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How to Paint Your Own Faux Stone Walkway

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

There are many ways to refresh old pathways and one way to do this is by painting over your walkway to create a faux stone path. This is a surprisingly easy project that only takes a couple of days to complete. The best thing about revamping your walkway with faux slate is it’s an affordable way to breathe life back to old pathways! In today’s post, we are giving you a step-by-step guide on how to paint your own faux slate walkway:

You will need:

Folkart Outdoor Opaque paint
Paint brushes in varying widths
Paper towels
A bowl of clean water
Metal right angle ruler
Chalk
Paint sealant

TIP: You will need a variety of paint colors in the same family. The key is to use colors that complement each other well. For instance, you can combine blue and green paint colors and then add a little brown as accent.

Step 1: Polish Your Technique

Don’t start your project without knowing how to create convincing slate painting. Try to practice your brush stroke and the color combination you’ll use on any surface before you move forward to the actual painting. Once you are satisfied with your technique, then you can begin the project.

Step 2: Mapping Out the Tiles

Start by mapping out the random tile pattern you will use to paint the walkway. Use the chalk to map out the tile patterns. To keep the lines straight, you need to use a straight edge like a metal right angle ruler. You can either measure same-size tiles or random-sized tile patterns.

Step 3: Painting the Tiles

After completing the tile patterns, it’s time to start painting the marks over. Start by applying a light sand color and then a contrasting color. Paint the tiles one at a time and make sure the color combination look as realistic as possible.

To create a more natural look, try switching color ratios and combinations. You can also smudge different colors together to create a darker contrast color. At this point, you can have fun and experiment with different ways to achieve a specific color.

Step 4: Adding Dimension

Once the entire walkway has been painted a faux slate, you’ll start adding the finishing touches. Using a dark blue or gray and brown paint, apply a thin paint on random lines. This will create the illusion of ridges. To add more depth, paint a white line right next to the dark one to play up the contrast.

Finally, add a little shadow to the ground line. Mix a little of blue or gray paint with tan. With a small paintbrush, paint a shadow over the outer edge of the tile in the grout area.

Step 5: Seal the Deal

After adding the finishing touches, apply a paint sealant. A paint sealant will protect your paint job from the elements. Because the walkway is exposed to harsh climate, you want to keep the paint job from fading. Just apply a thin layer of the sealant on the paint job and let it dry according to the instruction.


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