Types of Stepping Stones

Concrete Stepping Stones

• The most common material for stepping stones is concrete. Available in a variety of colors, shapes, and textured finishes, concrete stepping stones allow the greatest opportunity for decorating and protecting the yard while respecting your landscaping budget. They are created by mixing concrete, sand and other chemicals together and pouring the mixture into molds to harden. Designs can be altered by embedding glass stones and other materials into the mixture. Pressing leaves or shells into the concrete as it dries creates beautiful fossilized imprints. Many homeowners use concrete stepping stone kits to make personal designs with children's' handprints or pet paw prints to adorn their yard. Concrete is also extremely versatile when considering colors and can be dyed or stained to coordinate with the surroundings.

Natural Stone

• Stepping stones made from natural stone add immediate character and charm and can be more beautiful and original than mass-produced concrete stepping stones. Cut in a variety of shapes and thickness, most natural stepping stones are carved from sandstone, flagstone, slate and limestone. Although, the cost of natural stepping stones is far greater than concrete, natural stones withstand wear and tear and exposure to outdoor elements much longer. Natural stepping stones are in such demand some competitors make concrete imitations to satisfy the need for natural stone on a smaller budget.

Pavers

• Although not traditionally designed for use as stepping stones, pavers have been used to create interesting steps throughout gardens and yards and are a resourceful way to use surplus pavers from a patio or driveway project which makes for a unified appearance once completed. Pavers offer a wide variety of finishes and colors and can be cut from several types of materials including granite, brick, travertine, (a type of limestone) and porphyry (a type of igneous rock comprised of large quartz and feldspar crystals). Pavers can also be used as landscaping borders to coordinate edging with the stepping stones.

Rubber

• Fairly new to the market, rubber stepping stones are environmentally friendly since manufacturers use up to 60 percent recycled materials to make them, most commonly using old stepping stone molds. Rubber stepping stones are softer to walk on and can be used in a variety of other areas in the garden like patios or tables where you may find yourself standing for long periods of time. In addition to their softness, rubber stepping stones resist cracking and breaking.