Leave The Pavers Behind: Upcycle Old Roof Tiles For Landscaping

Most people spend time thinking about which roofing shingles or tiles are right for their home, but few consider what to do with them after they've served their purpose. Their small size and shape make them ideal for gardening projects, from edging to decorative stepping stones. Traditional pavers have long shaped attractive walkways and borders, and old roof tiles can be repurposed in similar creative ways to bring a distinctive touch to your landscape.

Unless you've recently had your roof redone or repaired, you may wonder where you can find old roof tiles for a project like this. There are unexpected places to find patio pavers, including Facebook Marketplace, or the Buy Nothing local groups, and you may be able to find them for free. Whether you repurpose tiles from your own roofing job or source them locally, there are a few caveats when using them for gardening projects.

There are many types of roofing tiles including slate, clay, and asphalt shingles. When searching for the perfect tiles for your project, asphalt shingles are common and you'll probably be able to find them easily. However, according to the USDA Cooperative Extension, they can potentially leach petroleum compounds into the soil. Although the Cooperative Extension states these materials are unlikely to be absorbed by plants, to be safe, use asphalt shingles in areas far away from edible plants, or avoid them altogether and choose another type of roofing material for your garden DIY.  

Among the many types of roof shingles or tiles you can use in your landscaping, slate or clay is better for gardening projects. Both are relatively weather resistant, though slate is tougher in wet conditions than clay. Unsealed clay is prone to absorbing water, freezing, and cracking. However, you should only consider using these materials if you are planning on creating a decorative walkway. Roofing tiles are thinner than traditional pavers, and are more likely to break under heavy foot traffic. Also, slate and other glazed tiles, such as those made from ceramic, become slippery when wet, which could pose a safety hazard. So, if you want to make a walkway out of these materials, make it an ornamental path.

Where roofing tiles really shine in their landscaping purposes, however, is garden edging. Tiles are easy to place as edging, and can be shaped to practically any garden bed. You can stand them vertically, or lay them down flat on a compacted base. Uniquely shaped tiles, such as curved Spanish "S" clay tiles, will add extra visual dimension to your landscaping. You could use slate tiles for edging as well, though their edges can be quite sharp and will need to be filed down for safety purposes. Reusing old roofing tiles as edging can also visually tie your landscaping back to your home by echoing the roof colors and style in the garden beds, making the whole picture very attractive.