Construction of pedestrian and automobile paths and platforms. Garden paths and platforms Monolithic concrete coverings

First of all, the installation of garden paths should include a plan with all existing buildings marked on it. They are drawn on the plan to scale. The plan must also contain the location of existing trees on the site. Think over the stylistic direction of the garden: appearance paths and the materials from which they are made must be in harmony with general concept. Decide on the trafficability of the area and, based on this, choose the width of the paths. The barbecue area, swimming pool or children's area must be of such a width that two people can easily pass through it. The width of these paths ranges from 100 to 130 cm. The path leading to the gazebo, located in a secluded place in the garden, will be 50-70 cm wide. After determining the parameters of the paths (width, length, configuration), proceed to choosing the material for paving.

The purpose of garden paths depends on the loads that will be applied to the coating.

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Selection of material for paths

Can be made from a wide variety of materials: small pebbles, gravel, artificial or natural stone, clinker tiles, wood. Naturally, tiles made of artificial stone, wood or gravel are much cheaper than those made of natural stone. But you should not approach the choice of material based only on its price.

The purpose of the paths depends on the loads that will be applied to the coating. In the case where garden paths are intended only for pedestrian traffic, any material can be used for their construction - crushed stone or concrete paving slabs. If the surface is affected by the weight of more than one person (for example, car paths), then the best solution There will be installation of such asphalt or paving stones.

When selecting material for paths, you need to pay attention Special attention on the strength and thickness of the material.

When choosing material for paths, you need to pay special attention to the strength and thickness of the material. For example, a concrete road must meet the following requirements:

pedestrian paths must be made with a layer of concrete at least 50 mm thick;
the paths along which movement, for example, of hand wheelbarrows will take place, must have a concrete thickness of at least 7.5-8.0 cm.

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Selection of track technology

The technology for constructing garden paths is divided into four types:

soft;
hard;
special;
combined.

Soft paths - paths that are covered with gravel, screenings, crushed stone, as well as tree bark.

Soft paths are paths that are covered with gravel, screenings, crushed stone, and also tree bark.

Rigid tracks - tracks, the construction of which is made of individual elements, for example from paving slabs, monolithic concrete or stone.

Special – paths covered with decorative concrete.

Combined - paths, the construction of which includes paving slabs and bulk materials.

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Advantages and disadvantages of various materials for constructing garden paths

Natural stone (marble, granite, basalt, sandstone, limestone).

Advantages:

durability of natural stone (more than 250 years);
a variety of shapes and textures, allowing use in large gardens and small areas.

Flaws:

cost in comparison with other materials;
unsafe movement.

Note: for the installation of garden paths of this type, experts advise using electric heating.

Artificial material (paving slabs, asphalt, rubble stone, concrete coverings).

Advantages:

resistance to aggressive environment and UFL;
practicality;
variety of forms.

Flaws:

poor manufacturing quality of such materials significantly reduces service life;
during interseasonal soil movement, cracking of the surface of the coating (asphalt pavement, monolithic concrete) is possible;
paving slabs may settle, which will make the path inconvenient for movement and require its repair.

Bulk materials (gravel, crushed stone, screenings, pebbles, sand).

Advantages:

low price;
low labor intensity during installation;
no slope required.

Flaws:

difficulty cleaning;
necessity .

First of all, you should think carefully about the design of your garden. If the garden is made in Japanese or chinese style, without tiles from natural materials you can't get by. Such gardens often have and therefore large quantity You don't need natural stone material.

If you prefer the style of French apothecary gardens or English style, then paving the paths with paving slabs on an artificial basis will be the most correct solution.

When selecting the material from which garden paths will be made, you should think not only about the price of the material, but also about the costs of the preparatory period and the immediate installation work.

Soil is the basis for paths and depending on the characteristics of the soil, everything is determined further work by device.

