8. Reclaimed Roof Tile and Slate Path
Roofing salvage yards are goldmines for path builders. Clay peg tiles and slate offcuts are flat, durable, and often sold by the crate for very little because they’re too damaged for a roof but perfectly good underfoot.
What you’ll need:
- Reclaimed clay roof tiles or slate offcuts
- Sharp sand, gravel, and a tamper
- Rubber mallet and spirit level
- Optional: a diamond blade for trimming slate
Dig out the path and compact the subsoil, then add a 5cm bed of sharp sand. Lay the tiles flat, overlapping them slightly in the direction you walk, or stand them on edge in a close herringbone for a chunkier feel. Tap each one level and fill the joints with dry sand.
Time: one to two days. Difficulty: moderate.
Slate handles frost well and keeps its colour for decades. Terracotta tiles are warmer in tone but more porous, so they suit mild climates and paths that sit on a solid, well-drained base. If you live somewhere with hard winters, laying tiles on edge rather than flat gives them more resistance to heave.