Brick paths in the suburban area. Do-it-yourself brick path arrangement Red brick paths
We will tell you a few tricks of landscape design, how ordinary garden paths, using optical laws and the rules of perspective, will help make your cottage more beautiful. 
Long brick garden paths will not be so boring and dull if you cross them. transverse lines. It can be wooden or concrete bars, brickwork in the perpendicular direction. The same result gives a combination of slabs and brickwork. 
If a brick path expands near the porch of the house, then it seems shorter, if it narrows, it looks longer. The garden path, widening near the porch, creates the effect of a front platform in front of the house.
If you want to increase the space of a summer cottage, make paths in the country with a smooth bend. So even the smallest yard will look very impressive. 
Correct forms in landscape design such as circles and squares, visually greatly reduce the space. Therefore, try to avoid the correct forms for garden paths and areas if you have a small garden plot.
You can choose any fashion design for a path in the garden or a platform in front of the house, but you must consider two important moments- harmony with the main structure and functionality. Pedestrian paths can be narrower, but not less than a meter, and do not require a massive, expensive cushion of gravel and sand. If you use the site in front of the house as a driveway, it must have a reliable foundation, otherwise, the brickwork may warp and crack.
There are several options for paving a garden path with bricks. In any case, a pillow for the path is first prepared: pegs with a cord are driven in along the contour of the path, the soil is removed, 10-15 cm of crushed stone is poured, the crushed stone is compacted, 3-5 cm of sand is poured on top, on top of which a brick is laid. The seams between the bricks are filled with wet sand, after which the surface of the path is leveled and covered with dry sand. Finally, the excess sand is washed off with water. 
Very beautiful garden paths are obtained from a combination of brick and natural stone. In this variant of paving, laying is carried out on lean concrete. For such a path, it is necessary to make a 1-3% slope away from the building, because. the seams in this track will not be able to absorb and channel excess moisture. When laying on a prepared gravel-sand cushion, a layer of wet concrete is poured, bricks and slabs are laid, the masonry is watered. After that, all seams on the track are tightly sealed with a special solution. 
However, there is a catch in the method of laying a garden path on concrete: some natural stones react with concrete and eventually become covered with sloppy stains. Therefore, with this choice, consultation with a specialist in natural materials is necessary.
Special clinker bricks for paving garden paths have a beautiful natural shade and allow you to use not only the front side of the brick, but also the side when laying, creating room for imagination: this is paving with a spiral, squares, beautiful curves.
Garden paths are an integral part of landscape design. They are built from different building materials A: 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 step - 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. Width in the range of 5-10 cm. Subsequently, the concrete curb is painted or lined, for example, ceramic tiles. If concrete product well polished, then it is not necessary to cover it 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 may be round shape, 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:
stone;
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 every owner suburban area he decides 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. It is difficult to hide them 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 a 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.
For the construction of do-it-yourself paths in the country, not only special materials intended for paving are often used. A favorite way to improve the garden plot is to use the surplus materials left over from the construction of the house. In particular, wall bricks are often used to create platforms and paths.
What types of bricks are suitable for paving
The attractiveness of the idea - to pave the paths in the country with bricks, is due to a number of reasons:
- such material often remains after construction is completed, that is, it is practically “free”;
- the modular dimensions of the bricks are convenient for carrying and doing the work yourself without partners;
- to the uninitiated eye, the brick pavement seems to be reliable and durable.
Actually strength characteristics paths made from ordinary wall bricks leave much to be desired. It does not depend on the choice of its variety: silicate or red (it does not matter if it is hollow or full-bodied). The desire to save money and make paths out of bricks can lead to disappointment after the first winter. Under the influence of water and frost, brick blocks delaminate, split into small pieces. The porous structure of baked brick clay is saturated with moisture and becomes fragile. Therefore, it will be possible to use cheap material only in dry, elevated areas with good drainage, or completely protected from precipitation.
The easiest way to lay out a brick path:
Many reliable modern materials, specially designed for paving, are made in a form that allows you to imitate brickwork:
- Paving stones. Produced by vibrocasting or vibrocompression. Vibropressed paving stones have a higher quality and strength. The addition of concrete dyes makes it even more brick-like. Different thickness of products (from 4 to 8 cm) allows you to choose paving stones for a summer residence, depending on future loads - from paths between beds to a parking area.
- Clinker brick. High strength and very beautiful material has long been popular in Europe, is gaining more and more fans among summer residents. Of course, its price is higher than that of most varieties of paving stones and is close in cost to natural sawn stone. But the assortment of clinker allows you to choose the color and texture of the surface that satisfy the most demanding taste. Clinker bricks are extremely durable. If you get diamond wheels for a grinder that allow you to make the necessary cuts, each craftsman can easily lay out a path of clinker bricks in the country with his own hands.
