Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones add structure, style, and safe footing to any outdoor space, guiding traffic through lawns and garden beds while reducing mud, compaction, and wear. Whether you’re building a simple garden walkway or a feature path across a landscaped yard, the right stones and tools help you achieve a durable, low‑maintenance finish with standout curb appeal. From natural flagstone to concrete walkway pavers and rubber, you can match textures, colors, and shapes to your landscaping, hardscaping, and climate.

Key tools make planning, cutting, and setting stones faster and more accurate:
- Measuring tape, string line, marking paint, and a level for layout and slope.
- Shovel, spade, and wheelbarrow for excavation and hauling.
- Hand tamper or plate compactor for a solid base and bedding.
- Landscape fabric, crushed gravel, and sand or limestone screenings.
- Rubber mallet, joint spacers, and a straightedge for alignment.
- Masonry saw with a diamond blade, masonry chisel, and hearing/eye protection.
- Trowel, mixing tub, and concrete molds if casting custom stones.
- Polymeric sand, jointing gravel, edging restraint, and a broom for finishing.

Plan a path width of 24–36 inches for comfort, and space stones 2–3 strides apart for stepping patterns. Excavate 3–6 inches, add compacted base, place bedding layer, and set stones so they sit slightly proud to shed water. Maintain a 1–2% slope away from structures. For frost zones, choose frost‑resistant materials and thicker stones (1.5–2 inches) to reduce heave.

Maintenance is simple: sweep and rinse, brush in fresh polymeric sand as needed, and seal concrete or porous stone to resist stains and moss. For high-traffic areas, select textured, slip‑resistant surfaces. With the proper tools and materials, your garden walkway, backyard path, or patio stepping stones will look great and perform for years. Explore styles, sizes, and kits to streamline installation.