At each summer cottage there are necessarily tracks. They connect its different parts, and also carry an aesthetic load. They are created from a variety of improvised materials - paving slabs, bricks, concrete, wood, polymers. Details on building materials and how to make a track in the country at low cost, read on in the article.

What tracks can be made of

Garden path can become:

• an invitation to a walk for visitors entering the garden;
• the shortest route between two points of a summer cottage.

In any case, landscape design for garden malls means improving the aesthetics of the territory with their help. A wide range of building materials will help you with this. But not all materials are cheap, so the choice depends on the amount you would like to spend on arranging, personal aesthetic preferences and creative ideas.

Did you know? The prototype of concrete was known to the ancient Romans. They mixed lime with the ash of Vesuvius and added water. Of course, this mixture was not as high-quality as modern solutions, but it allowed reliable bonding of various materials to each other.

Estimated cost of building materials for the mall:

• a natural stone - 1800 rub./ linear m;
• marble - 11 500 rub./ m²;
• granite - 7800 rub./ m²;
• slate - 6000 rub./ m²;
• decorative crushed stone - 8 rubles / kg;
• pebbles - 3 rubles / kg;
• paving slabs - from 570 rub./ m²;
• clinker brick - from 18 rubles / pcs.;
• concrete - from 2300 rub./m³;
• lumber - from 10800 rub./ m².

In rare situations, the choice is due to the characteristics of the soil or the shape of the site. For example, on a site with a groundwater table close to the surface, you should not make a path from a tree. And on the slope it will be nice to provide steps from non-slippery beautiful stone or concrete.

A natural stone

Natural stone is the common name for several types of stone slabs.

Important! Lay the width of the track at least 80 cm, and given that 2 people can walk along it, then at least 1.2 m.

This includes products from:

• limestone;
• quartzite;
• granite;
• slate;
• labradorite;
• sandstone;
• basalt;
• marble.

Each type of stone has its own natural shades, and usually they are not painted additionally. Stone slabs are flat structures of different thicknesses and sizes.

Features of natural stone tiles:

If you have chosen the color and shape of the plates, then you need to make some more purchases for the preparatory work. Stones need to be laid on a substrate of gravel and sand. A properly mounted path in the area between the beds will serve you as long as the house itself. Please note that pebbles also apply to natural stone. These are small pellets obtained by prolonged processing of various stones in water. But since it is impossible to obtain many pebbles of approximately the same shape and color in nature, they are made artificially from waste from stone production.

The shape of the pebbles can be round or with corners. Size - from 0.5 cm to 10 cm. As for the colors, there are many options: white, reddish, honey, green, black. All of them contrast well with foliage of plants. The material is resistant to moisture and temperature changes. Pebbles are very suitable for creating paths with a pattern. If you use several different types of colors, you can create amazingly beautiful paths. From it lay flowers, spheres and other drawings. The material is laid on concrete, and glue and epoxy are used for fastening.

Brick

Clinker brick is a new refractory building material. It is made just like any other brick - from clay, which was heated at a high temperature (+ 1200 ° C). It is perfect for a garden recreation area where there is a barbecue, barbecue or other cooking facilities.

Did you know? Before the start of the industrial revolution, one moulder with apprentices could produce up to 5,000 pieces of brick per day, and not one of them was completely similar to the other.

• Its distinctive features:
• resistance to mechanical damage;
• lack of response to aggressive media, such as acids;
• high strength and frost resistance;
• low coefficient of water absorption;
• keeping their properties stable under changing climatic conditions.

The main advantage of the material is that atmospheric dust is not retained on the tile surface, which means that the clinker path will not become the place where mosses and lichens grow. A wide range of colors allows you to choose the finish for any customer ideas. In size, clinker tiles are the same as ordinary brick. Mount it on concrete, for which you need a special glue and grout mixture.

Paving slabs and pavers

Paving stones are cobblestones of various sizes, which are used to pave the track. The difference between them is that the first was processed so that the stones became the same in size, and the second is used in its natural form and size, i.e. as it is. Paving stones are extremely versatile.

From it spread:

• parking areas;
• garden paths;
• steps to the garden;
• basis (foundation) for greenhouses and other structures.

It needs minimal care, is well protected from weathering and is able to maintain excellent appearance for many years.

• But it has significant disadvantages:
• high cost of material;
• constant need for care - grass will grow between the individual stones;
• subsidence of individual elements under the influence of moisture.

Paving slabs are a covering of various forms with which sidewalks, facades, platforms in front of the house and in a recreation area make out. Tiles are available in a variety of colors and sizes. Among its advantages are durability and high decorative properties.

On sale there are tiles from:

• concrete;
• stone;
• clay;
• polymers.