Preparatory work
Having outlined the location of the path network on the plan, they begin to mark it. It is convenient to do this with the help of pegs and a cord. In the process of laying out, it is determined in which direction to create a slope of the roadway for the flow of water and melted snow. Sufficient slope parameters are 1-2º per linear meter.
As with most other methods of building paths in the country with your own hands, within the marked boundaries, you need to dig a foundation pit for the foundation. It consists of a tightly compacted layer of crushed stone (20 cm) and a leveling layer of sand (about 5 cm). Compaction of crushed stone is carried out with a vibrating plate or manual devices. For better compaction, sand is shed with water.
Using a flat board or building rule level the surface of the sand, not forgetting the slope. Bricks are laid either on sand or on a dry cement-sand mixture in a ratio of 1:4.
Arrangement of curbs and laying bricks during the construction of the path
Since the size of the brick module is small (usually 10x20 cm), without installing limiters along the edges of the track, it may not stay within the allotted boundaries and spread. This can happen both during installation and afterwards. To prevent this from happening, use ready-made sidewalk curbs. In their absence, the role of limiters is played by bricks placed on edge and fixed with mortar.
A border of bricks is fixed at the border of the track with mortar
In progress self construction the tracks also use temporary boundaries made of durable boards, which are then removed. A well-packed base and neatly and accurately set curbs will serve as a guarantee of the reliability of brick paving done by yourself.
Starting paving, they begin to lay bricks one by one on sand or a dry cement-sand mixture and punch them with a mallet. The horizon is manually leveled bubble level. The stacked rows are pushed closer to each other, hitting the board applied to the side with a mallet.
Choice of paving patterns
Depending on the general design and style of landscape design, cottages are used different types brickwork:
- straight, with row shift;
- diagonal;
- parquet;
- circular;
- scaly (Venetian masonry) and their numerous varieties.
An example of straight masonry with a shift of half a brick
Additional effects are created by ornaments of several colors or a selection of shades of bricks with different firing intensities.
The final stage of creating a brick path. Bug fixes and repairs
After the masonry is finished, it is necessary to fill the gaps between the bricks. Most often, ordinary sand is used for this, since the cement-sand mixture can leave ugly whitish stains on the surface. A layer of clean sifted sand is poured onto the path and swept into the cracks with a brush. The operation is repeated several times, alternating with the passage from the hose.
Filling cracks with sand
After winter, defects may appear on the surface of the track: subsidence, bulging, bricks destroyed or spread to the sides. You can start fixing them with your own hands, waiting for the soil to dry. The coating from the defective area is removed and the base is leveled. Then the paving is restored.
Clinker paving. Effectively selected shades of terracotta of different degrees of firing
With proper use of the material and adherence to the laying technology, a broken brick path can serve not only as a functional element of a country exterior. A neatly paved path made of waste products allows you to effectively emphasize the style of the garden complex and improve the visual perception of the space.
The key advantages of using waste building resources are:
- ease of installation. For paving garden sidewalks and paths from brick fragments, only basic knowledge of working with the material and a simple set of tools are required;
- product availability. A waste resource allows you to save a considerable amount on the preparation of materials;
- the possibility of recycling construction waste with a significant benefit for the budget. That is, there is no need to take out the broken remains of products in order to clear the area.
Among the disadvantages of using the remnants of building materials, they note the need for additional processing to extend the service life. Moreover, this does not apply to clinker bricks, which are characterized by high performance.
Brick fight - an excellent material for arranging garden paths
How to use broken brick
When planning how to use broken bricks in the country, home craftsmen find interesting solutions, such as:
- paving beautiful garden sidewalks;
- creating borders;
- decoration of flower beds and high beds.
Also, when deciding how to use broken bricks, it is recommended to use recycled material in the construction of gabions and the arrangement of foundations for alpine slides. Most gardeners are fond of decorating high vegetable beds, the design of which provides for the formation of a powerful drainage layer, where it is also possible to effectively use different-sized fragments of the battlefield. With the help of waste products, it is easy to build high-quality drainage when planting trees and shrubs.
As experienced tilers note, the use of unsightly material can give quite original results. For example, from a product unsuitable for construction, you can make a curb of the track by placing specimens on the edge at an angle of 45 °. To get a unique masterpiece in the form of a garden path with an original masonry pattern, you can organize a composition from a battlefield and a whole brick.
How to make a path out of broken bricks: stages of work
In order for the end result to please with worthy decorative and functional characteristics, one should adhere to the paving technology garden paths.
Planning
When planning a brick walkway with your own hands, the following points are taken into account:
- the width of the path is chosen so that two people can freely pass along it;
- the distance between the object to be drawn up and the trees is at least 2 meters, otherwise the growing roots of plantings may eventually lead to the destruction of the base of the structure.
