hard because of its irregular shapes though. It calls for careful fitting and knowing the right technique. If you don’t want to get help from a professional interlocking paver contractor, this one might just be too tricky.

How To Choose Flagstone?

If you’ve settled on flagstone for your interlocking project, you need to decide on which type will fit it best. They vary by appearance and durability — some types better for certain areas and projects better than others.

Common Types of Flagstone

One of its main advantages lies in the variety of options. Each flagstone type has a slightly different appearance, varying in texture and color.

Project Area

It’s best to take the intended use into consideration too. Textured surfaces of quartzite, bluestone, or sandstone are better for areas like pool decks or patios because of their slip-resistance. Quartzite’s extreme hardness and bluestone’s density make them perfect for heavy loads — a popular choice for driveways. Bluestone and quartzite are heat-resistant, long-lasting and safe and for high-temperature areas like outdoor kitchens and fire pits.

With many important details to each flagstone type, it’s easy to make the wrong choice. Consider having a professional consultation to avoid costly mistakes that lead to premature wear or safety hazards.

How to Find High-Quality Flagstone

One wrong move, and you could end up with stone that cracks, stains, or just doesn’t look right. You need to be sure you’ll get high-quality stones before choosing your supplier.

Buy from reputable suppliers

Ask around for recommendations or look for suppliers with positive reviews. If possible, visit the supplier’s quarry, warehouse, or showroom to see the stone in person.

Inspect the stones

Make sure that the stones are consistent in thickness and color. Check the surface for unevenness, cracks and fissures. Small surface cracks are common, but deep cracks can weaken the stone over time.

Request samples

Use a sharp object to scratch the stone — high-quality flagstone should withstand it well. Reputable suppliers will often provide samples free of charge or for a small fee.