Garden paths are an integral part of landscape design. They are built from different building materials: stone, concrete, brick, wood, and so on. This article will talk about brick paths. Or rather, about the technology of their paving.
How to lay a path in the garden from ordinary brick
So, let's start with the fact that this requires a solid brick, that is, without any holes and voids. It must be of high quality, because the long-term operation of the garden alley will depend on this.
Additionally, you will need sand and geotextiles. Instead of sand, you can use gravel, crushed stone or a mixture of sand and crushed stone in a ratio of 1: 1.
First stage - determine track width and apply its contours to the site. If this is an alley from the gate to the house, then its width can be torn up to 2 m. If this is a garden path, then within 80 cm.
Markup is carried out or chalk powder, or pegs, between which a twine (twine) is pulled. In this case, the path itself does not have to be straight. Bends, bends, turns, connections with two or three paths are common in landscape design.
The second stage for the construction of brick garden paths - excavation. Their volume depends on whether the brick will sink into the ground or remain on the surface. In the first case, the depth of the ditch under the path is 15 cm, plus the thickness of the brick. In the second case - only 15 cm.
The bottom of the trench is leveled and tamped. Then they fall asleep with a 15-centimeter layer of coarse-grained sand, which is also leveled and compacted. Better with water.
Third stage - brick laying. If it is not recessed into the ground, then you will first have to install limiters along the borders. These can be temporary items or permanent ones. The bricks themselves, laid on edge, are temporary. Or metal or wooden pins driven into the ground. You can even use boards. That is, with the help of these elements, the border of the alley is formed, plus stops that will not allow the bricks to “disperse” in different directions.
Permanent stops (limiters) should be discussed separately.
How to form the borders of the garden path
There are several options.
The first one is the easiest. The borders are formed from the bricks themselves. In order for them to have a high bearing capacity, brick blocks are installed vertically in length. That is, half is buried in the ground, the second half will stick out above the ground. No bonding solutions and additional materials. The main thing is to accurately calculate the required amount for both the track and the curbs.
Of course, the vertical position of the bricks in the thrust device is optional. They can be laid in length horizontally or with a slight slope. In the latter case, the corners of the blocks will drink outward, which will significantly distinguish them from the bulk of the building material laid on the plane of the path. The photo below shows just such an option.
The second option is to use ready-made borders made of concrete or stone. On the market, you can pick up these elements of landscape design in length, width and thickness, which is very convenient. For example, massive curbs are suitable for wide alleys, miniature ones for narrow ones.
The third option is a monolithic filled curb. It is made from concrete mortar, which is poured into the installed formwork. Usually pouring is done to the entire depth of the excavated pit. The height of the protruding part may be greater than the thickness of the brick being laid. The width is within 5-10 cm. Subsequently, the concrete border is painted or lined, for example, with ceramic tiles. If the concrete product is well polished, then it is not necessary to cover it with anything for decoration. Concrete and brick themselves look good in a bunch.
The fourth option is special corner bricks. They are laid in the masonry of the garden path. However, they must be mounted along the edge of the structure. It is with their short side that they are held in the ground, preventing the finishing elements from moving apart.
On our website you can find the most . In the filters, you can set the desired direction, the presence of gas, water, electricity and other communications.
Fifth option- these are special small sizes posts made of concrete. They can be round, rectangular or polygonal. For example, the diameter of round products varies in the range of 10-12 cm, the length is up to 30 cm. They are simply installed on the border of the path, often "planted" on a concrete solution. Be sure to align everything in height.
In principle, there are a huge number of options for forming the boundaries of country paths made of bricks. Let's add to those already mentioned:
a rock;
rubble concrete, this is when the stones are poured with concrete mortar;
paving slabs, installed on the edge;
paving stones;
plastic pipes closed with plugs.
Brick installation
So, the ditch for the path is ready, the boundaries are formed. It remains only to lay the brick itself. First of all, you need to decide on the layout of the masonry. There aren't many options here. The simplest - according to the type of bandage, when the elements of the cladding are laid with an offset of half the stone. And other schemes:
herringbone;
interspersed a whole brick and a half;
parquet styling;
curly.
We will not argue which option is better or worse, easier or more difficult, cheaper or more expensive. Just mark them in the photo below. And already each owner of a suburban area decides for himself what he likes.
And one moment. Which brick to choose for this in terms of its color. Here again, the owner of the cottage decides. But keep in mind that red brick garden paths look bright, they well divide the site into zones. They are difficult to hide even with vegetation, but it is this fact that makes it possible to focus on the layout of the paths. This option enhances the functionality of landscape design.
Many designers are trying to diversify the approach to the design of alleys. Therefore, bricks of different colors are combined. But here you have to be careful. Especially the paths of the local area. This element should not become the main design. It should emphasize the architecture and decoration of the house, and not set it off.
So, we go directly to the section of laying the path in the country house made of bricks. Immediately make a reservation that the main tool for this process is the building level. Because each brick must be placed on the horizon. At the same time, it should be in the same plane with the rest of the stones.
Laying can be started from either end of the path. Exactly according to the chosen scheme, each brick is installed. Finishing elements are installed close to each other or leave a small gap between them. There is no need to strengthen the material with masonry mortar. If some brick is laid above the rest, then it is removed, the layer of sand bedding is removed and set in place. If, on the contrary, it turned out to be lower, then a little more sand or gravel is poured under the block.
