Garden paths made of stone

Natural stone for garden paths: beauty, living in centuries

Wide and narrow, smooth and winding, garden paths are not just a tribute to landscape design. Arrangement of tracks is a good way to order the space of the garden plot, and also provide an opportunity to walk along it and across, without risking slipping and falling. After all, in the garden, so harmless in appearance, us and our children are trapped by many dangers: wet grass after rain, imperceptible fossa or forgotten tool.
For arrangement of garden paths, natural materials are best suited. First of all, it is a stone, to which nature itself intended to be durable, stable and durable and also endowed with natural beauty, unique structure and pattern. Hopefully lost any other material to the natural stone: unlike asphalt, it does not burn and does not melt in the sun, unlike concrete - does not crack under the influence of external influences.
Traditional methods of using stone for garden paths are their facing with stone tiles or pavers. Both materials adorn the garden plot in their own way: the tile brings order and coziness, and the cobblestone gives a special charm, reminiscent of the streets and squares of Europe.

Material with a thousand-year-old reputation

Mankind has been using natural stone for more than a thousand years, and the reason is its longevity. Our ancestors did not hesitate to build stone churches: the life of this natural material is not even tens, but hundreds of years. It is estimated that the stone structure regularly serves people for at least 250 years, and this is a quarter of a millennium. It turns out that the stone path in our garden is able to meet the 22nd or even the 23rd century. If you take into account that it will look almost the same as on the day of installation, this fact is really impressive.
Another advantage of natural stone is its variety of sizes, shapes and properties. For a garden with a vast territory, you can create whole compositions from fragments of rock. In a small garden, small tiles or mosaics made of stone will be appropriate . In any case, the stone inserts will look original and bring peace to the garden: stone - the material is calm, wise, noiseless.
A natural stone has only one significant disadvantage: it refers to expensive materials. However, the originality, simplicity and sweetness of garden design are really worth it.

What is good about pavers and paving slabs

Paving stones and stone tiles - classic materials for the lining of garden paths. Throughout the world, they are valued for their advantages, namely:

* Long service life. Both tiles and pavers are able to serve more than one generation, preserving their aesthetic appearance. That is why they are used when they want to make the house a real "patrimonial nest".
* Practicality. Both materials are insensitive to sharp changes in temperature and are not subject to the action of precipitation. In addition, they do not sink with time. Such a garden path remains elegant and neat in any season.
* Environmentally friendly. Stone tiles and paving stones are environmentally friendly materials. Unlike the same asphalt, they are simply unable to isolate substances harmful to humans under any circumstances.
* Elimination of moisture. On the stone paths do not form puddles, according to which it is so unpleasant to walk. Due to the drainage cushion and interlacing seams, all moisture that has fallen on the path is simply absorbed into the ground.
* Easy repair. If necessary, a garden path from pavers or paving slabs is easy to restore the old look with a minimum of time and money.

We choose paving stones in thickness

Today stone paving stones are one of the favorite building and decorative materials. In its thickness, stone paving stones are divided into the following types:

* Standard (from 25 to 30 millimeters). This is a paving stone for a pedestrian zone, not intended for more serious loads.
* Hardened (from 40 to 60 millimeters). This cobblestone is referred to as heavy-duty materials - for example, it is often used for paving car parking lots.

We choose paving stones according to the form

Two absolutely identical cobblestone walkways you will not see often - unless they were "driven" to each other specially. All because the shape of the modern pavers is more than diverse:

* Rectangular. This is a classic form, often used in urban planning. In this case, the color of the material can be any, from soft cream to black.
* Round. This is the best option for laying a mosaic pattern, pattern, ornaments.
* Figured. This paving stone is also suitable for the formation of original drawings. In addition, it does not move horizontally and is therefore resistant to heavy loads.
* Large. This is the most fundamental paving stone for the arrangement of large areas. For its laying, the surface of the earth is previously leveled.

How are the stone tracks stacked ?

Competent laying is the best way to help a natural stone to show all its remarkable qualities: durability, stability, external effektivnost. For the correct paving of the garden path you need:

* Remove the turf (the depth of the strip is not less than 15 centimeters).
* Tire the earth.
* Prepare the places for laying the side stone - the grooves are 20-25 centimeters deeper than the lowest point of the curb. In each such groove it is necessary to pour a 20-centimeter layer of average rubble and carefully compact. After that, a 5-cm layer of sand is poured on top.
* Install the side stone on the concrete pillow.
* Cover the surface covered with small rubble, carefully ramming it.
* Lay a stone tile or paving stone.

To lay a natural stone it is necessary in the manner of picking up a puzzle, tightly pressing fragments to each other. In conclusion, it is necessary to fill all the cracks with sand, and to distribute the sand evenly - to pour the paths with water.

Facing the tracks with a stone - the process is not the fastest and not the most budgetary, but it is worth the effort and allocated money. The use of natural stone is exactly the case when you make a good investment in the future.