Proved 10 Flooring Options to Restore Your Garden or Yard Walkways

The walkways in your yard or garden can wear down over time with repeated use and exposure to the elements. You can restore them by choosing different flooring options and installing them one weekend over your existing walkways. There are dozens of different options available that mimic the look of stone or wood, and they can easily add a whimsical touch to your yard while making it safer to walk around. You can add solar lights to the sides of your new walkways to improve your visibility and the safety factor. The possibilities are virtually endless, and you can make your walkway stand out or seamlessly blend in.

Since there are so many flooring options available, I’ve researched and picked out 10 high-quality flooring options for you. I’ve compared numerous products before reviewing my top 10 choices below. You can use the reviews to compare the different options and narrow the flooring options down to the best fit for your wants and needs. Additionally, I invite you to take a look at the short buyer’s guide at the end of this post to get a good understanding of what you should look for when you start shopping for your new walkway covering.

A well-maintained garden path and help you create an inviting environment for friends and family to come out, relax, and enjoy. Having the correct material covering your walkway can increase how safe they are to walk on, and there are many options available. 

1. Plow & Hearth Hardwood Pathway

First up for flooring options is an attractive pick by Plow & Hearth. This premium hardwood pathway works wonderfully for straight areas around your home, and it comes in an eight-foot design that allows you to cover a lot of ground with a single piece. Since it comes in a one-piece design, you won’t have to worry about having to constantly adjust or move it around your pathway, and it uses rubber spacers with wire to hold the entire thing together and in place when people walk over it.  You won’t have to worry about it slipping and someone falling off when they use it, and this gives you a nice peace of mind.

This flooring option comes with weather-resistant hardwood planks as the main body of the product. They have a sealant coat on them to prevent moisture from causing them to swell or warp with repeated exposure to the elements. When this product gets dirty, all you have to do is give it a quick rinse with the hose and let it air dry to bring it back to looking like new. If you don’t want to leave it outside all year-round, you can easily roll it up and store it in your garage or shed until the weather gets nice again.

Benefits:

• Comes with sealed hardwood planks
• Easy to roll up and store
• Get eight feet in every purchase

Drawbacks:

• Planks are very thin
• Rubber spacers can wear down
• Covers less space than you imagine it would

2. SUNFACE River Rock Stepping Stones

The second flooring option comes from Sunface, and you get stunning river rock stepping stones that you can place around your yard or garden to form a natural-looking pathway. This is a functional and unique decoration that will fit seamlessly around your fountain or ponds with your water plants. You get six mats that come in circular, rectangular, or hexagonal shapes each time you order, and they have very smooth and polished stones that are safe and comfortable to walk on. You can easily bury them in the ground to help hold them in place along your walkway.

You’ll get a water-resistant PVC backing on these flooring options that allows the soil to slowly settle between the stones to help anchor them in place while giving them a natural look. There is an easy installation process with this product, and you can place them wherever you like in your yard or garden. The dimensions of each stone is 10-inches by 10-inches, and you can create patterns or lay them in a straight line along your walkway to create a whimsical look and feel. You fill them with a concrete base before putting them down, and this helps hold the entire thing in place.

Benefits:

• Comes in three shapes
• Can put them together or spread them out
• PVC backing is water-resistant

Drawbacks:

• Slightly smaller sizes
• Have to apply concrete
• Netting can tear or the rocks can come off

3. BIRDROCK HOME Rubber Stepping Stones

When you order this flooring option from Birdrock Home, you get three stepping stones that measure an impressive 15-inches long by 15-inches wide, and they’re 1-inch high. They come in a gorgeous copper and gold or black coloring that allows you to customize your order to suit your design aesthetic and style. They allow you to easily create a solid and sturdy surface to walk on, and you can place them on concrete, grass, dirt, or gravel without a problem. They’ll help you create a solid pathway through your flowerbed, yard, or garden so you can easily access every portion of it without falling or getting your shoes dirty.

This flooring option comes with a modern design with many smooth lines and swirls. You can also pick a 12 by 12-inch design if the other one is too large for your area. They come from recycled rubber, and this makes them an eco-friendly project that you can use for years at a time because they resist wear and tear very well while standing up to the elements. They won’t move or slip once you put them in place, and this makes it safe for anyone to walk on.

Benefits:

• Has a modern and chic look
• Made from recycled rubber
• Very easy to place

Drawbacks:

• Coloring can wear off
• Will sink in soft or muddy ground
• Challenging to clean

4. RevTime Interlocked Outdoor Rubber Tiles

Anyone looking for a patio idea to help extend your entertainment area should consider this flooring option from RevTime. You get an interlocking system with a rubber outer layer that is very durable and resistant to wear, and it has excellent support and elasticity to be comfortable on your legs and feet when you walk on it. The granular material is micro-porous, and this makes the tile breathable and permeable while having a non-slip design in dry and wet conditions. The pole-connecting design allows you to install it without adhesive in low-traffic areas, and you can expand it indefinitely to cover larger areas in your yard.