If the width of the track is large, then the process of laying bricks can be carried out according to the level, which is a thread stretched between two pegs. That is, they hammer two pegs along the edges of the ditch, tie a thread to one of them, pull its free end to the opposite peg, set it horizontally using a level and tie it. It is along this stretched thread that they lay bricks in one row.
When the entire garden alley is laid with bricks, its plane is sprinkled with sand so that it fills the seams between the trim elements. Gradually sweep the sand from one edge to the opposite with a broom or brush. After that, it is better to pour plenty of water over the entire path. And then again fill it with sand so that it complements the shrunken layer.
Video description
The video shows how to build a garden brick path:
English track
There is such a term in landscape design. In fact, these are paths made of old brick. They are laid without borders and other limiters. That is, a path is formed in the form of a ditch, where sand is poured, and old bricks are laid on top of it. Their upper plane should be located on the level of the ground or be slightly higher.
This is the easiest option that does not require a lot of money and time. The only requirement is no vegetation that would grow between the cladding elements. Therefore, the bottom of the excavated ditch is covered with geotextile. This material will not allow plants to break through, but it passes water through itself well. The geotextile is laid in such a way that it also covers the walls of the pit.
If this non-woven material is not available, then a gap of 1-2 cm is left between the bricks, which is subsequently filled with cement-sand mortar. Just such an option is shown in the photo below.
English brick path Source pinterest.com
Conclusion on the topic
So, we figured out the bricks for the paths in the country, considered the options and technologies for forming alleys, and also outlined several ways to make the boundaries of the paths. It should be noted that brick alleys are not the most durable, say, like stone or concrete. Under the influence of water, sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow, the brick quickly fails. It starts to crack, flake and break. This is especially true for material from the "used" category. But even from an old brick, the path will last at least 10 years. And this is with a small financial investment.
An old brick cottage will always come in handy. Running a private economy is a rather complex and responsible process aimed at the constant care of buildings and maintaining their appearance. However, such work has many advantages, consisting in the ability to equip the site based on personal preferences and your own wishes. For the implementation of similar projects, a variety of materials and available tools can be used. Old brick is one of those products that are almost always available and can be reused for the construction of various objects.
The old brick left after dismantling the stove or the walls of the house can be useful for ennobling the summer cottage.
Using old bricks: building a garden path with your own hands
To create a garden path, you can get by with recycled material, which is almost always available in a summer cottage. Demolishing an old barn, building an outbuilding, or renovating a house inevitably leaves behind a lot of surplus that can be useful for building garden paths.
The main material of such structures are the remains of bricks. Also, the garden path may include other waste materials left after construction work or dismantling of an object. It is not difficult to create this system with your own hands, and the result of the work will be an excellent coating that can not only ensure the practicality of moving around the site, but become its decoration.
How to lay out a brick path? The procedure for creating such an object is time-consuming and responsible, containing many nuances. However, with knowledge of the matter and skillful handling of the tool, creating a path in the country will take a little time. Brick pavement is made in the following steps:
- drawing up a construction plan;
- site marking;
- tool collection;
- ground preparation;
- border formation;
- brick laying;
- finishing processing.
Paths in the country, made of old brick, should be carried out according to the above scheme. This is the only way to guarantee the receipt of a strong and durable coating that can become a decoration of the cottage and last for many years.
Preparatory work and collection of tools
Do-it-yourself country paths made of bricks are made on the basis of a building plan containing a drawing of the future object and its technical characteristics.
At the same time, the plan is of tremendous importance, since it is a visual display of a building that previously existed only in thoughts. Having created a detailed drawing, a person imagines how such a sidewalk will look, and understands the feasibility of building on a particular site.
The next step after drawing up a construction plan is the marking of the area. As a rule, it is performed using wooden posts and a rope connecting them together. The delimitation of the garden plot makes it possible to see the contours of the future brick path, all its twists and turns.
As soon as the preparatory work is over, and the future brick garden paths have taken shape with the help of ropes and posts, you can start collecting inventory.
This process is of utmost importance, since it makes it possible to significantly speed up and simplify the work. The following set of tools will help you make a red brick path:
- roulette;
- pencil;
- hacksaw;
- rubber mallet;
- shovel;
- bucket.
Formation of a country sidewalk of bricks and its finishing
What can be done with recycled materials? Can independently build a brick border for a flower bed.
Brick paths for summer cottages are one of the most successful and striking objects in which the use of waste material is almost imperceptible.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEPVrUcFZQE
The next step is to make the base on which the brick surface will be laid. Using a shovel, it is necessary to dig a hole up to 1 m deep over the entire area of the path. After that, a pillow of gravel is formed at its bottom, designed to ensure the removal of water from the surface. A layer of sand is poured onto the rubble and leveled, forming the basis for laying brick blocks.
A wooden board is laid along the contour of the future red brick path, which plays the role of a curb. Its appointment is conditional, since after completion of work it should be removed. However, during the construction process, it is simply irreplaceable, since it helps to obtain a flat plane.
Directly next to it is placed a boundary brick, which is laid on the end. Such placement of it will allow the path in the country house not to blur and keep its shape.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnL1xE7QDSQ
Between the two curbs with the help of a rubber hammer, the blocks themselves are stacked. At the same time, each of them is installed close to the other in such a way that the gaps between them are minimal. Their removal to the level and the formation of a monolithic surface is carried out using a rubber hammer. At the end, a layer of sand is poured over the finished red brick plane, designed to fill the gaps and complete the composition of the track.
