I need help too. I am inexperienced with concrete, mortar and flagstone. My patio is falling apart along with the steps up to the higher level of my yard that I use for my garden. They are made of flagstone, with mortar in between on a concrete slab. What I plan on doing is removing the flagstone, and chipping away any mortar that my three year old son can't pick up. He just can't wait to get started. Every minute I turn my back he has another piece of 2 inch mortar in his I'm going to relay the stone on mortar and fill in between the stones with mortar. At the edge of the patio and on each step, it looks like mortar has a rounded edge, so I was going to try slapping it on and trying to replace it with the same. Under the stones, it looks pretty dusty, sandy, but I think it might just be the old mortar that was grinding underneath the stone. I'm guessing the patio is 40 maybe 50 years old. Any suggestions would be appreciative.

Ironically, you're not a newbie compared to most people who take on this sort of project. You also fall into the category of people who will probably be most frustrated by having contracters, as you probably have pretty specific expectations about how they should do it. I agree that the site prep is what you sound most leery of, and it isn't rocket science. Get a book on laying patios that explains site prep, levelling, and base material selection (I have one I like called Patios and Walkways, do it now do it fast do it right, by Taunton Press), and you'll see that it's well within your reach. Regarding drainage, think about where the water comes from, and where you want it to go, and slope the patio accordingly. Flagstone has gaps that the water can soak in between too, and you're not exactly in a high rainfall area either, are you? If you want flagstone, you won't be happy with pavers.

Dear Friends, I'm building a 8 feet radius round flagstone patio on my sloppy backyard (As pictured, DIY). I dig off a foot and half on the left, the front and right side of the patio will still be above the ground. Originally my design is to build a base with 5 inches of crush stone base, surrounded by retaining wall block (left, front side). Mix about 2 inch of mortar and stick Flagstone (already bought 2 tons stone about 1.5-2" thickness) on top of the base and wall. I am hopping the mortal will hold the stone well so it won't shift off the slop. As I read more on the internet and I have the concern the patio will end up crack for the way I lay it (people mentioned different expansion ratio of the mortar and stone etc). Here I would like to hear some advises for how should I continue. 1. Am I OK to continue my original plan. Will cracking really a concern in Atlanta GA area, the overall weather hear is mild with a few freezing days. I'll try to compact the base as much as i can. Maybe increase the mortal layer to 3 inches would help? Should I build a rough concrete patio enforced with metal bar, say 3 inches thickness. On top, lay the flagstone with mortar. Will this keep the patio in shape better than plan 1 above. Should I be better off dry laid flag stone. It actually take less effort to do. Add Stone dust on top of pave base and do dry laid. I am worry the rain water will end up wash off the base and fillings in the crack. It will be hard to keep the stones intact over the long run. Really appreciate your comment to guide me further.

"Flagstone" is not a geological type of stone (like granite, limestone, sandstone, etc.) It's a catch all term that generally describes the shape and form ... any relatively thin, flat, broad stone. Round river rocks, or any type of boulder or blocky stone would not be considered flagstone. Think flat and thin ... like a flag. Stone types that cleave naturally into layers make flagstone. Generally, it could come in a variety of thicknesses from 1.5" or so, to 3" or 4" for some types of large pieces, depending on the type of stone and where it comes from. The larger the stone is, the thicker it needs to be. Large, thin stones break very easily. The way it is used is similar to the way tile is used -- to cover an area as a surface, as opposed to being used structurally, (though this is not impossible.) So, there are LOTS of different flagstones with varying characteristics. Some are very popular and shipped across the country. If one happens to be far from where they are quarried, their cost will be high. Usually, because people are most always searching for lower cost, there is a tendency to use flagstone that comes from a nearby source. One must have familiarity with the specific stone type in order to know its durability. A cheaper stone could be more durable than high priced stone as durability is likely not the prime pricing criteria. In landscaping, flagstone is popular as a DIY material on account of its rustic looks and ease of use when laid on a sand base. If mortar is used, it is usually laid by a pro or a dedicated DIY homeowner. IMO, what makes a big difference in the quality of the finished product of flagstone is the joints: tight or narrow, uniform joints look much better. Wide, irregular joints look much more amateurish. Making good joints requires more work/time as edges must be cut or chipped in order to fit next to edges of adjacent stones. That would be a big part of the cost of an installation. I would be willing to guess that such a specification is not included in your proposal so as to hold the price down. Many people do not pay attention to edge detail so wouldn't know the difference anyway. Regardless of the details of your installation, one thing I would never do is install a walk like this without FIRST GETTING SAMPLES! And comparing them on site to other elements and the surroundings. Doing so would answer your primary question about what the overall character of the walk is going to look like, especially color. IMO, blues, greys, taupes, etc. go well with most surroundings and lean classy, whereas yellowish or orangey tones seem less classy. But this depends on the colors of other things, like the house. Color is one reason someone would be willing to pay a higher price to have stone shipped across the country.