Flagstone Patios

We want to do something to our patio’s design that will both increase our pleasure in it and enhance the value of our property. Does Exterior Worlds think a flagstone patio is a good choice?

Nothing completes the look of a patio better than flagstone. A flagstone patio denotes hardiness, security, wherewithal and permanence. It is durable. It provides a neutral palette. Its bluish coloring expresses a cool beauty, which is particularly welcoming during Houston’s hot summer months. It’s easy to see why flagstone is a popular choice for patios.

Discuss patios, in general.Patios are a type of hardscape, the term used by landscapers to describe the non-plant material in your landscape design. You will want your material choices within that entire group to be coordinated and also complement the architecture of your house. Because of its hardiness and beauty, flagstone also works well for a retaining wall, built-in seating and planters.

A patio serves as a transition space between your home and the rest of your landscaping, playing a critical role in your garden landscape. By enlarging your living space, patios make the house feel bigger and unite the interior and exterior spaces. It gives you an opportunity to display your own aesthetic, both from the yard and from the view out the windows of your home. And they give you an opportunity to better enjoy the out-of-doors.
Patio designs can be worked into the classical features of a formal landscape design or the rampant abundance of an English garden design. They can include a vine-covered garden arbor or a well-appointed outdoor room. You want the design of this personal and private space to reflect your personality, whatever different elements you choose. In this vein, we would recommend a landscape designer or landscape architect—someone who can make your patio completely functional, but also custom design the space just for you and your family.

How can we integrate a flagstone patio into the rest of our landscape design?

Since flagstone creates an impermeable surface, you need to think through its impact on your yard drainage system. Exterior Worlds works with some of the best drainage contractors in the Gulf Coast area.
Flagstone is especially suited as a material choice for pathways. Garden pathways are important to landscape design because they lead your guests out into the rest of the landscape. They also help direct the eye across the green expanse of a yard.

A focal point will draw the eye to it and will be the highlight of your patio. An outdoor water fountain works beautifully on a flagstone patio because the water element becomes the center of attention and gives the eye a place to rest amongst all the stone.

What exactly is flagstone?

Sometimes called bluestone or freestone, flagstone belongs in the sandstone family. It possesses a hardness, but, at the same time, is relatively thin, making it perfectly suited for out-of-doors flooring. Its fine-grained surface contains specks of mica, which glitter and glimmer when the sun’s light catches it just right, producing texture and interest in an outdoor setting.