The arrangement and layout of the site provides for the creation of paths. Moreover, the requirements for them are quite serious: they must be reliable, comfortable, functional, beautiful and very desirable - inexpensive. We will talk about how to make garden paths with your own hands at low cost in this article.
What to make tracks
The pavement can be solid or loose. To create a hard coating, the following materials are used:
- Concrete. Concrete walkways are not just ordinary gray tape. In addition, there are dyes and you can decorate it if you wish. There are also molds for pouring immediately on the spot. It turns out homemade paving slabs. Another option is to pour small concrete slabs of the right size on your own, then put them on the bedding. See photos for design examples.
- Flagstone. This is a natural stone that has been sawn into plates. It is laid on a prepared base (more on this later), the gaps are filled with backfill. It turns out beautifully, reliably, non-slip. No wonder landscape designers love flagstone stone paths so much.
- Brick. Ordinary ceramic brick is a beautiful material, but not for paths. It absorbs moisture, if then it freezes wet, it is torn apart. If you are going to make a path out of broken bricks, then you can walk along it more or less normally only for a couple of years. Then you have to redo it. The resulting cracks will need to be covered with coarse sand or fine gravel. A clinker brick will serve much longer on the track, but this option cannot be called low-cost: the cost of one piece is from several tens of rubles.
- Tree. Such a seemingly unsuitable material, but with proper processing, it can last a long time. Moreover, many do-it-yourself wood tracks can be classified as low-cost. For example, they came up with the idea of using stumps and saw cuts of trees as borders or coverings. They also make flooring from well-finished boards - terraced is better, but if not, it will also work from the old floor.
- Plastic. There are tiles for garden paths made of plastic - polyethylene or polypropylene. It has a square shape and a system of locks, which is attached to one another. It can be laid directly on top of the lawn or previously trodden in the country or on the paths.
Option - fast and cheap. It can definitely be called "With little cost." It is better, of course, to make a filling of crushed stone and sand according to the rules, and lay plastic elements on top. It's a little longer and more expensive. There is also an immodest, but very beautiful version of plastic tiles for paths. There is also a "garden parquet". These are slabs or boards made of wood-polymer composite - WPC (they are in the photo, they look exactly like parquet). This material appeared relatively recently. It looks and feels like wood, but in fact it is a mixture of wood flour and polymer. These are very beautiful coatings, but their cost is by no means modest. Although not fabulous. - Pebble. These are rounded natural stones that can be found on the banks of rivers or lakes. Flatter pebbles are more suitable for making tracks. There are different shades of gray, black, white, sometimes you can find burgundy. From these stones, laid close to each other, mosaic paths of amazing beauty are obtained. But this is an occupation for the assiduous and stubborn. Those who lack patience can find large flat boulders or large pebbles and lay them in the sand. It's not as luxurious, but no less reliable. You can also do with granite or other similar stones. It is important that at least one face is relatively flat. You put this flat part up, and bury the rest. The work is not easy, but it will be possible not only to walk along the path, but also to ride.
- Handy materials. Country paths are made from old tires and bottles.
There are also paved paths: these are gravel or crushed stone. Their peculiarity is that with a small layer of 2-3 cm and with sufficient compaction, it is convenient to walk on them. If the layer is slightly larger, unevenness is formed when walking, and such walking is tiring. Therefore, as you have seen in many photographs, gravel and crushed stone are used as backfill, in which rigid elements from other materials are laid. When done correctly, this is convenient: gravel conducts water well and puddles do not form. Those who do not like the gray color can be advised to paint it: many designers do this when organizing rockeries.
Read about the secrets of site planning here.
How to make garden paths with your own hands
It is not enough to know what you can make garden paths with your own hands. You also need to know how to make them correctly so that it serves more than one season or two. The laying of different materials may vary slightly, but there are several rules and actions that are repeated in any technology.
First rule: when laying or forming a track cover, it is made with a slight slope. If the material allows, a slope of several centimeters is made on both sides of the center. If, for example, a concrete path is poured, then the slope is formed in one direction - from the house, if it is nearby. The slope is made towards the lower part of the site if the path is located on a slope.
Second rule: under any covering preparation of the basis is required. If you lay stones (for example) directly in clay or loam, it will certainly be useful - it will definitely be more convenient to walk, but after some time the stones will “silt up”. Simply trample into the clay. With a backfill, this will take much more time. And if you make another drainage cushion and a side, water drainage will be even more efficient, and everything will look even more beautiful.
Third rule: the level of coverage of the track should be a couple of centimeters higher than the adjacent area. Then the water will quickly drain, it will be more convenient to clean, and cleaning will be required less often: the washed-out earth will not flow either during rains or during watering the flower beds, which are often done along the paths.
Read about how to make beautiful beds here.
Step-by-step instruction
When making garden paths with your own hands, start with markings. In theory, the dimensions and shape should be marked on the site plan, and the markup should take place according to the project. But more often than not, everything is done on the spot. To see the future path more clearly, its contours can first be covered with white sand or something similar. If the shape suits you, you can drive in the pegs and pull the twine between them, but you can also work on backfilling.
- Sod is removed between two marks. The depth of the ditch should be about 15-25 cm.
- A border is dug along the edge, if provided.
- The bottom of the ditch is leveled, removing roots, stones, eliminating significant pits or mounds. The bottom is rammed (rammer in the photo below).
