How to attach river pebbles to an existing concrete path?

[TyroneC]

We have a concrete front path which we’d like to cover in small river pebbles. What steps and materials are required? We considered using mosaic tiles, but we can’t find a style that fits with our aim, so we’re going to source loose stones instead. We’ve read various suggestion, including a mortar mix or resin, but we want the brains trust to point us in the right direction!

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @TyroneC. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about adding pebbles to a path.

Could you start by telling us a bit more about the type of river pebbles you’re planning to use? If they’re rough or irregular in texture, you could likely bed them into a mortar mix with reasonable success—just be sure to include a bonding agent like BondCrete in the mix to improve adhesion to the existing concrete. However, if the pebbles are smooth or polished, you'll probably run into trouble getting them to stay put in mortar. Their slick surface won’t grip well and they could be easily dislodged, especially under foot traffic. In that case, you’d need to embed them deep enough—more than halfway into the mix—so that the mortar or concrete can flow around their sides and hold them in place once set. If they’re only sitting shallow, say a quarter of the way in, they’ll likely loosen over time.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell