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Build a Natural Stone Patio

To build with stone is as natural and human as life itself. Building with stone has been conducted worldwide throughout history in projects as variable as simple stone trail markers, fences, monumental European cathedrals, the Great Pyramids, and unique, mysterious structures such as Stonehenge. To wish to build a patio with natural stone is also natural. With some design considerations, planning, and careful selection of stones, you can do it.

Planning

Planning is essential to build any project well. Some decisions must be made initially. How large do you wish your stone patio to be? Where will it be located? Do you require a building permit?
In building with natural stone, careful selection of stones is important. For consideration of safety, stones with rounded, curved, or very rough, broken surfaces are not suitable for a patio. Stones that are excessively smooth may be slippery when wet.
Slates, sandstones, and other sedimentary rocks split on one plane, resulting in a relatively flat surface. Other types of rocks, such as granites, may be available commercially depending upon your geographical location.

For your patio, choose stones that are as flat as possible, at least an inch or two thick. If your intention is to build a frame around the patio, make sure you have chosen enough stones with relatively straight edges to fit up against the forms, or be prepared to cut them, or score and break the rock. Random shapes of natural stones provide the wonderful option of custom-fitting stones to the edges and trimming out the sod to match the rock, regardless of shape. A time-consuming process, the result can be astoundingly beautiful, maintenance-friendly, and natural.

To build a natural stone patio, you will need the following tools, materials and supplies:

Safety boots, gloves, and eye protection.
Shovel - a sharp, flat spade is a superior choice for this application
Garden rake
A pick -will be required if the soil is dry and hard.
A pointed (triangular) mason's trowel. A smaller one is easier to use.
Pickets
Rubber mallet
A carpenter's line.
A carpenter's 4' level
Natural rocks - the bigger and flatter the better, but handle carefully, they are heavy! Choose limestone, slates, sandstones, or other sedimentary rocks.
Sand (Clean construction sand containing no roots, dirt or rocks )
A rock saw or mason's saw. (For granites and hard rocks, use a diamond blade to cut and fit the stone if you are installing a patio frame )
A mason's

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