9. Salvaged Concrete Slab Stepping Stones
When a patio, driveway, or shed base gets demolished, the rubble usually goes straight into a skip. Break those slabs into irregular pieces and you’ve got chunky, weighty stepping stones that will never blow away or shift underfoot.
What you’ll need:
- Broken concrete slabs
- Sledgehammer, cold chisel, and eye protection
- Work gloves and a pry bar
- A hammer for knocking off sharp edges
- Gravel or bark chip for between the stones
Break the slabs into pieces roughly 30 to 45cm across. Knock the worst edges off with a hammer, then set each piece into the ground so it sits just slightly below the surrounding soil level �� that way the mower glides over them. Space them about 60 to 70cm apart and fill around them with gravel, bark chip, or a creeping groundcover.
Time: an afternoon. Difficulty: beginner-friendly, though the pieces are heavy.
Irregular shapes set at slightly different angles look intentional and organic. If you want something more ordered, use a straight edge and string line to keep the row tidy and match the spacing precisely.