You’ll get excellent stability with this flooring option that will keep your family and friends safe and off your garden, flowers, and yard. You get a beautiful paving effect with bright coloring that is easy to maintain without the need of any special cleaning agents. You can replace single tiles without having to buy an entirely new set, and they help to reduce noise and vibrations from walking or playing on them. You can use them inside and out, and they’re popular in gyms, sports fields, and playgrounds.

Benefits:

• Interlocking system is very stable
• Reduces noise and vibration
• Can customize the size to your exact needs

Drawbacks:

• Price for the amount you get
• Connecting them can be challenging
• Runs small to size

5. Mammoth Interlocking Deck Tiles

This flooring option uses durable Acacia wood that is 100% FSC-certified as being sustainable sourced and oiled natural wood pieces. They work very well indoors and out, and they can survive being exposed to different weather conditions without breaking down, warping, or swelling. The interlocking tiles measure 12-inches by 12-inches by 0.75-inches, and you get an interlocking design that is very quick and easy to assemble. It has a tools-free assembly process, and you can make the walkway as large or small as you like without any hassles. It uses thick plastic gauge clips to connect the tiles.

This flooring option comes stained and sealed from the factory, and you have to add a new coating or stain or sealant every once or twice a year to keep them protected and looking nice. The sealers make this product resistant to water and leaks, and this allows it to last much longer than other products. It has an anti-slip coating on it that will keep it safe to walk on in all weather conditions. You get 11 pieces of stripe patterned wood that looks sharp, and it has a secure snap locking system to hold them together once you get them where you want them.

Benefits:

• Slightly larger tiles
• Secure snap locking design
• Stripped pattern

Drawbacks:

• Have to periodically seal them
• Locking mechanism is plastic
• Challenging to install

6. Yaheetech Wood Flooring Pavers

If you have raised planter boxes in a small garden, this flooring option by Yaheetech can help you seamlessly connect the boxes while creating durable and beautiful pathways to each one. The interlocking wood tiles feature a natural fir wood for the material that makes them very solid, and each tile goes through a high temperature drying process that makes them resist mildew in areas with a lot of rain and high humidity levels. The tiles are fully sanded before they ship, and this reduces the chances of injuring yourself on splinters if you walk on them without any shoes on.

There are small grooves on each wooden slat that increases the friction while lowering the chances of you sliding around when you walk. There are plastic backing risers that give each flooring option excellent ventilation and drainage properties. They sit nicely on any hard surface you have like carpet, cement, and really packed dirt, and you can use them indoors and outdoors without a problem. The interlocking snaps make this a very easy flooring option to put together and move around, and you can easily cut the tiles down to size if you need to place them around an obstacle or corner.

Benefits:

• Made with solid fir wood
• Resists mildewing
• Slightly raised design is good for ventilation

Drawbacks:

• May not be exactly 12 by 12
• Doesn’t work well on non-flat ground
• Connectors can come apart

7. Courtyard Casual Outdoor Deck Tiles

Courtyard’s flooring option is a composite deck tile that features plastic composite and wood materials to make up the tiles. They use recycled materials that come from traditional wood tiles to make them an environmentally-friendly choice, and every deck tile comes with a plastic base and WPC. All you have to do is click the tiles into place and they’ll lock together without any adhesive or tools needed. This simple installation process makes  them an excellent choice for a weekend DIY project around your yard or garden, and you get six tiles per order to cover smaller areas.

The tiles look like white stone, and this adds an elegant look and feed to your space. This flooring option comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty that can protect you from defects or damage. They’re very easy to clean between uses, and you can simple spray them with the hose and allow them to air dry. You can also pick an artificial grass option if you don’t like the white stone. This is a low-maintenance product that doesn’t sit directly on the ground, so it has very good ventilation and drainage capabilities that keep it looking neat and clean.

Benefits:

• Available in two styles
• Great ventilation and drainage
• One-year limited warranty

Drawbacks:

• Difficult to cut smaller
• Tiles can be too thick for some walkways
• Can’t put them on hilly surfaces

8. PANDAHOME Patio Deck Tiles

Pandahome’s flooring option comes in sets of 1, 6, 12, and 22, and you can pick from five color options. You get a quality composite material that withstands hard use without breaking down or wearing out, and the sealant locks moisture and humidity so they won’t warp, rot, or swell with exposure to normal weather conditions. This makes them a good choice for putting around your trellises to create a seamless walkway. The grid on the bottom lets the tiles drain nicely to prevent mold and mildew growth, and they have a very DIY-friendly installation process that is nice for a short weekend project.

This flooring option features a click-in-place locking system that binds the tiles together to create a nice walkway that is free of cracks or missing pieces. If you need to trim the edges to fit your walkway’s dimensions, you can without ruining the look of the tile. They have a very rigid and stable design that makes them a very low-maintenance choice for high-traffic areas, and you won’t have to seal or stain them once you get them in place. You get a natural wood smell with a non-toxic coating that is good for the environment.

