A step stone pathway is definitely an easy to do weekend project! When planning, consider your home's architecture when choosing a style of stepping stone. If there is keystone, brick or faux rock on your exterior walls, bring the same texture and color into the stepping stones.
The path shown here was selected to coordinate with the coral hues of the patio pavers. Matching the color or texture of a nearby landscape element will give your path a professional look.
STEP 1: CLEAR AND FILL
Determine the area that you want your path to go and remove all vegetation from the area. Once the vegetation is gone, put down 2 inches of leveling sand. Drag a 2x4 across the surface of the sand to make it very level. You can use our top dress sand or granite fines.
STEP 2: LAY YOUR STONES
If you’re using cut step stones, like 12x12s or 18x18s, set them into the sand about 6 to 8 inches apart. Keep the surface of the stones well above the sand, and make sure each new stone is level with the one before it. If you’re using irregular flagstone, fit each piece together or with a 2”-4” gap between each stone. Note: you may need to chisel some stones to fit together or give them the look you are trying to achieve.
STEP 3: LEVEL IT OUT
As you settle the stones into place, use a level to check each surface. When the level is parallel, the bubble should be right in the middle, indicating that the stone is on an even grade. When the level is perpendicular, you want to see a slight positive slope. This will allow water to slide off the stones and away from your house. This is particularly important when stepping stones are placed close to an exterior wall.
STEP 4: INSTALL WEEDHALT BARRIER
A weed barrier will ensure that your stone path stays tidy and virtually maintenance-free for years. This will also prevent weeds from sprouting up! Once all the stones are in place and appropriately leveled, lay the weed barrier on top. Use garden shears to carefully cut holes for each stone.
STEP 5: FILL IN
Next is to fill in your pathway! Before doing so, decide whether or not you would like edging. You can use our Gator Edging or natural stone such as rubble, tumbled cobbles or river rounds. There are a few different materials you can use in between the gaps and to fill in your pathway.
If you would like the fill your pathway with gravel, like river pebbles or pea gravel, shovel or poor them in the path and/or sweep them in between the spaces. If you are using flagstone or cut stone that have spaces less than 4”, you can use Gator Dust to fill them in.
Gator dust is a unique mixture of polymer binders and calibrated crushed stone available in two colors: Sahara Beige or Stone Grey. Once Gator Dust sets, it becomes very firm and locks between the stone joints. This firm bond maintains the stones securely in place, being equally effective on both horizontal and sloped surfaces.
Easy right? This could totally be a weekend project.
Note: Other materials you can use to fill your pathway is slate chips and path, marble chips and mini marble, granite fines, top dress sand, and any other gravels we have here! It’s all to your preference!