- Pour a layer of crushed stone of large or medium fraction. To save the budget, you can fill up broken bricks, other large construction debris. If there is a vibrating plate - great, if not, take something similar to the tool in the photo (you can make it from a large log, to which you nail a handle across the cut). With this tool you level the bottom. If you filled up the garbage, you need to sprinkle a little rubble on top and compact it again.
- Lay a layer of geotextile on top. Its edges rise flush with the sides or even slightly higher. This layer should not be skipped. It does not allow sand to mix, which is usually poured on top of rubble, prevents the roots of plants from germinating, which destroy the path. A very useful thing.
- Sand is poured onto the geotextile. Its layer should be such that the laid coating is slightly higher than the general level on the site. Sand is first spread with a shovel, then, evenly distributing, leveled with a rake. Then they ram and level. To level the sand level, you can use a rule (a construction tool that is often used when pouring a concrete floor) or simply take a large ruler, a building level, a flat rail. Sometimes you have to pour, ram, level several times. It is desirable to achieve a perfect surface.
- Stone, pebbles, flagstone, paving stones, bricks, etc. are laid in the sand. They are put in the right place, then they knock with a rubber mallet: they drive them deep into the sand.
Along a beautiful path, you can place a flower garden or flower bed. How to do them, read here.
Beautiful do-it-yourself pebble path
If with flagstone, paving stones, brick, everything is more or less clear - everyone has already seen more than once how this is done, then it is not clear how to lay pebbles in patterns.
Below is a photo report on the process of making a pebble track. The main techniques are visible on it: lines are applied to the leveled sand, along which pebbles will be laid out. If these are arcs, they are made with a thread and two sticks / nails.
Picking up stones, they are laid out on the edge close to each other, slightly sunk into the sand.
A board is laid on a folded pattern, a rubber mallet is taken and they knock on the board, hammering the pebbles into the sand. So the whole drawing is deepened, making sure that the edges of the pebbles are at the same height.
They take a mixture of sand and cement (sand 2 parts, cement 1 part) and fill in the gaps, leveling the layer with a brush.
A fragment of a pebble path is carefully poured with water so that the backfill does not blur. Wait a few hours until the cement sets a little, then remove the excess with a soft brush.
It is important not to miss the moment: the mortar should not get dirty, but also become a stone. If you pick it with your finger, it should crumble. It's time to clean up the excess.
Read about how to grow a green hedge in the article "Fence hedge: how to grow and form"
Path of wooden stumps and gravel: video
Old logs or trees can be turned into a beautiful walkway. They are sawn into logs of the required length, the front saw cut is polished, all wood is first treated with a bioprotection composition (it can be soaked with used oil). After drying, they are dipped in Kuzbass varnish and dried again. Then the front parts of the stumps are covered with paint of the desired color - which will protrude outward. Once again dried and only then put in the sand.
The process is detailed in the video. Here it is explained step by step how to make garden paths from stumps or logs with your own hands.
Making your own concrete driveway
The process is generally similar to the one described at the beginning. There are some differences that we'll talk about.
After the trench is dug and the bottom is leveled, formwork is installed along it on both sides. These are boards from 25 mm thick (thicker is possible, thinner is undesirable, you can use plywood 16-18 mm thick, chipboard). Their height is the height of the track. If you are molding a slope, the boards should be set taking it into account - one side is slightly higher, the other is slightly lower.
To make formwork, pegs are driven into the ground in increments of no more than 60 cm. Boards are nailed to them. It is better to smear the inner surface of the formwork with working off or other oil: so that it can be easily removed. Further, crushed stone is poured onto the bottom and rammed. But it is necessary to ram carefully: if you walk along the bottom, no traces should be visible.
Further, in order for the path not to crack, a metal reinforcing mesh is laid on the rubble. The thickness of the bar is 4-6 mm, the step is 5-10 cm. It is sold in pieces, they must be connected to each other with steel wire.
Then, to compensate for the expansion in the winter, you need to put wooden planks 1.5-2 cm thick. They are placed across the path, set so that the height of the planks is flush with the formwork boards. Compensation strips are set at least every 2 meters. More often you can, less often you can't. Why do it more often? For beauty. Squares look better than long rectangles.
A concrete mortar of a grade not lower than M-250 is poured into the finished frame (read about grades of concrete and its preparation here). For him, take 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand, 4 - crushed stone. Everything is mixed into a solution of medium fluidity (thick sour cream) and poured into the formwork. When pouring, make sure that there are no air bubbles left. To remove them, the solution is pierced with a pin, slightly shaking it - bayonet. Ideally, if there is a surface vibator for concrete - it quickly compacts the solution, creating a perfectly flat surface. If it is not there, you will have to level with the rule, using the edges of the formwork as beacons.
A few hours later, after the concrete has set, the surface can be treated. You can leave it as it is, you can brush it with a stiff brush, making transverse strips, you can finally put pebbles, stones, flagstone, etc. into a not completely hardened solution. It's not very economical, but reliable. After a couple of days, the formwork can be removed, and you can already walk along the path.
About what fences are and how to make them is written here.
stroychik.ru
Vera Kukushkina 05/17/2014 | 
15968
An attractive budget path on a garden plot can even be made from construction debris. It's not difficult at all.
A few years ago, I became the happy owner of a backyard plot of 8 acres and an incompletely completed house. I decided to give the site a neater look with interesting garden paths made from construction debris left over from construction.
Small pieces of brick, concrete, granite, plastic packaging from building materials in different colors - all this can be used to create paths.
