B. Flagstone Patio Tools

So I said you wouldn't need any expensive flagstone patio tools or equipment to build your stone patio. I probably should have said own them.

For a project like this, you may need to rent a few items like compacting equipment. A plate tamper or a jumping jack can be rented at just about any equipment rental outlet.

I'm sure that you probably have the rest of the landscaping tools in your garage or shed already.

I will hold off on talking about excavation equipment for later, but for now here is a list of tools you should have to do the job.

First things first. Protect yourself with the basics. Gloves (high dexterity gloves are best), steel toe boots are a must (crushing a toe is very painful), safety glasses, knee pads, and long pants.

When you are chipping or splitting rocks pieces can fly off at the speed of light (ok, maybe just sound), and hit your body making you bleed profusely.

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Brick sets or stone chisel - These have hardened steel blades for splitting and trimming rocks.
Broom - For sweeping the surface and spreading jointing materials.
Brush or whisk broom - For sweeping smaller area when packing the stone.
Caution tape or ribbon - This is to mark off your excavation site to keep people away.
Hand tamper - These tampers are good to have around for small areas. Plate, or power tampers should be used for larger patio.
Hammers - A 3 lb or 5 lb hammer, claw hammer, and a deadblow hammer (rubber mallet).
Laser level - Handy to have for grading and drainage work. Easy to use and relatively cheap. String levels can also be used as an alternative.
Level - 3 or 4 ft, and a very long (8 or 10 ft) very straight 2x4, to check grades over large surface area.
Pick-axe - These are very handy to have in a rocky yard for hand digging, and removing large rocks.
Power tamper - These are available at most equipment rental stores and can be rented for about $40 to $60 per day usually. They are well worth it and you should only need it for a day. A patio is just too much work for a hand tamper, although they are handy to have around for smaller jobs.

Rakes - A good bow rake and if you have a landscape rake, bonus.
Shovels - Try to have a few. A square nosed shovel and a good digging spade.
Sharp knife - For cutting landscape fabric and edging if you are adding features around your project. Spiked in patio edging is a harder plastic and may require a small saw.
Stakes - 10 or so should be enough (2 to 3 ft high). You will need these to mark on when leveling the area before building your sub-base.
String level and string - Used for checking grades over distances between stakes.
Wheelbarrow - If you have one, great. If not, get one with a rubber tub, and a good inflatable rubber tire. (It's worth the money over a cheap one.)

This is a do-it-yourselfer list. There are more tools available, but this should give you the basics to get the job done without investing a lot of money.

You can check out tools in the Tool Shed if you are unsure about what a tool is, or you need to purchase tools.

Now it's time for selecting and estimating your Flagstone Patio Materials.

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Table of Contents: Flagstone Patio

Introduction: Flagstone Patio

A. Flagstone Patio Site

B. Flagstone Patio Tools

C. Flagstone Patio Materials

D. Flagstone Patio Site Preparation

E. Flagstone Patio Base Preparation

F. Laying Flagstone Patio Stones

G. Flagstone Patio Edging and Jointing