If you have decided to install a flagstone patio in your home's backyard, then you will be pleased to learn that working with this type of natural stone is fairly simple and straightforward. However, there are some simple tricks and techniques that you need to use to successfully cut and trim the flagstones so they fit just right into your patio's design. To this end, here are some time-tested tips for working with flagstones for the first time:

Tip: You Do Not Need to Purchase a Special Stone Mason's Hammer

While you may be tempted to buy a stone mason's rock hammer to work your patio's flagstones, this is not necessary. You can use any hammer you typically use with nails, such as a framing hammer, and it will work just fine.

Tip: Break Large Flagstones in Half Using the Checking Technique

When a professional stone mason wants to break a large flagstone in half, they use a technique known as "checking." To use this technique, place a scrap piece of stone under one end of the piece that you want to break in half. Use the blade end of your hammer and score a line in the flagstone where you want it to break. Using only the side of the hammer's striking head to condense the blow into a smaller area, lightly tap all along the line that you previously scored into the flagstone. Start in the middle of the stone, and work your way out to prevent breaks along the edge of the stone. Keep tapping on the rock until it breaks in half.

Tip: Use an Undercutting Technique to Trim the Edges of the Flagstones

When you need to trim down the edge of a flagstone so that it fits into your patio's design, use an undercutting technique. Working from the outside of the stone, break the bottom of the stone using the side of your hammer. Once the bottom of the flagstone is thinner, then you can easily chip away the top layers using the side of your hammer. 

Tip: Use an Edging Technique to Achieve Straight Lines Where You have Trimmed or Broken Flagstones

Finally, for any ragged edges where you have broken away or trimmed stones, you can easily achieve straight lines on the edges by lightly tapping your hammer on each of the areas sticking out above your score lines. Lightly tap on the stones and work their edges until all of the ragged areas are gone and the stones look like they were worked by a professional stone mason.

For more information, contact a company like Earth Stone.

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