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Territory planning

Planning technology includes two stages: marking the territory of the site and excavation. To mark the site, it is necessary to make benchmarks (marks) that will determine the contours of garden paths, holes for planting trees, platforms and the topography of the territory. Benchmarks are displayed according to the project. All marks must be tied to the boundaries of the site, buildings and trees. Wood pegs or small pieces of reinforcement can be used as benchmarks. Depending on the marks, the terrain of the area is divided. The breakdown of such a plan can be done using a theodolite or level. After marking the entire area, the contours of the platforms and paths should be drawn. To do this, sand is sprinkled along the contours. Once you see the actual shapes of the tracks, they can be easily adjusted. This is followed by excavation work or “dugout”.

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Excavation work

First of all, you should identify the level groundwater and soil composition. The soil is the basis for the paths and, depending on the characteristics of the soil, all further work on the construction is determined.

Most optimal basis Sandy soils are considered to be sandy soils, which consist of medium and coarse sand. Soils of this type occur near rivers and in alluvial areas. For the device you only need to remove a small layer of sand, not forgetting to take into account that the path should be located 2-3 centimeters above ground level.

All other soils require a so-called “trough” to create a good foundation. Excavation of soil should be carried out to a depth of 150 - 300 mm with subsequent laying in it inert materials in the following order: gravel, crushed stone, sand.

Each layer must be compacted and carefully leveled.

To reduce the thickness and increase the quality of the underlying layer, geogrids and geotextiles are used today.

Most upper layer in a “trough” is made of sand and serves as a base for covering the path. The depth of the excavation is directly proportional to the groundwater level and the degree of moisture permeability. The greatest excavation depth is in wetlands and peat areas. If you do not use a thick base layer on such soils, then in a few years the path will sag.

To reduce the thickness and increase the quality of the underlying layer, geogrids and geotextiles are used today. Geogrid is a structure made of inert polyester fiber. Geogrid helps form a strong cellular frame. All grate cavities are filled with crushed stone, gravel and sand. Geotextiles can be placed between the sand and gravel layer. It prevents plants from growing between the joints of the path slabs and washing away the masonry material. Geotextiles are also installed at the bottom of the trough. In such cases, it acts as reinforcement.

Laying coverings made of artificial and natural stone ( piece materials) can be produced on a dry mortar of cement and gravel, on a layer of cement mortar or spilled sand. In the first case, stone tiles are laid directly on a layer of gravel without a layer of sand. When laying, the slabs are compacted using a hammer with a rubber or wood head.

Wooden flooring must be laid on beams (joists). This is done in order to avoid contact of the flooring boards with the ground surface.

Curbs not only give the path an aesthetically finished look, but also carry functional loads - they prevent the paving slabs from spreading and the masonry material being washed into the ground.

To allow melt and rain water to drain, the paths must have slopes. A slope on both sides is usually performed on flat areas, and a one-sided slope - on relief areas. The slope is made in the direction of lowering the relief level.

Curbs give the finished look to the path. They give the path not only an aesthetically finished look, but also carry functional loads - they prevent the paving slabs from spreading and the masonry material being washed out into the ground. The most popular are plastic curbs installed after laying the slabs. Installation of plastic curbs does not require excavation. They are installed using special anchor-type fastenings.

It is best to combine excavation work with laying drainage grooves, storm system, lighting and irrigation systems. This approach to business will save your time and money. The correct placement of drainage gratings and storm water inlets will help to calculate the slopes of the paths so that water from their surface enters the drainage system immediately, and does not stagnate on paved areas or lawns. In the “trough” for future paths you can lay electrical cables and irrigation system pipeline. Cables must be laid in special corrugated hoses (plastic or metal). Paths on unpaved slopes running along the edge of a terrace with a clearly visible relief must be further strengthened. Geogrids, which were already mentioned above, are perfect for such purposes.

The road and path network serves as the direction of the path, while connecting the zones of the site, and also serves as additional drainage for the entire site.

When creating paths and platforms, the following points must be considered:

Paths and playgrounds must be safe at all times of the year, in all weather conditions;
- the width must be at least 60 cm;
- the type of paving depends on their purpose;
- drainage must be organized from the road surface;
- the back side of the paving must have a side stop;
- the construction of the road and path network must be carried out in accordance with the developed project and in compliance with general construction norms and rules.

Paths and areas may not be rigid and hard covering.

