How to Install a Flagstone Sidewalk

Use landscaping paint or baking flour to outline the path of your sidewalk. If you expect the sidewalk to receive a lot of foot traffic, make it at least 5 feet wide to accommodate multiple people.

Clear grass, weeds and debris from the path, and continue to dig until the surface is 8 inches deep. Compact the soil down with a tamper tool.

Spread a 4-inch layer of gravel over the compacted surface.

Lay pieces of landscape fabric over the gravel to inhibit weeds. Tuck the edges of the fabric beneath the gravel so it doesn't show through on the edges of the sidewalk.

Pour a 2-inch layer of sand over the fabric, and use the tamper tool again on the surface. Compacting the sand will help prevent the ground from settling over time and causing the flagstones to become uneven.

Place your first flagstone on a far corner of the path. Step back to see if you are happy with the level of the sidewalk. It should sit an inch or two from the ground to prevent grass from growing over the ends. Add more sand to raise the level of the sidewalk as necessary. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the stone firmly into the sand.

Continue to lay the flagstones beside one another, with consistent spaces between them. Place them in straight rows for a uniform look, or fit different sizes and shapes together like puzzle pieces. Pour sand over the stones and use a brush to work the sand into the crevices. Brush off the excess and water the surface so the sand will harden to the flagstones as it dries.

Insert metal edging against the sides of the sidewalk to prevent the stones from shifting.