Flagstone Pavers: Pros and Cons for Texas Homes

Flagstone pavers are highly popular in Texas outdoor living design due to their natural beauty and local sourcing options. But are they the best option for your patio, pergola or driveway?

Homeowners value flagstone for its heat resistance and cost-effective acquisition from local stone suppliers. But its naturally porous nature and installation complexity make using flagstone a tough decision for driveways and high-traffic patios.

We used our decades of Texas outdoor contracting experience to create this in-depth guide to the pros and cons of flagstone pavers, plus a few alternative materials to consider:

• Flagstone is naturally built to succeed in Texas outdoor design. Homeowners value its aesthetic appeal, easy local sourcing, and its heat and slip resistant qualities.
• Improperly sealed and maintained flagstone presents concerns. Without proper sealing, it’s prone to moisture absorption, algae growth and cracking.
• How do Carvestone and brick pavers compare to flagstone? Carvestone offers high moisture resistance and flexible styles. Brick pavers are lower maintenance, but they don’t offer the same design versatility as flagstone.

Advantages of Flagstone Pavers for Texas Outdoor Living

There’s no debating flagstone’s popularity in Texas. From pool decks in Houston to patio design in Austin, it’s been a go-to outdoor design material for decades.

For some, choosing flagstone is all about aesthetic value and curb appeal. Others like how easily it’s located and sourced. These are 2 of several core advantages of installing flagstone in your premium outdoor living area.

Local Sourcing

Texas is rich with flagstone quarries — specifically limestone and sandstone variations. Local sedimentary rock formations provide a seemingly endless supply of flagstone in a variety of colors and patterns.

Locally sourced natural stone is far cheaper to acquire than materials shipped from across the country. Shipping and delivery costs are dramatically reduced, and local quarries and stone material manufacturers value their relationships with local contractors.

Natural Beauty

“If I’m building a real Texas patio, then I want real Texas stone,” a Houston homeowner told us.

Homeowners value flagstone in exterior design for its natural beauty, and its ability to blend with local surroundings. 

Texas limestone exhibits light cream, tan, buff, and yellow-brown tones. Sandstone pavers range from tan and gray to rich brown and reddish hues.

High Durability

A major advantage of flagstone in paver materials is its high durability and low density. This means that although flagstone isn’t particularly dense or heavy, it handles pressure extremely well.

A 2011 laboratory test of Flagstone pavers demonstrated the average compressive strength of Flagstone to be around 10,600 psi. That’s over 150% greater than the maximum psi of standard concrete.

Heat Resistance

The light, vibrant colors of Texas flagstone pavers offer natural resistance to the extreme heat of our summer months. 

Flagstone tends to absorb and dissipate heat, making it comfortable to walk on patios and pool decks year-round. And locally sourced limestone and sandstone is naturally built to withstand temperatures of 100°F and higher.

Keep in mind: Your stone pavers’ ability to stay cool is directly related to its color. Darker stones may absorb and retain more heat.

Non-Slip Surface

Flagstone has a naturally textured surface that provides good traction. This feature makes it a safe choice for outdoor spaces near water features, especially swimming pools.

Homeowners install flagstone pavers with confidence on pool decks and walkways — it reduces the risk of slips and falls.

Flagstone Pavers in Texas: Key Drawbacks to Consider

There’s no such thing as a “perfect” patio material. While local limestone and sandstone pavers offer incredible curb appeal and heat resistance, there are a few drawbacks to think about.

Homeowners in Houston should think about flagstone’s ability to avoid moisture. And customers building high-pressure areas like driveways must take cracking concerns into account.

Moisture Retention

Flagstone is naturally porous stone. This means it tends to absorb water, especially when it’s not properly sealed.

Damp, humid environments create the potential for algae growth on flagstone pavers. Improper sealing can lead to annoying, unattractive green staining on your patio or pool deck. 

Algae growth happens frequently on unsealed flagstone pool decks as well.

Freeze-thaw cycles also cause cracks in unsealed flagstone in Dallas-Fort Worth. The DFW area has seen an uptick in freezing events over the last decade (about 30 per year). 

Sealing and Maintenance is a Must

While it’s true that flagstone is highly durable, it’s not invincible. If your materials aren’t properly installed, sealed and maintained, chip damage and cracking is very possible.