To begin with, I thought location, shape and material future track. Then prepared basis for her. This was done to prevent premature "drowning" of the paths into the soil.
To make the path, made by hand, look decent, I had to work hard. First, my husband and I marked out the place of the future path and dug out for her trench 15 cm deep. Next, this dug hole was covered with large slag, pebbles, sand with a layer of 10-12 cm. Then they poured everything with water and carefully rammed it. Then the track fenced with boards, giving it an even shape with their help, the bends were made using dense plastic (it can be bent as you like), then sand was poured in such a way that the path rose about 4 cm above the soil. Then they began to make it main top, on which you need to walk. Borders were not made. With them, of course, it is more beautiful, but the flow of water from the path during the rainy season is much worse.
Then we prepared concrete, which filled the track. For the pedestrian zone in the garden, low-quality inexpensive concrete and fine aggregates were used. A concrete solution was mixed from water, sand, fine gravel and cement. Next, they poured a formwork of boards and plastic with a mortar and laid out patterns on it from fragments of stones of various sizes, pieces of concrete and broken bricks. This gave the track a rather interesting appearance. In addition, it is quite strong and will last for many years.
diy.usadbaonline.ru
Using old bricks: building a garden path with your own hands
To create a garden path, you can get by with recycled material, which is almost always available in a summer cottage. Demolishing an old barn, building an outbuilding, or renovating a house inevitably leaves behind a lot of surplus that can be useful for building garden paths.
The main material of such structures are the remains of bricks. Also, the garden path may include other waste materials left after construction work or dismantling of an object. It is not difficult to create this system with your own hands, and the result of the work will be an excellent coating that can not only ensure the practicality of moving around the site, but become its decoration.
How to lay out a brick path? The procedure for creating such an object is time-consuming and responsible, containing many nuances. However, with knowledge of the matter and skillful handling of the tool, creating a path in the country will take a little time. Brick pavement is made in the following steps:
- drawing up a construction plan;
- site marking;
- tool collection;
- ground preparation;
- border formation;
- finishing processing.
Paths in the country, made of old brick, should be carried out according to the above scheme. This is the only way to guarantee the receipt of a strong and durable coating that can become a decoration of the cottage and last for many years.
Preparatory work and collection of tools
Do-it-yourself country paths made of bricks are made on the basis of a building plan containing a drawing of the future object and its technical characteristics.
At the same time, the plan is of tremendous importance, since it is a visual display of a building that previously existed only in thoughts. Having created a detailed drawing, a person imagines how such a sidewalk will look, and understands the feasibility of building on a particular site.
The next step after drawing up a construction plan is the marking of the area. As a rule, it is performed using wooden posts and a rope connecting them together. The delimitation of the garden plot makes it possible to see the contours of the future brick path, all its twists and turns.
As soon as the preparatory work is over, and the future brick garden paths have taken shape with the help of ropes and posts, you can start collecting inventory.
This process is of utmost importance, since it makes it possible to significantly speed up and simplify the work. The following set of tools will help you make a red brick path:
- roulette;
- pencil;
- hacksaw;
- rubber mallet;
- shovel;
- bucket.
Formation of a country sidewalk of bricks and its finishing
What can be done with recycled materials?
Brick paths for summer cottages are one of the most successful and striking objects in which the use of waste material is almost imperceptible.
The next step is to make the base on which the brick surface will be laid. Using a shovel, it is necessary to dig a hole up to 1 m deep over the entire area of the path. After that, a pillow of gravel is formed at its bottom, designed to ensure the removal of water from the surface. A layer of sand is poured onto the rubble and leveled, forming the basis for laying brick blocks.
A wooden board is laid along the contour of the future red brick path, which plays the role of a curb. Its appointment is conditional, since after completion of work it should be removed. However, during the construction process, it is simply irreplaceable, since it helps to obtain a flat plane.
Directly next to it is placed a boundary brick, which is laid on the end. Such placement of it will allow the path in the country house not to blur and keep its shape.
Between the two curbs with the help of a rubber hammer, the blocks themselves are stacked. At the same time, each of them is installed close to the other in such a way that the gaps between them are minimal. Their removal to the level and the formation of a monolithic surface is carried out using a rubber hammer. At the end, a layer of sand is poured over the finished red brick plane, designed to fill the gaps and complete the composition of the track.
kubkirpich.ru
Advantages, disadvantages and types used
The main advantages of using bricks for paving walkways are ease of installation, accessibility and the ability to use leftovers after building a house, including broken fragments.
However, the pavement surface covered with outdoor wall material is not durable. After two or three years, under the influence of moisture and frost, an ordinary brick can collapse. To avoid this, we can recommend:
- treat the stones with a water repellent or moisture-proof varnish;
- use a special clinker brick;
- buy imitating paving slabs.
Treatment of ordinary clay bricks with a hydrophobic composition must be carried out at least twice with its complete immersion in liquid. This will ensure the resistance of the brick to moisture and increase its frost resistance.
At the same time, it should be taken into account that the validity period of the water repellent is no more than five years. After this, the surface of the track must be processed again. The service life of the lacquer coating is determined by the intensity of operation of the brick track.
Scheme of a brick path. Clinker bricks are practically impervious to moisture and therefore almost do not collapse over time. It is more expensive than usual, but the garden path from it will be durable and more beautiful.
A do-it-yourself brick path can be laid out in the form of:
- longitudinal pattern with classic spoon dressing;
- alternation of vertical and horizontal rows;
- "Christmas trees" at an angle of 45 ° or 90 °;
- single or double braid.
