How to Build a Flagstone Walkway

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to rescue an old stone walkway.

Steps:

1. Remove the old flagstones and set aside.

2. Lay out two garden hoses to represent the shape and position of the new 3-foot-wide walkway.

3. Use an edger to cut into the lawn along both hoses.

4. Move the hoses out of the way and use a shovel to excavate the walkway. Dig down at least 4 inches.

5. Install steel edging along each side of the excavated walkway. Hammer in steel stakes to hold the edging in place.

6. Install a 2×4 stretcher every 6 to 8 feet to hold edging at precisely 3 feet apart.

7. Line the bottom of the excavated walkway with landscape fabric.

8. Spread about 3 inches of pea stone over the landscape fabric. Remove the 2×4 stretchers.

9. Set a flagstone into the pea stone with a downward twisting motion. Then tap down the flagstone with a rubber mallet. Repeat to set the remaining flagstones.