Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
namiam

Flagstone as Edging/Border

namiam
11 years ago

I am looking for a quick/easy way for stone edging. Has anyone lay flagstone on the side (instead of flat surface parallel with horizontal ground)? I am trying to find pictures here and on Google, but no luck.

Comments (10)

  • patty_cakes
    11 years ago

    Someone has used it upright in my neighborhood, but I personally don't care for it. Reminds me of Stonehenge. ;o)

  • namiam
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I should clarify, I was doing some pavers for my patio and I ended up about 4 inches below grade. I just need something to build a "mini" retaining wall. It will be holding back dirt/grass. I was thinking of dry stacking chopped stone (about 2 rows high) or just using flagstone/limestone standing up. I figured the flagstone would be easier/less expensive.

  • namiam
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I just want something simple, appealing, easy to maintain (edging/mowing). I can sacrifice price if there are other benefits like I just mentioned.

  • karinl
    11 years ago

    I have used stone countertop off-cuts on edge to retain beds adjacent to a sidewalk. I like it because it is thin (does not take away 10-20 inches of bed width, as stacked stone does). What I have found difficult is controlling its angle. We initially installed it with a slight batter (lean toward the bed) but over time it has angled outward a bit. Our pieces are long, so are difficult to correct. Smaller pieces of flagstone might be easier to correct, even if they are even more prone to leaning off-kilter than ours are.

    If you go to a landscape supply yard you might also find stone designed for use as treads or something similar - basically, the shape of 4x4 posts but shorter. Or, you could use 4x4 posts and plan to replace them as they give out over time.

    However, you might consider whether it is worth redoing the patio to get to the grade you intended, rather than making a wall that may be less than ideal.

    Karin L

  • namiam
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Bad news: I already did the patio.

  • karinl
    11 years ago

    I know, I said consider RE-doing it. You don't say how big it is or anything, so I have no idea how feasible this is. But before you sentence yourself to dicking around with building, maintaining, correcting, and tripping over a small wall for the rest of your life in this place, you might consider an extra day or two of work to RE-lay the patio correctly a worthwhile investment.

    But like I say, I don't know how big a patio we are talking or how complicated it would be to add to the base and relay the stones.

    Karin L

  • deviant-deziner
    11 years ago

    have you thought about ledge stone ?
    in some cases it is just thicker cuts of flagstone
    photo of ledgestone :

  • PRO
    Yardvaark
    11 years ago

    @ namiam... as I read your revised description --"mini" retaining wall-- I think it describes pretty much what a CURB is. Using flagstone on edge is not good because, as I described previously, something that appears THIN looks cheap. Karinl drove home the point that it's also difficult to control the vertical angle of it over time, so it is guaranteed to look unattractive on two counts. Something that has at least 6" of depth min. (from front to back) would look better. 8" or more is preferred. If stone is laid "dry stack" style, that would be OK. (Hopefully, drainage has been worked out and installing a curb will not inadvertently trap water.)

  • namiam
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thanks, I ended up not using flagstone. I just got some chopped stone and dry stacked 1 row, about 15 linear feet. I think the drainage improved during my "rain" mock test yesterday, but still need to do some grading / add compost. This one area (about 100 sq ft) is nothing but hard clay.

Sponsored
Pristine Acres
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars46 Reviews
Leading Northern Virginia Deck/Patio Specialist- 10X Best of Houzz!