I would like to install a small flagstone patio outside of my walkout basement slider. There is a slight pitch away from the foundation. I don't want to have to do a lot of digging and wonder if it would work to put landscaping fabric right on the grass, border the area with landscaping blocks set into the dirt, then just add a few inches of stone topped with sand as the base for my flagstones. In others words build up instead of down, since I do have a slight pitch. I am a 68 year old woman hoping to do this myself one bag of sand and stone at a time. I know the base would need to settle and be tamped down, but under all that sand and stone, I wouldn't think the grass would be an issue. Any advice appreciated with thanks.

NH Gem

 

The bigger issue is having a proper base for the flagstone and for that you need to dig/excavate.

 

Thanks Mark. I have read that I need a good base, but would it work to build it up instead of down, leaving the sod in place?

 

The sod would be a weak point and would compress more and not necessarily evenly. You don't want a wavy patio after a few winters.

 

Oh, I didn't think of that. Thank you!

 

90% of the job building a patio is in the prep work underground. Setting stones and sprinkling sand is the easy reward at the end. Yes, you could just set stones on the ground but that's the quality of patio you'll end up with. Wobbly, uneven stones that were just sat on the ground. If you want a patio that's level and rock solid and will remain level and solid for years to come then it will need a proper foundation. The foundation work underground is even more important when you are in a area with freezing in winter. Stones just set on top of the dirt will heave and move with every freeze cycle while a patio base is designed and built to drain water away and is densely packed to resist freezing and heaving.