Flagstone patios are possible the classiest surface of all hardscape options. Adding a flagstone patio to your backyard will definitely keep you ahead of the Jones’s. There is, however a dirty little issue that can rear its head after the installation is complete and the contractor has gone on their way.

In the northern climate that we live in, mortar between the stones is not an option as it will crack from the freezing and thawing. For many years, the only other option was to use a loose aggregate between the stones. This would look good when the project was completed but after foot traffic and a few rain storms, the aggregate would migrate onto the stone surface and make for a gritty mess. Not to mention the weeds that would start to grow after a time.

There is, however another option these days. A material, known as polymeric sand bridges the gap between mortar and loose aggregate. This material is swept into the joints between the stone and then water is applied. After the sand dries, the polymers, which are incorporated with the sand, create a hard, yet flexible material that won’t crack during winter and won’t migrate unto the stone from rain and traffic.  Weeds are not able to grow through polymeric sand as well.

Polymeric sand costs slightly more than regular aggregate but the extra expense is well worth it down the line. With multiple color choices, polymeric sand will also make the completed patio look magnificent.