There are more complex patterns, but for do-it-yourself styling, it is recommended to use these.
Paving methods. Required materials and tools
In addition to bricks, you will need sand, crushed stone of medium fraction, PTS400 cement and geotextiles - non-woven waterproofing material to build the track.
Tool for work:
- bayonet and shovel;
- manual rammer or tamping machine;
- container for mixing the mortar and preparing the cement-sand mixture;
- measuring tape 5-10 m;
- cord for marking;
- pegs;
- rubber and regular hammer;
- construction worker.
For laying a broken brick path, you may need an angle grinder (grinder) with a diamond wheel to process uneven edges.
markup
Marking and excavation. Use pegs, cord and tape measure to mark future tracks and sites. They must be at least two meters away from the trees, as growing roots can lead to the destruction of the base. The garden path should be wide enough for two people to pass without leaving the pavement.
The cord on the pegs should not sag much. To do this, make the distance between them no more than 5 meters. Turns are recommended to be made smooth so that a wheelbarrow or trolley can turn on them. In places of turns, increase the number of pegs.
Substrate preparation and curb installation
Geotextile laying. To equip the foundation of a brick garden path, it is necessary to remove 20-25 cm of surface soil in accordance with the markings. Sprinkle the bottom of the resulting trench with a layer of sand 2-3 cm thick and compact well. After that, lay out the geotextile along the entire width and length of the track. This will effectively remove moisture down, preventing it from entering the base. In addition, the non-woven fabric will prevent the growth of weeds through the base and brick coating.
On top of the geotextile, pour a layer of sand 2-3 cm thick, and 10 cm of crushed stone on it and tamp it well. Sand is necessary so that the sharp edges of the stones do not tear the canvas. The crushed stone layer will act as a drainage to remove incoming moisture and prevent the base of the track from being washed away.
Option using a sand base. The drainage layer must be sprinkled with sand, hiding the rubble and putting another layer of geotextile on it. Install a curb along the edges of the path, which can be concrete, plastic or made of brick laid on edge. Fastening the curb material is done by hand using cement mortar or steel reinforcement stakes hammered into the ground.
Next, pour sand or a dry cement-sand mixture onto the geotextile. The surface is well compacted and leveled with a plaster rule or a flat wooden block, taking into account the provision of water runoff from the surface after laying. Dry cement-sand mixture provides increased strength and stability of the coating. With light loads on the pavement, you can use the basis of their pure river sand.
brick laying
The paving of the garden path is made in accordance with a pre-selected pattern.
Stones are placed on a sandy or cement-sand surface, tapping them a little with a rubber mallet to land in place. The sagging elements must be removed and a little sand or mixture should be poured under them. Slopes for water drainage are checked with a building level, and a flat surface with a plaster rule or a wooden block. If a block is used, alignment can be done by lightly tapping on it.
After laying the brick, a little dry cement-sand mixture is poured onto its surface, and then it is brushed to fill the joints and the surface is spilled with water. After 2-3 days, after the cement in the joints has set, this procedure must be repeated.
Finally
A brick garden path is an affordable solution for do-it-yourself landscaping. However, an ordinary wall brick requires pre-treatment with hydrophobic materials that will protect it from the damaging effects of moisture and frost. If you use clinker bricks, then pre-treatment of the material is not required.
It is very important to correctly make the base of the track - with the device of the drainage layer and the laying of geotextiles. In addition, all layers of the base must be well compacted so that in the future, during operation, subsidence and surface destruction do not form.
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Training
In order for the laying of brick paths to proceed properly, you should make sure that you have the necessary tools:
- Shovels:
- shovel;
- bayonet.
- Rammer:
- manual;
- gasoline.
- Saw.
- Measuring tool:
- roulette.
- Pegs and thread.
- Building level.
To facilitate the work, you can take a grinder instead of a saw, and a gasoline one instead of a manual rammer. Masonry pavement is easier to lay with automatic tools. The paths need to be level, so it's best to make sure the building level is correctly calibrated and shows correctly.
Each personal plot ideally has a system of paths and paths.
They must be clearly designed in advance, because it is the shortest path from one object to another that will make your stay on the territory as comfortable and cozy as possible.
At the same time, if the tracks are located correctly on the territory, then this can save a lot of personal time and effort.
When it comes to the beginning of work, most people immediately have a question about how to lay out the track, what materials to use, their main quality characteristics, how to correctly and competently make a breakdown. Therefore, everything should be told in order.
The main types of garden paths made of stone and brick
All paths, in a style decision, are of two types: landscape (that is, smooth, winding and rounded shapes, always asymmetrical) and regular (located in a straight direction or diagonally, symmetry in all directions is characteristic).
As for the materials that are used for their device, there are several main types.
Stone garden paths are one of the most popular, due to the many options for paving and device methods. Also, the decorative effect of such elements is very high.
Stone is considered a natural material. Due to its strength, the path will serve its owners for a long time. Due to some of its properties, such as special decorativeness, naturalness, beauty, strength and durability, this material has gained wide application not only for laying paths, but also in landscape design in general.
By texture, you can find a smooth surface, and rough, and quite rough. In the color spectrum, stone paving is widely represented (green, red, gray, black, and other colors). However, there are still disadvantages - this is the cost, weight. The most expensive include marble, granite, porphyry and basalt. For a budget option - sandstone and limestone.
