How to Make Stepping Stones From Debris

Painted tile stepping stones drying in the sun

You love romping barefoot in the grass, but you hate having to walk across gravel to get there. You can make walking across gravel, water or annoying landscaping that much easier if you install stepping stones. Go an extra creative mile and don’t settle for expensive and often cheesy store-bought stone: Make stepping stones from debris.

Things You'll Need

• Flat, durable debris
• Outdoor paint
• Primer and sealer (if necessary)

Instructions

1. Find your debris. Look for debris that are solid, flat and durable enough to hold human weight. You can go for metal, but be forewarned it will heat up like an oven in the sun. Ideal debris for stepping stones include chunks of concrete or broken terra cotta pot pieces or tile, thick slabs of wood, durable and hefty plastic pieces or smooth slices of thick rubber.

2. Prepare your debris. Wash any dirt, grime and garbage off the debris with a garden hose and, if necessary, bleach or a chemical cleaner. Scrape off any stuck on stuff with a razor or paint scraper. Sand rough edges on wood. Cut, sand or saw the debris into interesting shapes big enough for a human foot. For concrete, plastic and rubber, get the appropriate primer from a hardware or auto supply store so the paint adheres properly.

3. Use outdoor paint coat your debris in colors that catch your eye and match your yard. Stepping stones look handsome with three colors, emanating from lightest in the center to darkest around the edges. Apply one or more thin coats as necessary, allowing to dry between coats.

4. Use a sealer, such as polyurethane for wood, or a concrete or rubber sealer for other materials.

5. Install the stones. Dig out small recesses the size of the stepping stone and place them snugly in the recess. Pack gravel, dirt or other material around the edges to help secure the stones. Walk on them several times to get them fully implanted in the earth.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a very light colored paint, or even glow in the dark paint, for the center of the stones so you can walk around on them in the dark.

• If you are using stepping stones across a waterway, make sure they are much higher than the water or they will be useless. Waterway stepping stones should not be wood. Concrete works well in water.

• Test debris durability by jumping up and down on it several times. If it breaks, it would not make a good stepping stone.

• Be wary of dark colors on stepping stones, as they will get incredibly hot in the sun.