Non-rigid surfaces have paths and areas where the finishing coating is made of bulk materials. Such materials include: crushed stone fr. 5-20 mm, screenings, stone and granite chips, pebbles, decorative chips. Paths and areas with non-hard surfaces require constant repair and maintenance. They are made mainly in forest areas, parks, squares, children's playgrounds, and in ornamental vegetable garden areas.
Hard surfaces have paths and platforms made from natural or artificial stone, concrete, asphalt concrete, crumb rubber, paving slabs, wooden flooring. Such paths are more practical to use, require less maintenance, are more durable, but at the same time, care and maintenance have their own characteristics.

All paths and platforms must have a longitudinal and transverse profile. It serves for natural water drainage. The profile of the path should be convex in relation to the soil surface. Paths and platforms can be double-profile (having a raised middle and slopes to the right and left) or single-profile (with a slope in one direction, when one edge is higher than the other). The longitudinal and transverse slope should be 1 cm per 1 m, it is allowed to use minimum slopes, which are 0.5 cm per 1 m.

Work on the installation of paths and platforms can be divided into 2 stages: preparation of the base and installation of the finishing coating. Preparation of the base includes sampling the soil to a solid base; if the sampling needs to be done more than the height of the designed pie, then in this case it is necessary to increase the layer of backfill over the sand. Geotextiles are laid at the bottom of the trough, then a sand-crushed stone cushion is made, with layer-by-layer compaction using a vibrating plate. The height of the sand-crushed stone cushion depends on the type of soil on the site and the purpose of the path or site. In this case, the width of the trough and sand-crushed stone cushion should be 10 cm larger on each side than the finishing coating.

The finishing coating device includes backfilling of bulk material on paths with a non-hard surface and laying stone, tiles, concrete and other materials intended for hard surfaces.
All paths and areas functional purpose are divided into: pedestrian, automobile, sports and children's. They differ from each other mainly in purpose, degree of load, thickness of the cake, and also the finishing coating. The technologies for constructing pedestrian, sports and children's playgrounds are the same.

Construction of pedestrian paths and platforms

Technology for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms from bulk materials:

1. Breakdown of the territory.

11. Compaction with vibrating plate m=220 kg or manual rammer
12. Arranging a finishing layer of bulk material - 5-10 cm.
13. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a tamper.

Technology for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms from paving slabs or paving stones:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 20 cm.
7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
9. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual rammer.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).

13. Construction of a cement-sand layer - 3-7 cm.
14. Laying paving slabs or paving stones (tiles or paving stones 4-8 cm thick).

Technology for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms made of granite paving stones or clinker bricks:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse-grained alluvial sand) - 20 cm.
7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
9. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual rammer.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
11. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual tamper.

13. Laying clinker bricks or granite paving stones ( clinker brick or granite paving stones - thickness 4-8 cm).

15. Sweeping seams with sand (coarse alluvial sand).

Technology for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms made of natural or artificial stone using mortar:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 20 cm.
7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
9. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual rammer.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
11. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual tamper.
12. Preparation of the solution (cement M400, coarse alluvial sand, water in a ratio of 1:3:1-1.5 depending on the moisture content of the sand).
13. Laying natural or artificial stone on a mortar (stone thickness 4 cm - 10 cm).

Technology for the construction of step-by-step pedestrian paths and platforms from cobblestone cuts and concrete slabs:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Layout of slabs or cobblestone cuts.
4. Point excavation of soil to a solid base (for each cut or slab separately).
5. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
6. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
7. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 15 cm.
8. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual tamper.
9. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
10. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual tamper.
11. Splintering of crushed stone with screenings or sand (granite screenings, coarse alluvial sand) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
12. Laying cobblestone cuts or concrete slabs.
13. Installation of a lawn in the joints between the slabs.