If the cost of the second option is approximately 150-500 rubles / m 2, then the price of the first is on average from 1 thousand rubles / m 2, some copies can reach 14 thousand rubles / m 2.
Stone for paving paths can be of 2 types - processed or not subjected to such a process. Therefore, several types can be distinguished in shape: flat, round, decorative, due to the natural image. However, the tracks still turn out to be aesthetic and attractive.
Brick garden paths are constantly in competition with the first type in popularity, due to good technical and quality characteristics.
Brick for the device tracks has a specific name - clinker. Such material is generally not able to absorb moisture. And the laying technology is very simple, in three layers: pebbles, or crushed stone - concrete mortar - brick. All seams must be sealed with a special mixture. Lawn grass is often sown between them, which creates a special effect.
It can be argued that most people have such material in their plots. And therefore, using it, own funds will not be spent. A garden path made of old brick will last a long time, not succumbing to the negative effects of the environment. This option will also be very economical, from the financial point of view, and practical.
A path made of broken bricks requires laying out on a previously prepared sand cushion, followed by sealing all the cracks. Thanks to the presence of such material, you can not be afraid that on a rainy day it will become slippery and uncomfortable. Therefore, safety for movement in any weather will be ensured.
Concrete paths for the garden conquered their owners with strength and durability.
But aesthetics remains almost in last place, which indicates low performance, and additional work to decorate the element itself. This can be done by pressing various stones, glass pieces, resulting in a beautiful mosaic.
Combined garden paths allow you to make the site even more diverse and beautiful. This is achieved by combining several materials. For example, colored tiles with gravel, paving stones with bricks.
The number of options and combinations in paving garden paths is simply amazing. Therefore, any owner of a summer cottage will be able to make a path with his own hands, either from bricks or from stones. It will only be necessary to choose the right materials. The main thing is fantasy and skill.
Interesting design ideas:
Dry stream - this design is achieved by giving the path a winding and smooth outline. You can use gravel as a cover, and perennial flowering plants, cereals or some shrubs will look beautiful around.
Patterned path - you can create a design idea using multi-colored stones laid out in certain ornaments and patterns.
An interesting option is a garden path made of stones, neatly laid out, between which backfill is used (pebbles, wood chips, lawn grass can be sown, etc.).
Self-laying paths in the country
Some do not even realize that laying a path in the country can be a completely independent process that does not require a lot of time and effort. The main thing is to know the specific steps for improvement that will help to cope with this task.
Consider such a process using the example of paving stone paths. The most popular material is sandstone, which looks decent and its price is considered one of the most attractive. The main characteristics are frost resistance, density, durability and strength.
The appearance of the material is represented by plates of torn shapes, of various sizes. In addition, the following products are made from sandstone: paving stones and flagstone.
In order to get a beautiful stone path in the garden, you will need the following materials and tools: a rubber mallet, a cord, a shovel, a building level, a trowel, sand and gravel.
Stages:
- From the very beginning, the contours of the future track are drawn, which is done with the help of a cord that beats off the boundaries.
- Digging up the earth on the bayonet of a shovel.
- The gravel is backfilled and compacted.
- Sand is poured on top, on which paving stones are laid, at the same time adjusted with a hammer.
- And only then is the building level used, which checks the evenness of the almost finished garden path.
- At the very end, everything is covered with sand to fill the cracks.
Here the path is ready, and in the presented video, you can learn more about the stages in the construction of a flagstone garden element:
The stone path in the garden, as well as brick, concrete, are the most popular, integral parts of any backyard territory. Therefore, its organization and arrangement requires a reverent and careful approach.
After all, it is worth constructing this element in the wrong place, at the wrong angle, as discomfort and inconvenience will immediately be felt. This also applies to the choice of building material, which will have to deal with for quite a long time.
If you apply all your ingenuity and creativity, then even the most modest summer cottage can turn into something unusual, fabulous and very beautiful.
Brick garden paths are a functional element of a summer cottage. To make them yourself, you just need to study the issue and follow the recommendations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The choice of bricks has several advantages: laying will be simple, raw materials are available for sale, and are inexpensive, in addition, you can use both whole bricks and its fragments. True, such a design will not differ in durability and, under the constant influence of precipitation and temperature changes, after 2–3 years the parts will begin to crumble.
Use bricks to build a walkway on your property
To make the structure less subject to destruction processes, you can treat the masonry parts with a special moisture-repellent substance, take clinker bricks during construction or buy imitating tiles. In this case, the processing of raw materials must be performed by complete immersion in the substance, and this stage should be repeated at least 2-3 times. This will increase resistance to moisture and frost.
It is also important to remember that the life of moisture repellents is usually about 5 years. After this time has elapsed, the processing will need to be repeated. The effect of varnish depends on how intensively the building is used.
Clinker stone is characterized by a high level of moisture resistance and therefore is little susceptible to destruction. It is more durable and more attractive in appearance, however, its price is higher than usual.
Video "Garden path with your own hands"
This video clearly shows the main stages of the construction of the track:
Preparatory stage
You can independently, even without having a lot of building experience, build a path in your country house. To do this, carefully follow all the instructions. When you understand what kind of track you want, you need to decide on materials and other nuances that are not directly related to construction work.
Localization and markup
When choosing a place, consider the following points:
- The width and smoothness of the turns should be such that two people can easily pass each other or a loaded wheelbarrow can pass.
- The route should be such that access to all parts of the yard is provided even in bad weather.
- The building should be no closer than 2 m from the trees, since the root system can violate the integrity of the masonry.