Benefits: 

• Available in a few colors
• Click-in-place locking system
• No maintenance required

Drawbacks:

• Price for the quantity
• Challenging to keep together
• Can bend or chip

9. Pure Garden Interlocking Tiles

Pure Garden’s flooring option is a nice way to upgrade your space with their interlocking tiles that have a very stylish pattern. This is a cost-effective and simple way to enhance your pathways outdoors, and you can also use them indoors. You can lay them on any hard surface, and they do well in decks, patios, gazebos, walkways, and garages. These tiles use polypropylene plastic that is very durable and resistant to wear and tear, and this can make them last much longer from the initial installation date. Each tile sits 0.5-inches off of the ground to give it good drainage capabilities, and there is an openwork design that allows for good ventilation around the tile.

You’ll need no additional tools to install this flooring option on your walkways because the tiles just snap together when you put them on any level and hard surface. You can also easily pull them apart to clean them if you notice they look grungy. The tiles measure 11.5-inches by 11.5-inches by 0.5-inches. This helps you cover a relatively large area on one order, and you get six tiles. You can lay them in a straight line, side-by-side, or create patterns along your yard.

Benefits:

• Works on any hard surface
• No tools required
• Easy to take apart to clean

Drawbacks:

• Plastic is slightly thinner
• Can bend and snap with heavy use
• Challenging to trim

10. Giantex Patio Interlocking Wood Tile Flooring

The final flooring option on the list comes from Giantex, and you can freely splice these tiles as you need to get the perfect fit around your faux fireplace or out in your container garden. You can use them to easily update the look and feel of all of your walkways through your yard or garden, and they feature solid Acacia wood. This makes them resistant to rot, wear, and cracks. They can withstand weather fluctuations while looking and feeling like new year in and year out. The anti-slip surface is very smooth and comfortable to walk on, and they’re burr-free to protect your feet.

The PVC base is very durable on this flooring option while featuring a hollow carved design that won’t move easily when you get in into place. You can put it together and take it apart to form various shapes to fit your different walkway styles, and the interlocking system binds the tiles together. They can cover wooden boards, dirt, concrete, and grass without a problem, and you can use it indoors and outdoors. There is a stripe or checkered pattern to choose from, and you get 10 12 by 12-inch tiles in every order.

Benefits:

• Burr-free design
• Has an anti-slip coating
• PVC base is stable and durable

Drawbacks:

• Corners can chip
• Doesn’t sit high off the ground
• Slightly slippery feel

Outdoor Flooring Options for Your Walkway Buying Guide

When it comes time to shop for your new flooring options for your walkway, there are several components that you want to keep in mind to help you choose the best product. After all, the flooring options you’ll use to create pathways in your rooftop garden will be much different than what you need to cover a large yard or garden. You don’t want to break the bank, but your flooring options should have the following.

Material

Your material will play a huge role in how long your flooring option lasts with exposure to common weather conditions like high humidity, rain, or snow. Ideally, you’ll get one that has a sealant on it to keep the product dry, and you shouldn’t find yourself reapplying a sealant layer every few months. The walkway covering should be a solid wood or a mix of wood and plastic, and they should have a durable bottom with a locking system in place to hold everything together when someone walks on it.

Choosing the correct material for your yard or garden walkway can create a whimsical look and feel to your yard. You can also elevate the style and design aesthetic by choosing a sleek option that runs around your area. 

Size

How large is your walkway? For example, do you need something small to run around your home or do you need something larger to help you maximize your vegetable garden layout? A lot of the choices on the list are 12-inches by 12-inches, but the number of tiles you get in each order can vary wildly from 2 up to over 20. You want to have enough tiles to cover almost all or all of your walkway in one order because they can get expensive if you order multiple boxes.

Traffic

Think about how much traffic is going to go over your new flooring option. If you plan for heavier traffic, you’ll need something that can handle more weight without wearing out or breaking down. Smaller paths with less traffic can get away with using thinner materials because it won’t be under so much stress. However, take great care with your high-traffic areas because cheaper materials can wear down much faster and you may find yourself replacing them sooner than you think.

Any flooring option you choose for your walkway will have to be durable enough to withstand the traffic that goes over it without wearing out or breaking down. You should also pay attention to how you have to affix them to the ground to get them to stay in place. 

Budget

Before you shop, set a budget on how much you’re comfortable to spend with your new flooring options. If you have a large area, it’s going to be a delicate balancing act of not breaking your bank but getting enough coverage for all of your walkways. A budget will also help you narrow down your choices much faster because it can take some away right at the start of your search.

Anti-Slip Coating

It’s very important that you have an anti-slip coating on your walkway cover because doing things like vacuuming out your pond or watering your lawn and garden is going to get these walkways wet. If there is no anti-slip coating, this can make them a hazard to walk on. Some tiles have grooves in them that can help with traction while others come with a light coating that repels water and keeps the surface safe to walk on in any weather conditions.

You can get creative with your walkways and add small touches to customize how it looks and feels to anyone who sees it. Things like different textures and colors can help draw attention to it and help people navigate around your property. Credit: Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay

Bottom Line

You have a huge amount of flooring options available to help you renew your walkways and make your yard or garden look neat and tidy. I’ve outlined 10 great options for you, and you can use the reviews to compare the products. If you need help narrowing down your choices even further, take a look at the buyer’s guide. Make your final choice and spend an afternoon giving your walkways a facelift to help create an area that you can’t wait to hang out in.

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