Technology for the construction of step-by-step pedestrian paths and platforms made of Indian sandstone and concrete slabs for mortar:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 15 cm.
7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
9. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual rammer.
10. Preparation of the solution (cement M400, coarse alluvial sand, water in a ratio of 1:3:1-1.5 depending on the moisture content of the sand).
11. Laying Indian sandstone or concrete slabs on mortar.
12. Sampling crushed stone from the joints between sandstone and slabs - 10-12 cm.
13. Filling of fertile soil into the seams of the path or platform - 10-12 cm.
14. Compacting fertile soil using a manual tamper.
15. Mixing lawn grass seeds with fertile soil in a 1:1 ratio.
16. Filling the seeds with soil into the seams of the path fabric - 1 cm.
17. Compaction of seeds with soil using a manual tamper.
18. Watering.

Technology for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms from crumb rubber:

Construction of automobile paths and platforms.

Technology for the construction of paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 1.5 tons from bulk materials:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.

7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or a manual tamper.

10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).

12. Applying a finishing layer of screenings - 5-10 cm.
13. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.

Technology for the construction of paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 1.5 tons from paving slabs or paving stones:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=320 kg.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 160 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 30 cm.

9. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
11. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=320 kg or with a manual tamper.
12. Preparation of a cement-sand mixture (coarse alluvial sand, M400 cement, in a ratio of 1:4).
13. Construction of a cement-sand layer or a layer of screenings - 5-7 cm.
14. Laying paving slabs or paving stones (tiles or paving stones 8-10 cm thick).
15. Compaction with vibrating plate m=20 kg.
16. Sealing the joints with sand or CPS (coarse alluvial sand, cement M 400).

Technology for the construction of paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 1.5 tons from granite paving stones or clinker bricks:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=320 kg.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 160 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 30 cm.
7. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 30 cm.
9. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
11. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
12. Construction of the underlying layer from screenings 5-8 cm.
13. Laying clinker bricks or granite paving stones (clinker brick or granite paving stones - thickness 6-10 cm).
14. Compaction with vibrating plate m=20 kg.
15. Sanding the seams (coarse alluvial sand).

Technology for the construction of paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 1.5 tons from natural or artificial stone using mortar:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=320 kg.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 160 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 30 cm.
7. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 15 cm.
9. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account)
11. Compaction with vibrating plate m=320 kg.
12. Preparation of the solution (cement M400, coarse alluvial sand, water in a ratio of 1:3:1-1.5 depending on the moisture content of the sand)
13. Laying natural or artificial stone on the mortar (stone thickness 8 cm - 10 cm).
14. Grouting or sweeping seams (stone grout or coarse alluvial sand).

Technology for constructing paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 3 tons from paving slabs or paving stones onto concrete:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.

5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 160 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 30 cm.

8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 30 cm.

10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).

12. Reinforcement (reinforcement d = 12 mm is taken, a volumetric mesh is knitted with cell sizes of 12 * 12 cm).
13. Installation of formwork.
14. Construction of expansion joints.
15. Pouring concrete M300.
16. Dismantling of formwork.
17. Preparation of a cement-sand mixture (coarse alluvial sand, M400 cement, in a ratio of 1:4).
18. Construction of a cement-sand layer or a layer of screenings - 5-7 cm.
19. Laying paving slabs or paving stones (tiles or paving stones 8-10 cm thick).
20. Compaction with vibrating plate m=20 kg.
21. Sealing the joints with sand or CPS (coarse alluvial sand, cement M 400).

Technology for constructing paths and platforms for cars weighing up to 3 tons from asphalt concrete:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compacting the base with a vibrating plate m=600 kg.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 160 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 30 cm.
7. Compaction with vibrating plate m=600 kg.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 30 cm.
9. Compaction with vibrating plate m=600 kg.
10. Splitting of the crushed stone layer (screenings or crushed granite stone fr. 2-5 mm) - 5 cm (as a layer in the thickness of the pie is not taken into account).
11. Compaction with vibrating plate m=600 kg.
12. Spraying the crushed stone base with bitumen emulsion.
13. Laying porous asphalt concrete from coarse-grained crushed stone mixture - 7 cm.
14. Compaction with a roller.
15. Laying dense asphalt concrete from a fine-grained crushed stone mixture - 5 cm.
16. Compaction with a roller.

