Who doesn’t want a well-landscaped garden and front yard?
While it’s pleasing to the eyes and gives your home a more luxurious flavor, landscaping can be a bit pricey given the additional effort and materials it requires.
Stones, stone-cutting, and other tools can break your budget, not to mention the added labor too.
Well, here’s a simple solution.
What if there’s an easier way that’s cheaper and repeatable? In fact, you can even do it by yourself.
Ever heard of stone stamps?
Stone stamps are, in context, like stencils. They are often made of rubber where an embossed stone pattern is printed out.
They can have different designs from symmetric ones to rustic patterns with uneven stone sizes.
These stamps can fetch around $100-$200 but can be reused. Alternatively, with a rubber mat and minimal carving skills, you can make your own.
If you’re a bit hesitant to try it out, a YouTube video from the channel Rock Kings Stamps can help you out.
It shows the process of stone stamping.
First, measure your pathway to the width of your stamp. I can also be a measure in proportion to the width of your stamps just in case you want a wider pathway.
Then, once you’ve plotted out your pathway, line two planks of wood along the edges. This will contain the concrete you’ll be pouring later.
Be careful when handling concrete.
Follow the directions for the proper ratio of ingredients, then mix your concrete well until it becomes a sort of paste.
Then, pour your concrete into the framed pathway. Make sure that it won’t spill over the wooden planks.
Then, spread out and flatten the concrete pathway with a plane. Plug all the holes to make the concrete filling even. Once satisfied, time to get your stone stamps.
Now, just stamp and peel.
To stamp, carefully place the rubber stencil over the edge of the concrete pathway. Press down on it to emboss the pattern.
Then, peel off the rubber stone stamp and check if your print needs correction. Repeat this process until the whole pathway is finished.
After stamping, let the concrete set.
Wait for 24 hours to give time for the pathway to dry. Once ready, it’s time to make it look more “natural”.
Add a pop of rustic color.
In the video, the contractors used raw umber water-based paint for the first coat. You can use a paint gun or a big airbrush for even coloring.
Then, you can choose your own highlight shade. In the video, they used silver and burnt umber highlights to emulate the color of natural stone.
You can choose whichever color you want, especially if your pathway needs to adhere to a specific shade. Now that’s a stone pathway that won’t break the bank!
Stone stamps aren’t just for pathways.
They can also be used for gazebos, patios, and even for poolsides.
Have you ever tried this type of landscaping technique? Tell us how yours turned out!
See the full step-by-step process in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
