[Andyboy]

I am working on a job that calls for dry laid square cut flagstone and I have never done this before. I have the pattern and the stone my question is how do I deal with the joints? how wide should they be? is there some way to maintain precision (such as a shim or something)? any other tips would be much appreciated.

I have laid lots of interlock so I know about the base layer for that but is it different for natural stone?

Thanks for any advice,

Jason

[skahuna]

if you keep your joints at 1/2'' regular(square cut) bluestone will work out to whole foots (the pieces are about 11.5'' ,17.5'', 23.5''etc) they're not perfectly sized or square though so after your done you have to go back and average out the joints with a pry bar
if its available in your area gauged bluestone (saw cut) can be laid almost as fast as pavers and its a nicer quality stone than the split flags

[agla]

You will notice that if you take two 12"x12" pieces and put them next to a piece that is 24" and make the edges line up with the ends of the 24" piece, the joint is what it is (1/2"-5/8" typically). Unless you use square pieces and lay them in a grid pattern, the stone cutters determined your joint size for you.

[Andyboy]

Ahh, I see. Sort oflike nominal lumber dimentions. Great, thanks.

J

[Keith N]

So when you use cut bluestone. Is it easier to use spacers like on a ceramic floor, to keep your joints consistent?

[agla]

No, the stone keeps you honest, as honest as it can anyway. The stone sometimes has inconsistancies from the cutting. You just have to match outside edges to the bigger abutting stones. And use strings to keep your pattern straight and square.