Installation curb stone

The curb stone serves as a boundary line between the lawn and the surface of paths and platforms, and also protects the edge of the road surface from destruction. It is made from natural stones, granite, concrete and reinforced concrete.
According to their purpose, border stone is divided into garden border and side stone. garden border It is used for the construction of pedestrian paths and platforms, and the side stone is intended for the construction of roadways and areas for automobile coverings. They differ from each other in size and degree of load they can withstand.
When installing curb stones, it is necessary to make a sand-crushed stone cushion, taking into account all slopes. The board must follow the design profile of the coating. Recesses at the joints of stones in plan and profile are not allowed. The seams between the stones should be no more than 1 cm. The curb stone itself must be installed on concrete of a grade not lower than M 250. After installing the curb stone, it is necessary to make concrete locks, and on the back side of the curb a side support made of soil. The installation of curb stones goes in parallel with the preparation of the base for the path or platform.

Technology for the installation of curbstones:

1. Breakdown of the territory.
2. Marking vertical marks.
3. Excavation to a solid base.
4. Compaction with a vibrating plate m = 220 kg or with a manual tamper.
5. Laying geotextiles with a density of 120 g/m2.
6. Construction of a sand base (coarse alluvial sand) - 10 cm.
7. Compaction with a vibrating plate m= 220 kg or with a manual tamper.
8. Construction of a crushed stone base (crushed granite stone fr. 20-40 mm) - 10 cm.
9. Compaction with a vibrating plate m=220 kg or with a manual rammer.
10. Installation of curb stones on concrete (M250 concrete, concrete layer thickness 10 cm).
11. Construction of concrete locks.
12. Grouting joints with mortar.

Plastic curbs, board and timber curbs can act as restrictive edges in areas with pedestrian traffic. They, in turn, are installed on a compacted sandy base 10 cm thick and fixed with special pins or reinforcement d=6-10 mm.

This material is an excerpt from the forthcoming book by Elena Rusu "Management landscape works. A foreman's handbook on landscaping and landscaping."

Elena Rusu is the head of the company

Coverage is " outerwear» any elements of landscaping in gardens and parks.

There is a wide variety of types and “styles” of such “clothing”, which, as a rule, are not only durable and resistant to atmospheric influences, various pedestrian and traffic loads, but also beautiful.

Covering as a means of decoration or decoration also plays a role important role in building landscape compositions Therefore, the type of coating and material usually correspond to the features of landscape architecture (relief and plantings), the overall composition of the park and the functional purpose of the corresponding planning elements.

Platforms and paths are typical, without exception, for all types of gardens and parks. Therefore, it makes sense, without going into details (we are not talking about building a garden or park, but only about understanding the essence of the subject), to consider the main types of construction of paths and platforms.

Landscape paths and sites consist of a subgrade, “clothing” and drainage.
A subgrade is a depression prepared by excavating soil in accordance with the dimensions of paths and platforms and the thickness of the “road pavement”.

“Road pavement” consists of a base layer, a base and a covering.
The underlying layer is often made of sand. It serves as a regulator of loads arising from the movement of pedestrians and individual-group Vehicle, as well as drainage.
The base is the main one structural element, the load-bearing part, the degree of durability and strength of the “road pavement” depends on it. As a rule, the base is made of crushed stone, which is used as broken brick, crushed granite or metallurgical slag.

The covering is the upper structural element, the “outer garment”, which directly absorbs the loads from movement. Important qualities coatings are their durability, decorativeness, lack of dust in dry weather and lack of soaking during rain. Since the surface is intended primarily for pedestrians, it should be smooth, but not slippery.

As materials for covering horizontal and vertical elements landscaping uses natural stone, different kinds road tiles, slabs and rolls, decorative concrete and clinker bricks, wood, grass (including artificial), as well as bulk materials: granite and marble, tuff, rubber (rubber) and brick chips, crushed stone, pebbles and gravel, tree bark .

All coating materials are divided into two groups: hard and soft.
Soft covering (crumbs, crushed stone, bark) is used mainly on pedestrian paths and playgrounds.

The most imperfect and at the same time environmentally friendly coatings are natural grassy, ground coverings and coatings made from compacted crushed tree bark. They exist and will remain in almost every garden and park, but their share specific gravity will be reduced.

