The Easy Way to Install Stepping Stones Over Concrete Surfaces

Jan 8, 2011
Kelly Smith

First 3 runs of concrete stepping stones - Kelly Smith

This is easier than laying stepping stones over dirt for a garden path or outdoor patio. All you need is the concrete stones, or even bricks, and sand.

Well, in all honesty that's not technically all you need; that's just the material list. Depending on your circumstances, you'll need a broom or rake and some good old-fashioned elbow grease.

The Idea Behind this Home Improvement Project

You might want to tackle this DIY job for aesthetic reasons but for me it was a necessity; extra curb appeal was a happy side effect. At my happy home, I get to the front door via a concrete walkway that goes along the brick siding on the garage (which is actually my shop).

When the home was built, evidently the concrete contractor built his concrete form for the walkway too low. During heavy, fast rains or tropical storms, water about an inch deep ponds on approximately 3/4 of the walk. It drains off quickly enough after the rain slacks off, but it means soaked shoes if we absolutely have to go somewhere.

Prepare the Concrete Surface and Lay the Stepping Stones

Stepping stones come in different sizes and patterns so take your measurements before you go shopping. My walkway is 3' wide so I used the 1' X 1' ones. I bought 3 bags of “play sand”. I suppose the picture on the bag of a kid in a sand box explains the name.

The cost of this project? At Home Depot the stones were $1.80/square foot and a 50 pound sack of sand was about $4.50. Fancy clay brick pavers would have be nice but would have raised my construction budget.

Pick a starting point and spread enough sand for 2 runs plus a couple of extra inches.
Pick out the small pebbles. This wouldn't ordinarily be necessary on a dirt surface such as in a garden or patio.
Level out the sand with your broom or rake. It only needs to be deep enough so that the stones won't rock due to the irregularities in the concrete surface.
Set the first stone in place and wiggle it a bit to settle it flat. In this simple project I didn't need to snap any chalk lines, use a laser, or pull a string line. I just lined it up with the edge of the concrete on every run.
Stand on the stone and check for wobbles. Adjust the sand as needed.
Snug the next stone up to the first. Give it the wobble test.
Repeat the prior step with the third stone. The first run is now complete.
Install the second run and start all over with spreading sand for the next 2 runs.
You get the idea; just do a couple of runs at a time and work standing on the ones just completed.

A Pressure-Treated Walkway Alternative

I had originally planned to use pressure-treated wood or Bluwood framing studs until I thought about it a while. The price using the concrete stones is less expensive in the long run because treated lumber has a long life-span but it will rot eventually. The concrete will be there long after I'm gone.

Also, going the lumber route would have been much more labor-intensive and created a heap of scrap that would have ended up in the landfill. For that reason and the longevity factor, using stones was a much more sustainable and green building solution.