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Hardscaping Series Part 1. Linear vs. Irregular Patterns

9/28/2012

15 Comments

 
For this week’s post I’d like to begin a series of posts all designed to help through the decision making process that is involved with creating a new hardscape.

But first, a little background.  I set out to write a single post helping clients through the decision making process.  But as I started typing, I realized that there was just too much information.  The more I wrote, the more decisions that needed to be made presented themselves.  It’s like those “Choose your Own Adventure” books for young readers, where you have to choose between trusting the evil Magician or not.  Once you make a choice, then you are presented with a series of new information forcing you to make another choice – should I follow the wizard into the cave or not?  If so, then do I trust him enough to lift the forbidden stone.  On and on the decisions go – kind of like life, actually.

True to form, I’m rambling.  Anyway, there was just too much information for a single post, so for the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on some of the specific choices that need to be made in conjunction with your hardscaping plans.  I’ll wrap up the series with a handy bullet-list formatted post highlighting the basics.

Anyway, this week I’d like to focus on what could be a simple choice when it comes to flagstone.  A linear design vs. random irregular shapes.
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A linear flagstone pattern
What am I talking about?  

Quite simple actually.  A linear design is a pattern of squares and rectangles, all cut to specific dimensions that fit together nicely with consistent joint widths.  The size of the stones may vary based on the scale of the space, but typically dimensions run in 6” increments, with 12x12 being the smallest size, and usually up to 36” pieces being the largest dimensions, but sometimes smaller on narrow pathways or small patio spaces. Since the stones are pre-cut to exact specifications, this allows for a nice consistent joint width between stones, typically measuring approximately ½” to ¾”wide.  The stones may be set in a pre-determined pattern, or in a randomly occurring sequence with all the individual pieces fitting together nicely.

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A random irregular flagstone pattern
A random irregular design consists of irregular shaped pieces of flagstone that are fit together almost like a jigsaw puzzle.  To maintain a sense of scale, I usually try to pick pieces that are somewhat similar in size, again ranging between 12” on the smallest pieces to no more than 36” on the largest pieces.  Because of the natural organic shape of the stones, some irregularities may occur in the joint widths, but we’ll usually do some cutting or chiseling of the stones to avoid joints that are any wider than 2” at the most, but mostly with joint widths in the ½” to 1” range.  We also avoid using any extremely small pieces to avoid what I like to call the “mosaic” effect, with an overly busy pattern.

From a cost perspective, the two options are about the same in terms of installation price.  The pre-cut linear dimensional stones are usually more expensive from the supplier, but the labor is more straight-forward.  The irregular shaped pieces are sold at a discounted bulk rate from the supplier, but more labor intensive on the installation end.  So any price differences usually come out in the wash.

So what’s right for your project?  

Well this is where your decision making process comes in.  The linear design usually offers a cleaner, more formal look (but not always), and lends itself to formal or more modern designs.  The irregular option is slightly more organic, and lends itself more to informal spaces or garden walkways and landings.

But there’s really no right or wrong application.  It’s just what you prefer.

Our series on hardscaping options will continue next week, as we discuss the difference between a wet-set flagstone option and a dry-set installation.

15 Comments
Matt link
10/1/2012 12:57:34 pm

Clark, I think the question you asked at the end is the key factor when making a choice on pattern. Whats right? Of course, you can always blend styles and patterns too!

Reply
https://www.larixlandscape.com/ link
6/15/2022 03:43:13 pm

This series was a great read. Thanks again.

Reply
Braden Bills link
7/7/2022 06:29:34 am

I want to make sure that my patio has a nice pathway. It makes sense that I might want to consider using an irregular pattern for it. I'll have to see if I can get the right stonemason to help me out with this.

Reply
Iris Smith link
4/10/2023 10:29:11 pm

I appreciate you noting that a random irregular pattern consists of flagstone pieces that are fitted together much like a jigsaw puzzle and have uneven shapes. For her garden, my mother wants a new walkway. She stated that she wanted a distinctive pathway. I'll advise her to get the jigsaw puzzle-shaped walkway landscaping installed.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
11/22/2023 07:13:39 am

It's interesting to learn how we'd use hardscaping materials to create a pathway or a patio space. My wife and I want to renovate our exterior space and use it to create a nice outdoor living extension of our home. We'll look for a professional hardscaping contractor next week, and we'll ask about linear and irregular designs.

Reply
TREE FELLING link
2/4/2025 07:25:21 am

Thank you for initiating this series on creating new hardscapes. Your guidance is invaluable as I plan my outdoor space. If you need assistance with tree services during your project, feel free to visit our website.

Reply
TREE SURGEON NEAR ME link
3/2/2025 02:37:41 am

I can definitely relate to this! Sometimes, a simple idea turns into a much bigger discussion than expected. Thanks for sharing your insights! If you ever need tree services, feel free to check out our website!

Reply
CROWN REDUCTION link
3/4/2025 06:36:50 am

Thank you for sharing this! It’s true—once you dive into a topic, you realize just how many decisions there are to make. If you ever need tree services, feel free to visit our site!

Reply
TREE SURGEON NEAR ME link
3/4/2025 06:38:59 am

Great insight! Decision-making can definitely lead to more questions than answers. If you're ever in need of tree services, don’t hesitate to check out our site!

Reply
TREE CUTTING | PRUNING | TRIMMING Ely, Cambridge link
3/24/2025 06:59:03 am

Thank you for sharing your thought process! It’s true—there’s always more to consider than it seems at first. If you ever need tree services, feel free to check out our site!

Reply
PROFESSIONAL TREE SURGEONS IN Lakenheath, Suffolk link
3/24/2025 07:02:47 am

I can definitely relate! Once you start breaking things down, the details keep adding up. Great insight! If you ever need tree services, we’d be happy to help—visit our site anytime!

Reply
PROFESSIONAL TREE SURGEONS IN NORTHAMPTON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE link
3/30/2025 06:27:35 am

Thank you for sharing your thought process! It’s true—some topics are much more complex than they first seem. If you ever need tree services, feel free to visit our site!








Reply
TREE SURGEON BRIXWORTH link
4/3/2025 07:28:03 am

Thank you for sharing this! The decision-making process can definitely feel overwhelming at times. If you happen to need tree services, feel free to visit our site.

Reply
BEST ARBORIST link
4/3/2025 07:29:45 am

Great points here! It’s easy to get lost in the details when making decisions. If you need any tree services, don't hesitate to check out our website!

Reply
TREE SURGEON Newmarket link
4/21/2025 08:24:21 am

Thank you for breaking this down—it's easy to underestimate how many decisions are involved until you start digging in. If you ever find yourself needing tree services, feel free to check out our site!

Reply



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    Clark Kent Creations, LLC is a full-service landscape construction company servicing the Pennsylvania communities of Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line, and the University City, Art Museum, and Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  In addition to this blog page, additional information regarding the company and our services can be found on the subsequent pages of the site.
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    Clark Linderman is the president of Clark Kent Creations, LLC, a landscape construction company based in Swarthmore, PA.  He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.  In addition to his passion for all things outdoors, he counts Michigan football, Phillies baseball, Superman memorabilia, Memphis R&B music, and good craft brews among his many interests.  He currently resides in Swarthmore with his wife, Sheila, two sons, his dog Krypto, and a really, really messy garage full of work supplies and toys.

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    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
    Swarthmore, PA
    Design and Construction to Maximize Your Outdoor Experience

    707-290-9410
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    Serving Delaware County, PA

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    If you like the content of my blog posts, here are a few other blogs that I check in on regularly:

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