Wood coverings are picturesque, but short-lived, so they are used in parks located in forest-rich areas, where industrial hardwood waste, usually coniferous (checkers from substandard boards and slabs or cylindrical saw cuts from round timber), is used for these purposes. For example, wooden stops on gentle staircases, or mosaic covering of vertical sections of decorative walls.
In some gardens and parks, wooden decking paths are preserved, but this is practically the exception.

wooden walkway in two rows wooden fence, Windsor Park, London area, UK

wooden stepped serpentine paths - Garden of Flowers (Garden-flowers-mae-fah-luang),
Chiang Rai, Thailand

In modern practice, wooden decking paths have long been replaced by more durable sand-gravel or crushed stone ones. The crushed stone is covered with a layer of fine crumbs (brick, granite, tuff) and compacted with rollers. The results are bright colored coatings that go well with the greenery of the plantings.

Some parks use marine or river pebbles, an excellent material for creating complex multi-figure compositions - beautiful mosaic panels with images of flowers, birds, fancy sea or fantastic animals.

I bring to your attention four examples that will give some idea of the variety of compositions using the example of the Zhangyuan Garden, in Nanjing, China.

Modern industrial technologies have contributed to the list of soft materials used for coatings. Rubber crumbs are widely used, rubber tiles and slabs, rolls of compressed rubber and artificial grass.

crumb rubber

tiles and paving stones (in the middle of the photo) made from rubber crumbs

rolls for sports flooring

Most often, such materials are used as coverings for children and sports grounds or “quiet” recreation areas.
The design of this “road clothing” is in many respects similar to that used previously, and therefore does not require serious special preparation, and the bright coloring creates a cheerful variety of colors that pleases the eye and creates a good mood.

self-leveling seamless coating based on crumb rubber for playgrounds

artificial turf

Solid materials are usually used for the arrangement of the most intensively used elements of the planning structure of parks (large width and height) - roads and paths on the main “routes” and in accordance with the nature of the environment.

tiled covering of the main entrance alley, Fontainebleau Palace, France

tiled terrace. Nagorny Park. Baku, Azerbaijan

The process of making hard surfaces used on paths, terraces, stairs and some areas in gardens and parks is called “paving”.
Paving - necessary element landscaping of garden and park areas. It is used, for example, to cover areas - places active rest, sports or garden paths/park alleys connecting various functional areas.

Coatings from natural stone durable and beautiful, they remain decorative for decades, but they are expensive. Therefore, they are widely used in compositions on areas around monuments and fountains. Usually these are small slabs of hard (granite, gneiss or basalt) and soft rocks(sandstone, tuff, limestone-shell rock).

From stone checkers various shapes 3-7 cm in size, many mosaic coverings of horizontal ledges of terraces and stairs, viewpoints and observation platforms, decorative retaining walls and so on.

Coatings made of clinker or ceramic bricks for strength, durability and variety color shades comparable to natural stone. Clinker bricks, like tiles from decorative concrete or natural stone, laid in a cage, herringbone pattern, as well as flat or on an edge, compacted, and the gaps are filled with sand. As a result, park managers were able to create and maintain the uniqueness of the graphic design of landscape gardening areas, roads and paths.

The use of industrial technologies has made it possible to create new types of paving stones based on ceramics and rubber crumbs; high strength and ease of replaceability make it possible to solve the problem of landscaping on the most intense sections of park roads in terms of wear and tear.

Decorative slabs and tiles different colors and shades are revealed ample opportunities for creating colorful panels on garden vases, flowerpots, parapets, borders and stair bows. They can have a unique pattern due to artificial seams or inserts made of pebbles, crushed stone, gravel.

Finally. Modern roads, paths, squares and platforms are divided into simple and improved. Of greatest interest are the improved coatings used in the most visited and critical parts of gardens and parks. These include various (in shape and size) coatings made from prefabricated or “piece” elements: slabs, tiles and rolls.
Such a roll-tile covering is not continuous, like asphalt; through the gaps, water and air enter the soil, improving the microclimate of the garden or park area.
Operational and decorative properties of such industrially produced elements makes it possible to create the necessary conditions for organizing quality recreation for people and the normal functioning of gardens and parks.

