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Can you use wood logs as stepping stones

Mike ButlerMike Butler Posts: 2
in Problem solving

I have got access to lots of good quality large wood trunks from a oak Tree. I am thinking of cutting them down into discs/circles and hoping to use them as stepping stones.

I am looking for advice, how thick? lay on gravel/sand? How long will they last? Should I varnish them? 

thanks in advance!

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Posts

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,351

    I believe it's perfectly possible to use the discs as you describe but PF is quite right to point out that they could become very slippery - especially if they're shaded or damp.

    I seem to remember 'somebody' advising stapling chicken wire over the discs to make a non slip surface. I would also be a bit concerned as to how safe they would be to walk on if they started to rot after a couple of seasons - could be just as dangerous as a slippery surface I would think. For that reason I would make them thicker and treat them with some sort of preservative prior to laying (the sand or gravel idea would probably help too).

    Good luck - I'm sure they'll look lovely and add a rustic touch to your garden.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,887

    personally, I'd avoid. use a more more durable , long term surface. Log " stepping stones" invariably look a bit naff.

    Devon.
  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    If you want to use timber, oak is ideal, but they will get slippery.

  • Chris65Chris65 Posts: 57

    Can I point you in this direction.....http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/a-new-log-path-project/240043.html

     

    I've just done exactly what you have mentioned and love them!

    Have a read and if you have any questions just fire away image

  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    Just beware as people have already said.. They can be dangerously slippy

  • Chris65Chris65 Posts: 57

    Mine have only been down for 3 months or so and have not got slippy yet, if and when they do i'll just walk on the bark image

  • MrsGardenMrsGarden Posts: 3,951
    Yours look lovely Chris.
  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    Log pavements used to be the norm for most of Europe and still are in remote parts of Russia, esp Siberia. I believe smaller branch logs were used to fill in gaps and then earth or sand used to compact it all in. The key is to have a very slight gradient to get rid of rain and maximise drainage.

  • Mike ButlerMike Butler Posts: 2
    Chris, thanks for the reply looks good. My discs can only be 1 1/12 - 2" thick and not as deep as yours! Did you treat yours with anything before laying and have you found them to be slippy?
  • Chris65Chris65 Posts: 57
    Mike Butler wrote (see)
    Chris, thanks for the reply looks good. My discs can only be 1 1/12 - 2" thick and not as deep as yours! Did you treat yours with anything before laying and have you found them to be slippy?

     

    HI Mike. My discs are roughly 6" thick and sit on a bed of gravel to try and stop them rotting. I never treated them with anything, I thought i'd give them a go and see how long they last as they are, if and when they rot i'll just replace them.

    As for being slippy, nope not yet. They are under a big weeping willow too which I thought would make them more slippy than normal but as of yet they haven't been slippy one bit. As I have also said above, if they ever do get slippy which i'm assuming they will in the winter, i'll just walk on the bark that i've put down on the ground. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it though.

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