Question
Hi Sean,

My husband and I just had an irregular flagstone patio installed and neither of us and impressed with the results.  We knew that it wouldn't be totally smooth because the thickness of the stones varied from 1 - 2 1/2 inches thick. But, now that the job is completed, it looks like a bunch of lumps. My husband fears that someone may fall and really get injured. Is there some way that the stone can be sanded to a smooter surface?

Answer
If the surfaces of the stones have imperfections from 1/8 to even 1/2" it should be safe as long as these lumps are in fact lumps or divets in the stone which have transitional edges (not abrupt). However, if there are exposed edges between stones that leave some stones sticking up more than 1/4" from the adjacent stone then the stone may be laid improperly. You can sometimes tamp these stones back down if they are sand laid. If not you can chissle the edges if they are set in mortar. And yes, I suppose if you have a large belt sander (not a cheap home grade sander) and you but a course grit paper on it, it will sand down the surface. However, test this out on some spare stone, you may not like the looks.


I have sanded stone before to create beveled edges so I know that it will work, specially on softer stone varieties.

Good Luck

Sean J Murphy
www.seengineering.com
www.amenityarchitects.com