Question
Hi there, I抦 about to install a flagstone path that would begin at my drive way and lead people to the back entrance of our home.  It抯 a well used traffic area and I have beautiful flagstone that I purchased.  What I抦 concerned with now is that the path I want to lay out will also be the only path used in the winter months meaning I抣l have to snow blow it.  I don't want to destroy, chip or ruin the flagstones that I抣l have laid.  The flagstones are approx 1/2 inch to 3/4 of an inch thick and I originally was going to lay them in sand but decided that I love the more natural look of flagstone surrounded by dirt and grass so that's how I want to lay them.  Can you tell me how deep I should dig and what I can do about not destroying them in the winter months?  We live in New England so we do get lots of snow which means constant shoveling and snow blowing on the flagstone path.  Thanks so much for taking time out to answer me.

Answer
Standard flagstone installation in on compacted, crushed limestone base:
http://www.ehow.com/way_5484079_laying-flagstone-patio.html

Here is the standard installation, where the joints are filled with grass:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2007359_install-flagstone-patio.html

Basically, you over-excavate to 5? add that layer of compacted sand or limestone, then set the paver on this compacted surface.

Natural flagstone pavers, flopped straight onto uncompacted earth will almost guarantee they will crack the first time you run something heavy over them (like a snow-blower)

Not all 揻lagstone?are the same, and each have slightly different wear characteristics ?Sandstone (Primarily composed of feldspar and quartz), Limestone, Quartzite, and bluestone, to name a few.  Generally, flagstone is a soft, porous paver -- and yours are a thinner variety, at 1/2?to 3/4? almost a veneer.  We set them here at 1-1/2" minimum thickness, and our climate is only a few feet of snow (2 ft. in a bad year).

It may not have been the right material to stand up to your hard climate. It will be damaged by a snow-thrower, especially if you use the heaver, self-propelled two-stage kind.  It sounds like you have your heart set on this material. As a consolation, some find that a weathered surface can be attractive, too.

A  suggested alternative might have been a 搈an-made?concrete paver that resembles flagstone ?Brand new to the paver market.  Here are some pictures  of these 揝ereno?Pavers:
http://www.riccobene.com/
http://stonegatesod.com/2010/04/new-product-interlocking-patio-walkway-pavers/

We抣l try and work with what you抳e got.  Flagstone can be sealed to lessen the scratching from a snow-blower or aggressive show-shoveling. The sealing product is called 揂ldon? a porous stone sealer, or something similar. It will alter the stone抯 appearance from a buff, to more of a glossy, 搘et?finish, but may buy you a few extra years of life for a softer material in harsh conditions.

Beyond that, marks will be hard to avoid.  Similar to insisting on tile floors, then being concerned that they may be too fragile when something heavy is dropped on it. Sorry. We can抰 fight physics.

Enjoy the pathway in the short-term, and I hope it works out for you.  ~Marc