- It is necessary to coordinate the irrigation system so that water does not flood the surface of the trail, otherwise it will erode and collapse. If there is no possibility to coordinate, then you need to make a slight slope and ditches for water to drain.
To mark the future building, take wooden pegs, a tape measure and a rope. Place pegs at a distance of 3-4 m around the perimeter, and increase their number at turns.
When choosing raw materials for masonry, stop at one of these types:
- paving bricks or tiles;
- clinker;
- masonry ceramic;
- paving stones.
Keep in mind that broken bricks can be used for the pedestrian area, as long as it is in harmony with the rest of the design of the site.
When deciding on the parameters of the brick, rely on the type of pattern of the future track, as well as its length and width.
When determining the required type, be guided by the following principle:
- calculate the amount of materials that will fit exactly along the width of the structure when laying;
- similarly calculate the length;
- Calculate the optimal ratio of the dimensions of the raw materials so that after laying there is a minimum of unused raw materials, and the amount of debris required is minimal.
Taking into account all factors, draw up a design project, while trying to indicate all the parameters as accurately as possible. The correctness of the drawing will help to avoid shortcomings during the construction phase, and knowledge of the size of the future building and the size of the materials directly affects the aesthetics of the structure.
Process sequence
After drawing up the project, it's time to purchase raw materials and get tools.
So, in addition to stone, purchase cement, a waterproofing film (for example, geotextiles), stock up on sand and gravel.
Of the tools you will need:
- shovel;
- container for solution;
- hammer - ordinary and with a rubber knob;
- roulette;
- level;
- rope;
- Master OK;
- gloves.
Foundation preparation
The foundation of the building is done according to the algorithm described below. To begin with, by marking, remove the soil so that you get a recess 20–30 cm deep. At the bottom, make a sand cushion 2-3 cm in size and tamp. Next, cover the future path with waterproofing material. This is necessary to remove moisture and inadmissibility of plant germination at the base.
Hide the gravel under another layer of sand and cover with a new layer of geotextile. After - again a layer of sand or a dry mixture of cement and sand. The latter will increase the strength and stability of the masonry.
The resulting base should be carefully tamped using a wooden beam or a plaster rule, while taking into account the need to ensure the flow of water after laying the raw materials.
Finishing work
Before proceeding with the direct installation, you will need to select a pattern. Now there are many options for decorative masonry:
- herringbone with a right angle and 45 ° - the stones are placed at an angle;
- braided regular and double;
- alternation of vertical and horizontal row;
- offset rows - the joints intentionally do not match;
- masonry with geometric patterns - laying out squares, rhombuses, etc.
Sequence of work:
- Remove some of the sand along the boards.
- Fix the curb along the entire path in the recess. In this case, all elements must be tightly installed to each other and form a continuous line.
- Now, starting from the edge in a row, start laying out the brick in accordance with the selected pattern. Each stone should be carefully fixed on the base with a rubber mallet.
- Each subsequent row should be equal to the one already laid. The elements should fit tightly to each other so that there are no cracks and gaps, strive to assemble a monolithic masonry.
- To prevent the formation of distortions, periodically check and check the evenness of the masonry using the building level. At the same time, remember about the need to create a slight slope of the entire surface to remove precipitation.
- If defects nevertheless appear, fix them with a trowel or with the same rubberized hammer by hammering harder or, conversely, removing the coating elements. Then check the evenness of the line again and move on if the defect is corrected.
- After completion of laying, cover the surface with a layer of sand mixed with cement. Carefully level it with a mop with a pile or a broom so that all the cracks formed are filled. So the loose mixture will fill the gaps, fasten the elements together and increase the strength of the masonry.
- When the gaps are closed, sweep away any remaining sand from the surface.
curb laying
An important part of your walkway is the curb line. It can be made of concrete, plastic, stone or other materials. As we have already said, the curb is placed in a specially dug recess and fixed with cement mortar.
If you settled on a brick, you can lay it out in horizontal rows or teeth. To do this, you need to install them on the edge and tap with a rubber mallet. During laying out, it is also necessary to check the evenness with a level.
You can also take the material that is at hand for the border: glass or plastic bottles, glass or brick fragments.
To lay out a border of bottles, they must first be filled with sand, and the use of fragments allows you to make a mosaic pattern.
The subtleties of working with old material
If you need to save a budget, you can get by with low costs using broken bricks. The process of laying a garden path from fragments has some features. As a rule, parts of ordinary red brick are used.
So, for such masonry, in addition to the standard set of tools, you will also need a grinder with a diamond wheel to process uneven edges.
So, you will also need to fence the perimeter, set the stakes and make a recess of 25-30 cm. The process of creating the base is identical to the usual version. The most time-consuming part of this work is laying out the broken parts so that they form a flat, smooth surface. To do this, you need to choose larger pieces, with at least one flat surface and a rubber mallet, drive them into the base. In this case, the depth of such driving will be different. In this case, you will need to resort to the help of the building level more often. Try to keep the gaps between the elements no more than 2-3 mm.
After completion, also sprinkle the finished array with a mixture of cement so that all the cracks are clogged and sweep the remaining layer.
Building a walkway in the country with your own hands is a rather laborious process. Nevertheless, you can do this layer of work yourself and get a satisfactory result that will be both practical and design attractive. To do this, study the options for patterns, purchase the necessary material, draw up a drawing and follow the step-by-step instructions. And remember: in any job, your safety is paramount.