Can You Install Flagstone Over a Wooden Deck?
It's possible to install flagstone over a wooden deck. If done correctly and with care, flagstone over wood deck can greatly enhance the appearance and, in some cases, the value of your house.
Project Overview
Installing flagstone over a wooden deck is not a complex task, but there are a couple key aspects of the project to keep in mind. The wooden deck must be structurally sound before any flagstones can be installed. This may involve replacing or reinforcing some of the structural supports of the deck. Once the structure is solid, the surface of the deck must be covered with a cement backer board. Once the backer board is installed, the flagstones can be set and grouted.
Preparing the Surface
Once the deck is structurally sound, the surface should be covered with quarter-inch backer board. The backer board is a cementlike material that comes in 3 by 5 feet sections. This material, which prevents the flagstones from shifting and cracking, can be screwed down to the wooden deck with masonry screws.
Laying the Flagstones
Flagstones can be applied in a desired pattern with thinset adhesive. Most flagstones are irregularly shaped, so the spacing between the stones isn't precise, but a matter of personal preference. The adhesive must set for 24 hours before applying grout in the gaps between stones. Grout must set for 24 hours, too.
References
Writer Bio
Seth Callen is an experienced writer who started writing professionally in 2000. He writes primarily SEO articles and technical manuals for the insurance industry. His technical articles are published on ActiveRain and other websites. His fictional short story, "Black Frontier," appeared on American Zoetrope. Callen attended Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, obtaining a bachelor's degree in business administration.
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