Concrete tiles are the cheapest and easiest to install. They are created by pouring concrete mass into molds and are considered the best choice for large areas and volumes of work. In addition, you can always create a stencil and form the plates you need on your own.

• Among the advantages of paving slabs:
• variety of materials, colors, sizes;
• durability.

Important! In order for the tile to last longer, you need to create a drain on the sides of the sidewalk. This will reduce the contact of the mall with moisture and extend the useful life.

Tile laying technology is standard:

1. First mark the future mall. Do this with pegs and a construction cord.
2. Then, the existing soil is removed to a depth of at least 30 cm.
3. Establish borders.
4. Crushed stone is poured at the bottom of the pit, compacted tightly and covered with sand.
5. The base must be pulled together with concrete, and then tiles or paving stones are laid on it.
6. If necessary, fill the slots with concrete mortar.

Concrete

Concrete or cement blocks are the most economical option for small and large malls. They can be created using special casting molds. If you don’t like the gray corporate color of concrete, adding a pigment to it will give you a completely new look. Such a coating does not wear and does not require repainting, since the color is obtained at the stage of creating the solution. The resulting mall is beautiful and durable. For the mall, it will be convenient to immediately fill with concrete the entire space. If there is a desire to create an uneven texture under a stone, then the application of bumps is carried out after the base layer of concrete has hardened.

To create such an alley you will need:

1. Pick up planks for formwork.
2. Put them in the place of the mall. Secure with pegs.
3. Dig a trench.
4. Lay a layer of rubble down.
5. To mix concrete from cement, crushed stone and sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 3. Water is added so that the mass is plastic and not too liquid. T. moisture should be no more than 50% by weight of dry components.
6. Pour concrete.
7. Withstand the time until it hardens in accordance with the instructions on the packaging with cement, and then remove the formwork.

Rubber plates

Rubber plates are made on the basis of rubber.

They can be used for:

• creating tracks;
• registration of playgrounds;
• sandbox laying;
• installation of a border at a lawn, a racetrack.

Important! Ovens or other sources of flame that can heat it to +250 must not be installed on the tile°WITH — it will cause a fire.

Such a coating perfectly absorbs street noise and is as safe as possible. When falling, the child is not injured. The main forms of tiles are brick, wave, coil. Lay it on a gravel pillow.

Tile on concrete, asphalt or compacted soil. To do this, the surface must be washed and cleaned of oil stains or other aggressive substances, dried. And then the tile is placed on glue or fixed on the ground.

• Among its advantages:
• absolute safety;
• high wear resistance;
• good decorative properties;
• resistance to temperatures from + 60 ° С to -60 ° С;
• mold susceptibility;
• ease of cleaning;
• ease of installation and dismantling: replacing a couple of tiles is not a problem at all.

When planting on glue, the following steps should be taken:

1. Wash the surface with soap and water. Use hydrochloric acid to remove stains. It is also advisable to degrease the surface.
2. Then a primer layer is applied, dried.
3. Using a spatula, glue is applied, and tiles are laid on it and firmly pressed to the base.

Video: installation instructions for rubber tiles

Wood

By wood is meant lumber.

It can be:

• terrace board;
• saw stumps;
• wooden tile.

Important! It is recommended to use oak or larch for the track as the most resistant to moisture tree species.

Wooden walkways are very attractive. Make them easier than stone. The laying of wood is always carried out on a gravel backing. Before that, it is treated with special solutions that will keep it from moisture. To do this, you need any antiseptic. Then, varnish is applied to the top, and the bottom is treated with bitumen mastic or tar. Since over time the wood darkens under the influence of ultraviolet light, it is recommended to immediately paint the upper part with a stain or dark acrylic varnish.

The advantages of such a path will be excellent decorative qualities. But the main drawback is the fragility. Wood faster than other materials will collapse from exposure to moisture and winter temperatures.

How to make a do-it-yourself track from improvised materials

Creating any track begins with design. You need to calculate the amount of necessary materials, determine the stages of the work and the cost of each. Perhaps in the process of calculation, you will come to the conclusion that to make the track from another material, and not from the one that was originally selected.

Do-it-yourself steps to create a track:

1. Draw up a project: measure the area, choose the material, calculate all the costs that will be needed, and their cost.
2. Mark the plot.
3. Install formwork (if necessary).
4. Dig a trench.
5. Lay a layer of gravel and put curbs.
6. Pour with concrete or lay tiles.
7. Complete all finishing work.