Double-check the thickness of your stone materials prior to installation. Thinly cut stone carries a much higher risk factor for cracking and surface damage, especially in high-traffic areas.

Driveways with heavy traffic and multiple cars aren’t considered an ideal location for flagstone. Opt for reinforced or modified concrete if you want a non-asphalt driveway material.

Proper Flagstone Paver Installation and Maintenance

A great contractor amplifies every positive aspect of your new pavers. But all the advantages of flagstone disappear in the hands of a bad contractor. 

Like any premium outdoor material, proper installation and maintenance are vital to the success of your flagstone pavers. 

Clay Soil and Flagstone: Why Expert Installation is Crucial

Most of Texas rests on a bed of expansive clay soil. Soil with high clay concentrations retains water and moisture easily. This causes frequent shifts, swells and cracks in the ground underneath your patio, pool deck, driveway and walkway.

Proper flagstone installation requires the expertise of a quality, experienced contractor. Without the proper base layer, flagstone is prone to shift, crack and break.

A proper bed is crucial to avoid shifting, gaps and voids. Stones that are not properly bedded in the base layer will wobble, creating a trip and fall hazard on your property. 

Uneven installation also creates poor drainage situations on your paver surface. This creates water pooling that stimulates algae growth and internal damage to your stone.

Outdoor Maintenance Tips for Flagstone Pavers

Follow this list of 4 routine maintenance tasks to keep your flagstone beautiful and extends its lifespan to the fullest potential:

1. Sweep and spot wash your pavers on a regular basis to remove loose dirt, debris and leaves. Avoid harsh chemicals or astringents that can damage the surface.
2. Remove stains as soon as you spot them. You’ll avoid them setting into the stone. Mild detergents and stone-specific cleaners generally work fine.
3. Refill sand or mortar between joints as needed to maintain stability and prevent water infiltration. Polymeric sand is a good choice to prevent moisture and weed growth.
4. Seal your flagstone every 2 to 3 years with a high-quality sealant. Use a matte finish to retain the natural beauty of your stone. 

Be careful with pressure washers! Use a low pressure setting if you must, but hand washing or using a low pressure hose with an indirect nozzle is best.

Avoid using harsh deicing chemicals directly on natural stone. Rock salt can damage stone pavers — use calcium chloride products instead.

Flagstone Paver Alternatives: Exploring Carvestone and Brick

Modified concrete pavers and brick pavers are 2 common alternatives to flagstone. Each provides a significant advantage over natural stone — but they also have a drawback or two to think about.

Here’s how Carvestone and brick stack up to flagstone pavers.

Carvestone: High Design Versatility With the Qualities of Concrete

Carvestone is a modified concrete overlay material that offers incredible color, texture and pattern flexibility. It easily mimics the natural beauty of flagstone — or any other stone material you desire.

Like flagstone, Carvestone requires skilled installers to maximize its look and performance. Properly installed Carvestone is an excellent choice to resist moisture on pool decks, and withstands heavy pressure of multi-car driveways.

That being said, flagstone does have a higher natural psi threshold than Carvestone. And if your heart is set on natural stone materials, then flagstone is the pick.

Brick Pavers: Lower Maintenance, But Less Design Versatility

Brick also requires less overall maintenance than flagstone.

Brick pavers look great in rustic outdoor home design. They complement ranch style homes, as well as Spanish and Tuscan styles with terra cotta and reddish hues.

While brick looks great in certain styles, it doesn’t offer much flexibility or aesthetic versatility. Ask your outdoor design expert if it’s a good match for your home’s existing architectural style.

Trust Our Texas Flagstone Paver Expertise

Flagstone pavers offer incredible curb appeal, heat resistance and durability. Their natural existence in Texas makes them easy to source and use in your outdoor design. Ensure they’re sealed and installed properly to avoid moisture and cracking.

We’ve installed over 20,000 custom outdoor living spaces in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth. Our contractors have an expert working knowledge of flagstone pavers through decades of installation experience. 

Allied Outdoor Solutions installs flagstone on patios, pergolas, pool decks, walkways and driveway spaces across Texas. Our customers rely on our material expertise, and our ability to compare the benefits of flagstone against other quality materials.

Talk to our flagstone experts about whether it’s the right choice for your outdoor living space.