How to Make Hypertufa Stepping Stones

Purchasing flagstone stepping stones at your local garden center or home improvement store can get expensive. You probably won't find unique shapes or colors in the commercially made stepping stones available in stores. Fortunately, you can make your own stepping stones rather cheaply and easily. If you have the right ingredients and know the correct techniques, you can make your own hypertufa stepping stones in just one week.

1 part portland cement

2 parts dry garden dirt

Concrete dye (optional)

Water

Plastic sheets

Dig a depression into the ground and shape it as you want your stepping stone to be shaped. You can make the depression large or small, depending on the desired stepping stone size. Make the depression at least two inches deep so that your stepping stones will be thick enough to handle foot traffic. Line the depression with plastic.

Mix in a bucket one part portland cement, two parts dry garden dirt and concrete dye if desired. Add water until the mixture becomes a "mud pie" consistency--thick, but moistened.

Pour the mixture into the depression on top of the plastic. Fill the depression only to the surface level of the ground.

Lay another piece of plastic over the filled depression. Place bricks or rocks on the sides of the plastic to secure it.

Let the hypertufa stepping stone cure and set for a minimum of one week. After the mixture has hardened completely, remove the top sheet of plastic and lift the stepping stone out of the ground holding the corners of the bottom plastic sheet.

Turn the hypertufa stepping stone upside down and remove the plastic. The side that was on the bottom in the ground is now the top side of your stepping stone. Repeat this process to make multiple hypertufa stepping stones.

If you want to make hypertufa stepping stones that are more durable and more resistant to moisture and ground freezes, alter your hypertufa recipe. Mix together one part portland cement, one part builders' sand, two parts peat moss, an acrylic fortifying additive, concrete dye (optional) and enough water to make a thick but moist consistency.

Limit the amount of air flow around your hypertufa mixture while you're working and when the hypertufa is curing. Retaining as much of the moisture as possible is essential to preventing cracking and crumbling.

Don't remove the hypertufa from your mold until it's completely cured. If you can scratch off any hypertufa from the stepping stone with your fingernail, it most likely needs another day or two to set.

Always wear gloves when working with the hypertufa mixture. The portland cement in your hypertufa mixture is caustic and will burn your skin.