Stone is sold by the ton. A ton of 2-inch-thick flagstone will cover about 90 square feet. However, coverage varies according to thickness, so tell your stone supplier the total square footage you wish to cover. Have the stone delivered as close to your work site as possible. Gather the special tools needed, including a baby sledge, brickset, and hand tamper. Use gloves and eye protection when cutting stone.

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What You Need:

• Coarse sand
• Weed barrier: PVC sheeting or weed-block fabric
• Flagstone
• Limestone screenings

1. Excavate the base. Dig a level excavation for your walkway 6 inches below grade. Smooth the bottom of the walk as much as possible, lay down weed barrier, and fill with 4 to 5 inches of coarse sand. Level and tamp the sand so that the flagstone will be flush with the ground.

2. Lay out the stones. Arrange the stones so an equal distance -- no more than 1 inch -- is between them on all sides. This is the art in laying stone. Take time to arrange the best possible combination. Finally, force the stones into the sand, maintaining a level surface.

3. Fill in and finish. If you need to cut a flagstone, score all around the desired break line with a brickset. Lay the stone across a scrap-wood straight edge and hit the unsupported part. Finish the walkway by sweeping limestone screenings between the cracks and soaking them down.