Slate stepping stones in slate chippings

[ConfusedCat]

We have just started trying to sort out our garden and have planned to fill some spaces with blue slate chippings. We would also like to lay stepping stones (probably also slate but very open to suggestions) so that people don't have to walk on the slate to get to patio/decking areas.

We have laid a weed proof membrane already and were going to order slate chippings to put on top of that.

Looking at this site I wonder whether we should have put stepping stones in first, and dug them into the ground with cement/sand?
Is it possible to lay stepping stones on membrane, or will they just move around all the time? Would putting a sand/concrete mix between the membrane and the stepping stone work?

Many thanks for any advice you can give - this is the first time we have done any DIY and we may have been a bit over ambitious!

[seanandruby]

hi cath'. It is ok to lay on the membrane. Make sure you have good cover so that the membrane doesn't show as it looks unsightly when it does. Also you should of gone for terran membrane it is more a lot thicker and ideal for path construction. Weed membreane is more for under bark etc: hope this helps?

[ConfusedCat]

That is reassuring - thanks very much Sean.
I think we did go for a thick membrane.

Do we put a sand/concrete mix under each stepping stone? I have seen on here that ants like the plain sand so its a good idea to mix with concrete and some water. But there seems to be some disagreement about the sand/concrete ratio... does having a membrane underneath make any difference?

[seanandruby]

use sharp sand and cement about 6x1 sand cement ratio lay on a full bed. Yes when using stones, shingle, slate etc; it's best to have a membrane, otherwise the stone sinks into subsoil. Don't forget to spray a good weedkiller before placing membrane.