Sizing Flagstone for Loveseat Grotto

[jayhawkclint]

Finishing final phase of construction on a chlorine gunite pool with loveseat grotto water feature. Need some help please selecting the right thickness of slab to span this bonded beam loveseat. Wanting to use oklahoma flagstone to match the coping. Max distance at the widest point is 7’. Local stone supply has slabs from 1” up to 8” or thicker. Don’t want to go too thin and risk cracking the slab (on top of someone’s head potentially), don’t want to go too thick and risk cracking the gunite. Anyone have experience sizing a grotto waterfall slab?

 

[HermanTX]

Are you going to place additional stone on top of the base slab? Will there be a waterfall cascading above it?
The stone supplier should be able to provide some guidance.
Maybe @AQUA~HOLICS has time to review this.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Going to pass on giving a thickness recommendation for that 7’ span with a natural product without seeing it in person, if the stone supplier suggests a thickness, get it in writing. A poured in place slab that’s engineered with rebar to have the same look may be a better option.