Material selection and necessary tools

The choice of material is best to begin with an analysis of the conditions in which the track will be, and the shortcomings that these or other materials have

For instance:

1. The cheapest material to create a track is concrete. It is fast, convenient and forms a flat surface. It must be borne in mind that cement must be fresh for work, otherwise it will absorb moisture during storage and will lose its binding properties by the time of use. Crushed stone should be clean - dirt and leaves in it will lead to cracks in the alley. Therefore, you need to take care of quality materials.
2. Paving slabs look very beautiful, but it must be laid on concrete, otherwise in spring, under the influence of moisture, the slabs will “crawl” to the sides.

If you conduct an approximate calculation of materials, then to create a track 10-12 m long you will need:

Track marking

The outline is marked with a construction cord and pegs. If a curved track is being built, then additional pegs will need to be installed in the places of the bend. Existing right angles must be checked with a Pythagorean triangle with an aspect ratio of 3: 4: 5. Then inspect the locked contour. If you do not like something, correct immediately on the ground, rearranging the pegs.

Formwork installation

Formwork is a frame that limits concrete and prevents it from creeping. It is made of lumber 100 × 20 cm. Boards should be straight, but not necessarily of high quality. Where there is a curved bend, instead of boards, you can use pieces of rubber or flexible plastic. Rectangular assembly is carried out using nails.

Important! For inclined sections, the same slope should be provided for the alley. Otherwise, the structure will be deformed annually due to a lack of stability.

Now you need to dig a trench, and then install the prepared frame in it. The depth will be about 25 cm. The soil that will be removed from the pit can be used to add beds. If the soil crumbles around the edges, then make slopes. The roots of bushes and trees that fall into the laying area must be removed. After finishing work, check the horizontal and vertical using the building level.

Pouring borders

The finished look gives the curb. It performs a number of useful functions: it protects against herbs from the garden and does not allow the structure to creep. You can buy in the store plastic borders or metal. They look the same as boards. Install them by deepening in the soil. If it is a brick, then it must be put on a concrete mortar.

For this:

1. It is necessary to prepare a mixture of cement, gravel and sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 3. Knead it thoroughly and dilute with water to a plastic consistency.
2. Pour crushed stone at the bottom of the pit and tamp it. If the initial layer thickness is 70 mm, then after tamping it should be 50 mm.
3. On top of it, pour cement mortar 30 mm thick and lay the brick on it in rows in the same way as for the construction of any brick structure.
4. Bricks can be stacked in one or two rows and rise at least 3-4 cm above the edge of the track.

Base unit

The structure of the mall resembles a cake. Its base will be a layer of gravel. Seal it with a rammer or vibrating plate. To achieve maximum density, gravel is watered in the process. A layer of sand is laid on top of it and also tamped, simultaneously pouring water on it. The correct density should be such that there are no traces of shoes on it when you are standing.

Important! Be sure to work with cement only with gloves. It can cause burns to the skin of the hands.

Stacking

Before you start pouring the solution, check the horizontal and vertical levels. On the formwork boards, draw a line along which concrete will be poured. This is important to ensure that the surface is equally high. Install reinforcement in the soil along the path contour and fill it with concrete. Leave the concrete to harden. It may take him from a few days to several weeks. The exact setting time should be seen on the cement packaging.

Stitching

It's time to lay the tiles on concrete.

The laying technology will be as follows:

1. Regardless of whether you choose marble, sandstone or concrete tiles, carefully lower the material into concrete.
2. Continue to add one tile at a time. Check that there is a gap of 8 mm to 10 mm between each element. Do not walk on the plates after they are laid - you need to wait until the solution hardens, which should take about 24 hours.
3. Once frozen, proceed to create a mortar mixture of 4 parts sand and 1 part cement. Mix them with water to get a fairly dense solution.
4. Fill the gaps between the plates with this mix.
5. Use a trowel to seal the tiles to make the surface smooth. Be careful not to stain them with solution.

Track Care Features

Alleys, like other interior items, require periodic care. So, in the fall you need to remove fallen leaves, in the spring - the debris and dirt that accumulated over the winter.

Did you know? Emperor Claudius Caesar, ruling in Rome in 41–54 n e., decorated his own garden with his own decorative ornaments. He especially liked to use pink shrubs in them, which he grew in large quantities and gave to his relatives.

In addition to the above, you will also need:

1. Wet cleaning with detergent and hose - About 3 times during the warm season.
2. Weed removalif they appear on a track or a curbstone.
3. In order to clean the garden alleys, you need hard polymer brushes with a working surface of about 45 cm.
4. Leaves can be harvested in the old fashioned way. - using a rake, and you can purchase a battery blower. It works on the principle of a vacuum cleaner, collecting leaves in a special bag.

Creating a track with your own hands is not too easy, but possible. You just need to carefully plan everything and observe technological processes in accuracy. And then the end result will delight you with a beautiful appearance for many years.