Tools and materials
When building a garden path, you will need the following tools and supplies:
- tape measure, pegs and cord for marking;
- shovel - bayonet and shovel;
- tamping tool;
- hammer - rubber and ordinary;
- rule, trowel, brush;
- container for preparing the solution.
To process uneven edges of broken products, you will need a grinder with a diamond blade.
In addition to the main building material, you should take care of the availability of:
- sand and crushed stone of medium fraction;
- Portland cement brand 400;
- geotextile.
It is also worth having on hand a garden wheelbarrow for moving materials, a hose for final surface treatment with water.
Foundation preparation
When deciding how to make a road out of broken bricks when organizing a country landscape, the following algorithm for preparing the base is performed:
- along the marking line, it is necessary to remove the top soil with a depth of 20-25 cm;
- the trench is sprinkled with a leveling layer of sand 2-3 cm thick and rammed;
- the entire surface of the trench is covered with geotextile;
- non-woven fabric is covered with a layer of sand 2-3 cm thick;
- the next is a drainage layer of crushed stone 10 cm thick;
- then the drainage is covered with sand and a second layer of geotextile is laid.
It should be borne in mind that a layer of sand between the geotextile and crushed stone helps prevent deformation of the waterproofing sheet by the sharp edges of the pebbles.
Forming a curb
The perimeter of the trench is framed with a border. Here you can use a concrete solution or plastic products. It is also important to apply a brick border, laying it on the edge. The fastening of the curb structure is carried out different ways: with help cement mortar, steel reinforcing elements or other convenient means. After the formation of the curb, a dry cement-sand mixture is poured onto the geotextile and the composition is leveled, using the rule, taking into account the runoff of water from the surface.
brick laying
When paving a garden path, one of the simple masonry options is used, including:
- classic spoon dressing in the form of a longitudinal pattern;
- herringbone pattern at different angles;
- "braid" single or double;
- alternating horizontal lines with vertical ones.
Broken brick according to the selected pattern is laid on a prepared cement-sand surface:
- when laying, the stones are tapped with a rubber mallet for a better fit;
- sagging specimens need to be lifted by pouring sand under them;
- after laying the material, a little cement-sand mixture is poured onto the surface;
- then, using a brush, sweep the composition to fill the seams.
In the end installation work the surface is spilled with water to seal and set the seams.
Final processing
The last points of installation, including filling the joints with cement-sand composition and water procedures, must be repeated after 2-3 days, when the cement sets well.
Practical tips for the long-term use of a broken brick garden path:
- so that the surface of the sidewalk does not deform under the influence of moisture and temperature changes, the stones are treated with a water repellent or moisture-proof varnish;
- if a clay brick is used, before installation, the material is treated 2 times with a hydrophobic composition in a way total immersion products into liquid and drying;
- the validity of hydrophobic agents is 5 years, after this period of time, it is necessary to re-treat the pavement surface. The service life of the facility is also affected by the level of intensity of operation.
The potential of broken bricks, especially if the material is used in different color solutions, allows you to create interesting compositions, which is confirmed in the works of the masters.
It is difficult to imagine a garden plot without neat paths. They divide the site into zones, decorate it and, of course, provide comfortable movement. One of the popular garden path materials is brick. So, garden path from bricks with their own hands.
Not every brick is suitable for paving. Ordinary full-bodied ceramic or silicate do not tolerate water and repeated freezing and thawing. After a few years, these bricks will begin to crumble and crack. Therefore, it is better to purchase clay paving slabs or waterproof brick.
There are many options for paving patterns. You can also lay multi-colored bricks.
First, decide on the route and width of the future track. When planning the path, keep in mind that it should not pass close to large trees. Their roots will easily damage it. The minimum distance is 60 cm. But the main threat is water. Therefore, plan a path with a slight slope. Also, on one or both sides, you can dig a trench to drain water. Now, with the help of pegs and rope, mark the future route.
Next, a layer of sand about 5 cm thick is poured. The thickness may be different, it all depends on your site. After that, the sand is spilled with water and rammed. Then use the guides to align it.
Now you can lay bricks. We put it in the right place and with the help of a rubber mallet we drive in with gentle blows to the required depth. Use the level to check.
If you go too far and drive too deep, just take out the brick, level the sand and set it again. Another laying option, more reliable, is when the extreme bricks are placed on the end. If you choose this option, start laying with them.
After that comes the stage of filling the seams. To do this, sprinkle sand along the path and simply mark it with a brush.
The second option for laying bricks
For a more solid version of the track, we lay geotextiles on the bottom of the base. It will prevent the germination of plants. Another difference is the extra layer of gravel. The thickness of this layer will again depend on your site, its relief, and the type of soil. The minimum thickness is 5 cm, on average it is 10-15 cm.