Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993 TAG: 9303010334
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: CURT RICHERT LENGTH: Medium
PLANNING AND IMAGINATION PAY OFF IN PRETTY WALKWAYS
Ever seen a walkway or sidewalk that catches your eye? Designing and constructing your own walkway is easy for do-it-yourselfer to build.Begin your project by planning how the path will be used and where it will go. Will it be a way to get a garage? For admiring flowers? Check out friends who might have built walkways and ask for suggestions and ideas.
Sketch and measure the path the walkway will follow to get an idea of the amount of materials needed. Be sure to include plants, trees and buildings near the walkway.
Materials used for constructing walkways are varied in both durability, looks and price.
Loose materials such as pine bark or gravel is a simple and inexpensive path. Use 2-by-4s as edging to hold the loose material in place. Be sure to use pressure-treated wood to prevent rot and have wooden stakes placed every few feet to support the edging.
Prevent grass and weeds from growing through the material by placing polyethlene or a similar material underneath.
A raised wooden path is beautiful but more expensive and can be difficult to build.
Pressure treated 4-by-4s reinforced with concrete can be placed upright in the ground with six inches exposed so it can be connected with the tread support. Two-by-4s used as crosspieces form the tread and lend rigidity to the frame.
The ends of the boards can be uniformly cut even or left in different lengths.
Masonry such as bricks, interconnected pavers and flat stones can be a beautiful, long-lasting walkway.
Begin by placing a bed of sand a couple of inches deep where you want the walkway to go. The sandbed provides a base for the masonry and will settle over time for a tighter fit. Fitting the masonry without mortar is cheaper and easier for the do-it-yourselfer, but is subject to shifting or settling caused by tree roots or frost.
A concrete base instead of sand helps the path last longer and have a more durable base to resist cracking.
Poured or mixed concrete, such as what is used in city sidewalks, is more durable and less expensive than masory. Dressing up the concrete with plant, brick or wooden edgings can help enhance the material.
If cost is a concern, try to find used brick or stone. While not new, the material can be cheaper.
Curt Richert is a staff writer for this newspaper.