StepStone Maker Basic Kit: Empire State Flagstone RRMSMBNE103

Create a stepping stone pathway with the three StepStone Maker forms provided. Meander the pathway for a natural flow, and create a randomness with the three forms. Spray the layout as you go with marking paint. Now you can literally “walk” the stone pathway before you pour, while providing a guideline for a quick installation. Make any adjustments to the layout now.

Mix the concrete. We suggest using an 80 lb. pre-bagged concrete mixture, such as Sackrete from the big box stores. Make sure you use the concrete mixture containing aggregate, not just sand. An 80 lb. bag will make approximately 2+ stones. Based on the spray painted layout, you can easily determine how many bags needed before starting the project. Adding RockMolds Integral Color into the mix is a good idea for the base color. We suggest adding 1/4-1/2 cup of the integral color to the water, before adding a bag of the dry concrete. The concrete should be well mixed, like a thick pancake batter, not to soupy. (If you are using bulk materials, 6 scoops of cement to 18 scoops of sand/aggregate, with 1 cup of integral color is a great mix for stepping stones.)

Start to deposit the concrete into the StepStone Maker forms. Work the concrete mix into the edges with the RockMolds trowel, then trowel the screed straight across the top of the form. Any extra material can be placed into the next form. Trowel the concrete until it looks like a smooth surface, ready for texturing. After approximately 5 minutes, remove the forms and place them into the next painted stone locations.

Give a final trowel to the stones you just removed the forms from, including the sides.  Next do the Thumb Test to determine if the stones are ready to stamp. Press your thumb onto the fresh concrete. If it is firm enough to keep your thumb from breaking the surface, but soft enough to take your thumb’s impression, the stones are ready to stamp.

Dust RockMolds Stone Release onto the surface of the stones. Make the release STEP powdery by shaking the bag, before grabbing a small handful. Then apply it like you are skipping a rock across the water, dusting it across the concrete surface and sides. This will allow the SpidaStamp to leave an impression without sticking to the concrete.

With the SpidaGlove, pick up a SpidaStamp by pressing the hook and loops together. Firmly Stamp the SpidaStamp onto the surface and sides of the concrete, transferring the natural rock impressions into the concrete. Overlap and rotate as necessary, while feathering onto the previous impression. Multiple textures can be used on one stone. We suggest stamping with a SpidaGlove and SpidaStamp on one hand, while keeping the other hand free to trowel and throw the release.

Continue the process, alternating between mixing, pouring, troweling, and stamping. You will find a rhythm between these layers.

Color the stones using RockMolds Stone Color water based stains on the dried stones for additional coloring and highlights. With the integral color, release agent color, and now the highlights of the water-based stains, your stones will have a multitude of colors, as natural stone would. Start with a light color of the water base stains, and then go darker. Think of this process of painting with watercolors, only on concrete. Apply with a fine mist quart sprayer.

Seal the stepping stones with RockMolds Stone Sealer, our water based  penetrating sealant, to preserve the color of your stones. It is a “natural look” sealant which will protect your investment. This can be applied with a garden type weed sprayer

Once your stones are sealed, fill in around the stones with river rock, cinder, bark or vegetation. Enjoy your newly created pathway.