Stone paths : an idea for a design

A few decades ago about this element of landscape design as a garden path, no one thought about it.The plot is near a private house or villa was perceived more as a vegetable, every square centimeter of which must be occupied by any culture.The path in the garden occupied only a small area between the beds and the garden trees.In most cases, it was simply trampled strip of land on which people walk.Sometimes as a cover track reused brick, in some cases it anoint the old boards, especially rich people just poured concrete, and some even used the old conveyor belt.

However, other times came.Now most of the private houses area is not used for horticulture, and for recreation.The new generation prefers to make a usable area of ​​landscaping, to the distance from the bustle of the city take a break from everyday work.In this case, the appearance of the garden path plays a huge role.Well-matched design and material help to the design elements to emphasize the beauty of the entire area of ​​the landscape, and on the contrary, failed badly designed and mounted track can lubricate all the efforts of the designer.Especially attractive look roads paved with stones.It is desirable that the construction of the tracks were part of a comprehensive upgrading of the site, because in such an important matter, each element can be individually, everything has its significance in the overall picture.About how stacking is carried out on the stone track - later in the article.

The choice of stone for paths

Naturally, everything for garden paths of stone is better to invite professional builders, however, when you have free time, a small experience of civil works, as well as a minimum set of tools with it can even handleamateur.

Special attention is required for the selection of stone:

• Firstly, it must have a uniform structure without cracks and chips.
• Secondly, one of the sides of the stone should have an absolutely smooth surface.That she will act as a cover of the track.Such characteristics have sea stone paths.

Recently increasingly popular among landscape designers got a track made of artificial stone.This material is much cheaper than natural, but it is more suitable for stacking geometry.Modern casting technology and concrete processing allow artificial stone having the appearance of no worse and sometimes better, and its natural counterpart.

advantage for the natural stone tracks is that it does not contain chemical additives and therefore does not enter into chemical reactions that can lead to its destruction.In any case, the choice of material for the track depends on the host preferences and capabilities.

device paths of stone with their hands

Work procedure:

1. Laying track begins with a markup.To do this it is determined the location, width and configuration.Winding paths look quite attractive, though their styling is much more complicated than direct.To mark pegs and cord used rope that is stretched between them.This allows the entire length of the track to keep it the same width.When markup is necessary to take into account the width of the border.
2. when marking work is finished, proceed to remove the top layer of soil.Trench digging depth of 30 cm, as for the construction of the tracks will be necessary to put several layers of different materials.
3. first layer on the bottom of the trench must be laid geotextile.This material will reduce the probability of weeds sprouting in the gaps between the stones and ensure the normal drainage to excessive moisture does not accumulate between the stones that the cold weather can cause cracks.
4. Next slept layer of gravel.This material is required as a buffer, to distribute the load over the entire surface and allow some portions of paths fall under the ground.gravel layer should not be less than 15 cm. After dumping his carefully tamped and leveled.
5. then backfilled with several layers of sand.Typically, 2-3 layers of uniform thickness is enough.After each dumping it is wetted with water and tamped.This helps to gain the necessary density of sand, stone to withstand the pressure.
6. next installation step is to track laying stone.It is positioned so that the slits were as evenly as possible.
7. After laying the track surface is sprinkled with sand and disperse it to fill in the seams.Next track is wetted with water to the sand in the joints better entrenched.

casting artificial stone for paths

This method has become quite popular recently.It allows you to effortlessly make beautiful garden paths, which appear to be not less effective than the tracks of wild stone.

method consists in casting artificial stone in a special formwork.It represents the different shapes as a stencil rectangular or asymmetric.To work with this form of the stone is quite simple to track.

Preparation for casting a stone mortar.Used cement-sand mixture with the addition of drop-outs.The ratio of the components as follows:

• Cement - Part 1.
• River sand - 3 pieces.
• Screenings - 3 pieces.

casting procedure for stone:

1. To make the decorative stone species in solution is added to certain dyes.It is also often used reinforcing additive - fibrovolokno, thanks to which the material will be more durable.
2. One batch, tend to make 20 kg of cement.Initially, pear pour cement.Then - 50-350 g 1% -zheleznookisnogo pigment.Depending on the number of tiles it will be of a different hue.
3. Lent is filled with sand.After this solution is added to the plasticizer.It serves to make the solution more plastic properties.
4. latter adds settling and water.The output should get a mixture the consistency of thick cream, in which case it will be strong and do not contain air bubbles.

order of installation works:

1. First we need to choose the direction and location of the next track.Then set the stakes and strings thread defining its boundaries.
2. Then dig a trench.To work on the casting path under the stencil will be enough depth of 10-12 cm in the ditches. After that set the border.
3. then carefully tamped the soil and the trench backfilled with sand in several layers.Thus it is necessary to try to equalize the level of the pillow.Each layer of sand is moistened thoroughly with water.
4. After preparing a sand cushion it is set form, which is aligned to the standards.
5. in the prescribed form filled with concrete solution.In order to distribute it evenly over the cells form, its broad smear spatula.Since the plastic surface is removed form the entire solution.When filling the cells care should be taken to ensure that no air inside them is left.For this purpose, the concrete is compacted small spatula.
6. After removing excess solution form is left for about 1 hour, then remove and rearrange to another place, where the procedure is repeated.
7. Form must be removed gently and evenly so as not to damage the uncured concrete.Before starting work, be sure to grease the form.For this machine is perfect for working out or even vegetable oil.

alternative paths of stone

Track Concrete

monolithic track though has a beautiful view, as the application of the stone, but its installation and operational costs are much lower.

for casting such track need:

1. brand Cement 400.
2. sand (screenings can be used).
3. Lighthouses.

initial production stage of works is fundamentally no different from the installation path of artificial or natural stone with a few differences.Dug a trench backfilled with gravel only, who later thoroughly tamped.Prior to this, on the edges of the trenches set border.Then mount beacons, which will flatten screed.

next step is mixed solution.To this is added into the mixer sand, cement and water.The ratio of cement and sand to be about 1: 3.Ready pour the concrete to the surface and roll out with the help of the rules on the level of lighthouses.Tracks can be safely used after 3-4 days, depending on weather conditions.

For this operation, better to choose a cool day.The fact is that, if moisture will evaporate rapidly from the concrete, it will lose some of its strength.

Wooden track

Lately a lot of popularity gained roads paved with wooden sections.Particularly beautiful they overcame in the gardens.This track has a number of drawbacks, the main of which is wood features.Without proper treatment, this material will not be long.That is why the procedure for the application of anti-corrosion composition is mandatory.

For workpiece material it is necessary to take the trunk of a tree and sawing it to square up to 50 mm thick using a chainsaw.Prior to this, it is desirable to clean the surface of the barrel from the knots and branches.After the sections were ready, it is necessary to treat them.To do this, apply an antiseptic and drying oil.Processing necessary to 2-3.After that, preparing cushion for laying wooden sections.To do this, dig a trench depth of 20 cm. Then she slept with gravel or crushed stone.After each layer of backfill material should be carefully compacted and leveled.

next step is performed laying of wooden tiles.The gaps between the individual parts are not important.It is necessary to focus on the size of the steps of those who will walk on this path.After laying pieces of wood, and the gaps between them spiked shingle.Unlike stone, dumping sand wood surface better than no reason.Firstly, it is not so spectacular looks like pebbles, and secondly, the sand may cause damage to the ends of wooden tiles.

Tracks Stone: photo ideas for decoration