The characteristics of the coatings end with a complex of three fundamental sections: plants, relief and water, but along the alleys and paths of gardens and parks our
The journey will continue, new themes and objects of landscape gardening await us.

In places such as parks, gardens, public gardens and just areas near your own houses, the installation of paths and platforms is a mandatory element of both decor and comfort. Modern landscape gardening classification provides for the presence of several classes of park paths depending on their purpose. Moreover, each class has its own device characteristics.

Today, there is a universal technology that allows for the general improvement of paths and playgrounds of any class.
Preparation for installation

First you need to decide on the size of the path or area. This will help determine exactly how much laying material will be needed. Then we level the area where the platform or path will directly be located. This can be done using an ordinary roller, but if the soil is very bad, use a bulldozer. Then we decide on the material: the cheapest and fastest option would be to choose paving slabs. And since tiles can also be different, give preference to tiles made of natural stone. Its service life for park areas is the longest, especially since such tiles are non-slip in rainy weather and on frosty days. Now prepare the base for the masonry.

The best option is sand and fine crushed stone. Nothing else is needed for the base if the soil where the site will be is normal. However, when sagging or too clay soil It is best to fill the surface on top of the base concrete screed. This will make it possible for the tiles to hold more securely in the future and not move.
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Territory marking

Proceed to the markup. To begin, draw a plan of the site on whatman paper with an accurate indication of all dimensions and a clear location of park paths and areas relative to other objects. After completion, make notes on the site according to the plan. Here a construction tape measure, rope and small pegs will come to your aid. It is advisable to stick the pegs into the ground as firmly as possible, since you will not finish the work in 1 day, and the weather may change over time and destroy all the marks. After finishing the marking, walk along the path or site several times to finally make sure that it is comfortable. If everything suits you, then proceed to the next stage - preparing the foundation. And if you are not entirely comfortable, then review the plan again and, if possible, adjust it.
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Working with a profile

Now you need to make a profile for the platform. Here is the most important point is the correct calculation of depth. The ideal profile depth should be 28 cm plus the height of the tiles. At this depth, sand, crushed stone and screed are already taken into account. This calculation will be quite sufficient if the site or path is already being built in a developed park or garden with ready-made lawns. When the lawn and flower beds are just going to be developed, the profile depth will be: 28 cm plus the height of the tiles and minus the thickness of the lawn turf.
Typically the turf thickness is approximately 15cm, so the depth of the profile will be 13cm + the height of the laying tiles. Keep in mind that when constructing a profile during the digging process there will be quite a lot of soil, which most people prefer to transport outside the site. It would be much more rational to use it for your own purposes: fill in holes, make a flowerbed or alpine slide, or use as a primer for indoor plants, if the dug soil is fertile enough. In addition, this will allow you to save on tractor services.

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Base structure

Types of laying garden paths. Different garden paths may have different bases.

When constructing the base of park paths, you must clearly decide for yourself: limit yourself to sand and gravel or make an additional concrete screed. To do this, it is better to spend a little more and hire an experienced surveyor to advise you on the best course of action. But if you have enough money and time in stock, then it is better to make an additional screed: this will ensure the longevity of the object and protect the path from possible subsidence of the soil. Laying the base layer So, let's start working with the base. The technology for working on the base is that fine-grained crushed stone is laid in an even layer on flat and dry (or slightly damp) ground. The height of the crushed stone base should be approximately 15 cm.

A layer of dry sand (10 cm) is poured on top of the crushed stone. It is very important that the sand is dry, since when wet it changes its texture somewhat and does not lie perfectly flat on the crushed stone. More the best option, when between crushed stone and sand you lay a special textile fiber. Preparing the screed The next day, when these 2 layers have settled slightly and compacted to each other, cover the surface with a thin layer of dry screed. Or how best option, knead in the form of an ordinary solution cement screed and apply it about 3 cm high on the sand. This must be done very carefully, using a level and stretched thread, since the resulting distortions will be very difficult to correct when the screed dries. Wait at least 2 days for the screed to dry.

