So the previous owners of our house put a deck in the backyard. The rear of the house is like an L but there is a little landing area at the corner. So we have an area that is concrete than the deck.

There are two problems with the deck
1) the drainage is awful on the concrete because the deck is a few inches higher- I put a rain barrel to help solve this
2) they used crappy paint and/or decking and it gets insanely hot in the summer. Also, now the nails are backing out and the deck boards are breaking on the ends

I got my first kid coming and this is not a good environment for a kid to play

I want to redo the back yard and am thinking about using flagstone. Can I put flagstone over concrete and soil? I would know gravel layers obviously. Any other ideas of how to smooth this out?

Thanks

pictures might help ...

you could put flagstone on concrete and you could put flagstone on soil with something as a base but I wouldn't think you could do continuous over concrete transitioning onto soil without it become very uneven over time ...

Pour concrete where you want the flagstone.

1. Find out how many feet you are gonna need.
2. Check out custom stone services
3. I like Oklahoma flagstone
4. Mix mortar, lay a shovel full down and then the stone.
5. Tap down with rubber hammer and use level for the adjoining stone.
6. For a cleaner look, you can use a grinder for cleaner cuts.

Just pour it and get it stamped. There are several patterns from which to choose.

Interesting idea bill. I have seen that for walk ways...

So I will post a pic when I get back from deer hunting

The flagstone on concrete won't work. As I walked it yesterday its sloped to even with the door and so I couldn't put anything on the concrete and have it be flush with the door.

So that leaves two options
1) redo the deck in a higher quality material- prolly the nailless kind
2) rip the deck out and put something there. Either flagstone or the concrete

For reference the deck is about 25x15 and the concrete area is 10x12

Question, is the concrete porch in good shape? If so you could use a saw or grinder with a cement blade and saw cut grooves in the concrete about 1/4" deep then do a stain. Make any type of pattern. I would draw something on paper first.

Concrete is good, few high level cracks

Never even knew about that... thanks will look into