My sandstone walkway is crumbling. How do I pick replacement stones that blend in?

I've got an old sandstone walkway in my backyard that's been there for decades. Now, some stones are cracking and loose. I want to fix it myself. But finding matching sandstone is hard. The original stones have a faded, gray color. New ones look too yellow and smooth. I heard about using vinegar to age stone. Not sure if that works well. Any tips from folks who've worked with sandstone?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryanhill1mo ago

lol the vinegar trick, I tried that once on some pavers. It basically just made them smell like a salad bar for three weeks while doing absolutely nothing to the color. You might have better luck just leaving the new stones out in the rain and sun for a full season, or even kicking some dirt on them to fake that old look.

hannah_knight922d ago

Oh man, that salad bar smell is no joke. I tried it on a garden wall once and my dog would not stop licking the stones. Maybe we're just both bad at this.

luna_young11mo ago

So you think vinegar is the secret sauce for antique stone? Good luck with that. I tried it on some bricks once and now my patio just attracts every salad-loving raccoon in the neighborhood. Honestly, just scuff the new stones with some gravel and let the weather do its thing. It's cheaper than buying fancy aging solutions that don't work. Plus, you won't have to explain why your walkway smells like a cheap chip shop.