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FAUX FLAGSTONE METHODS 

NOT ALL FLAGSTONE IS CREATED EQUALLY.  Like Mother Nature’s creation of real flagstone, faux flagstone runs the gamete in quality, texture, durability and color. Those educated on the many grades of real and faux flagstone available will be careful to choose the most durable, natural, colorful and artistically applied flagstone.

THREE METHODS USED TO CREATE FAUX FLAGSTONE
This list does not encompass all methods used to create faux flagstone, but represents the most common methods used in the Southwest.

1. Free-cut technique: Step 1 - trowel to create texture, Step 2 - hand-cut to create flagstone forms, Step 3 - hand stained with iron-oxide pigment to create color.

2. Tape or template technique: Step 1 – tape down flagstone design, Step 2 - trowel to create texture, Step 3 - hand stained with acrylic colorant to create color. 

3. Stamped technique Step 1 – trowel to create texture, Step 2 – stamp to create form, Step 3 – spray color hardener over entire surface to create color.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE FAUX FLAGSTONE METHOD

HAND-CUT FLAGSTONE
The beauty of flagstone lies in its natural free-flowing appearance. Each piece is different in size, color and texture. Therefore, using templates or stamps cannot create the realistic look of natural flagstone. 

With certain limitations, if applied by a conscientious applicator, the taping method can create a free-flowing flagstone pattern. However, tape can only bend so much before it loses its bond to concrete. The advantage of hand cutting is that you can create irregular grout lines very similar to a real flagstone application. The ability to create angles, chipped edges, jagged lines can not be done with tape. With tape the grout lines will have a uniform appearance, in contrast to varying widths achieved with the hand-cut method. 

HAND-CRAFTED TEXTURE
Handcrafted flagstone allows you to apply much more realistic texture in each stone. By using this method faux flagstone can be created with pockets, pits, ridges and imperfections, much like real flagstone. Again, the beauty of faux and real flagstone is that each piece looks different in texture, size and color.

When installers use tape or templates, their main concern is enabling the tape or template to do its job. In order for the tape or template to do its job the modified concrete material must be troweled thin and tight. If material is troweled too thick it tends to moisten the tape or template and displace it. Another concern for the applicator is that if the material is too thick it will bury the tape once it hardens, making it impossible to pull up the tape. Thicker texture also makes it significantly more difficult to pull up the tape and create clean crisp grout lines. Consequently, most taped flagstone is flat and smooth and lacks the character of the thicker free-cut flagstone

Stamping by its very nature creates uniform texture throughout the pattern. However stamped concrete is at least 1/4’ thick, which combined with the texture, gives it a nice look, but lacks the realism of free cut faux flagstone.

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