The Pavers Used for Stepping Stones

Natural Stone

• Natural stone pavers may be slate, sandstone, bluestone, granite, travertine or flagstone. These natural stones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some homeowners like the look of irregular pavers for stepping stones, believing it gives a more natural look. However, you can buy natural stone cut into regular geometric shapes such as rectangles, octagons and diamonds.

  Any style can make stepping stones. Gardeners often use natural stone shapes singly, while they often gather geometrical shapes in small groups to form stepping stones. Natural stone pavers require little if any maintenance beyond cleaning, but are more expensive than other options.

Cast Concrete

• Using cast concrete pavers as stepping stones is a popular option because of the low cost, versatility, durability, and variety of shapes and colors. You can stain concrete pavers before or after formation to nearly any color. Casting can make them look like brick or stone or a wide range of geometric shapes.

  Some people save even more money by purchasing paver molds and making their own concrete pavers to use as stepping stones. Even old baking pans can be molds. Some concrete pavers may benefit from a concrete sealer to prevent fading and concrete should be cleaned regularly to prevent mold.

Rubber Pavers

• Rubber pavers come from recycled tires and other rubbers, making them an environmentally friendly choice. They are also durable, sound proof and resistant to mold and chipping. Since they are slip-resistant, many people choose rubber pavers as stepping stones where children frequently walk or where the ground is often wet. The pavers do not come in a natural stone looks but you can find them in a variety of colors such as terra cotta, black, red, beige, green, blue, brown and grey.

Clay Brick

• Clay pavers usually come in standard rectangular size with a number of color variations, often in red, brown and beige. They are a traditional, natural-looking choice for stepping stones and will not fade or discolor over time. Brick pavers are less expensive than natural stone but more costly than many types of concrete pavers. Brick pavers have been used for centuries, even as road paving material, and require little maintenance. If one paver cracks or breaks, you can replace it easily.