It would seem that to build such landscape elements, like paths and playgrounds, you don’t need a lot of intelligence. Laying paths is not like building a house.

However, if you want them to serve you for more than one year, you need to take into account all the nuances in the construction of such elements.

Otherwise, all your energy and time may be wasted.

What should the paths and platforms be like?

Basic requirements for these landscape elements:

Naturalness and harmony;

Strength and durability;

Easy to care for.

Paths and platforms should look natural, i.e. match with the style of the home.

To make them strong and durable, you should great attention pay attention to the choice of paving material.

Well, the ease of maintenance is also influenced by the properties of the material.

Types and purposes

There are 3 types of tracks:

Walking;

Auxiliary;

Transport.

First, you need to decide what task each specific track will perform. Will a car drive through it, or will it be intended for walking around the garden?

The purpose depends on how the base (underlying layer) will be constructed, the type of coating, as well as the width and height.

Track and pad options

Each parameter is influenced by several factors. For example, the width of a particular track (as well as the area) will depend on what function you define for it.

Width

The walking path should comfortably accommodate two people, i.e. the width should be 1-1.5 m. This also applies to the path that leads to the house.

A path of secondary importance (auxiliary) can be 80-100 cm wide. For example, a path connecting a house and a garage, a utility room, or a house and a recreation area. And for auxiliary paths in the garden between the beds, a width of 50-60 cm is sufficient.

The width of transport and access roads, first of all, depends on the size of the transport that will pass along them. It can vary from 2 to 3.5 m.

The dimensions of transport sites also depend on the size of the transport itself and its quantity. For one car, a space of approximately 2.5 x 4.5 m is allocated.

Height

As for the height, we mean the height relative to the level of the lawn, there can be 2 options: above the level of the lawn or below. The calculation is made on the fact that the water that falls with precipitation must drain somewhere.

If you are going to arrange water flow along paths, then they must be built below the level of the lawn. At the same time, the design heights and other coverings on the site must be strictly observed to prevent blocking the drainage.

Paths above the lawn level can only be installed if the area is well drained. Since they are built with a slight transverse slope, all the water will flow onto the adjacent lawn. And so that water does not stagnate on it, the soil must be moisture-absorbing.

Slope

The entire road and path network in the garden should be designed with a slight slope to avoid the formation of puddles during precipitation or melting snow.

In this case, the slope along the path can be 2-5%, and across it - only 1-2%. In addition, the direction of the slope can be different: from the central axis to the sides or from one edge to the other.

The direction depends on many factors, for example, whether the surface on the site is flat or has a general slope. In addition, to prevent water from accumulating in any one point of the garden, the entire area must be planned with a “slope”. Thus, the slope of the paths also depends on this layout.

Types of coverage

Today modern materials make it possible to make paths and platforms not only durable, but also beautiful, and in some cases even especially decorative.

Depending on the type of material, there are 3 types of coating:

Solid;

Combined.

Curbs

Not all paths and areas require curbs. As a rule, edges of soft and combined coverings are reinforced with curbs. And for hard surfaces, strengthening the edges is not necessary.

For the border, use the same material or one that is in harmony with it in color and structure. Both low and high borders look good.

The curbs are laid in a groove located slightly below the level of the path, the bottom of which is covered with sand and then with concrete. Laying is done before paving begins.

And finally, some tips

To prevent the path from becoming overgrown with weeds, a film should be laid under the backfill or under the “trough”. Of course, weeds can get into the gaps between the slabs (with step-by-step paving). Therefore, as a preventive measure, the gaps are planted with moss, lawn grass, ground cover plants, bryozoans, or treated with Roundup.

If you are going to buy expensive covering material, then it is better to entrust the installation of paths and platforms to professionals, or at least read specialized literature. Paving technology has its own secrets, for example, how to properly create a foundation (trough) for paving. And even if you decide to do a simple path made of wooden saw cuts, you will still need a base for it.

If a good, durable material is chosen for paving and all the subtleties of technology are observed when constructing the paths, then their service life without repair will be about 15-20 years.