DIY instructions for creating a garden path from tires
Each owner of a private house or summer cottage seeks to turn even the smallest plot into a cozy and comfortable corner. Financial constraints are no reason to give up creating dreams. You can add a special touch, change the site, create unusual elements of garden design without much expense. Making a garden path from tires with your own hands does not require expensive skills and materials, and the result will certainly please.
Advantages and disadvantages of using tires
A path made of old, worn tires has many advantages. Main advantages:
- Simplicity of pose and installation. No special skills are required to build a path - even a beginner can handle the processes.
- Sustainability. The country house rubber path will serve for many years - the material hardly wears out and looks decorative without repair.
- Low price. You do not have to spend money on the track - each owner will have equipment in the garage or shed.
- Minimal care.The rubber path is easy to clean - just pour the surface with a strong jet of water from a hose or remove dirt with a broom.
- Wear resistance. The rubber caterpillar is not afraid of severe frosts, heat, direct sunlight - the material does not deform under the influence of temperature.
Another advantage should be noted - the rubber is protected against slipping. In rainy or icy weather, you no longer need to fear falls or injuries, the track will protect you from all surprises. The tire trajectory also has a number of disadvantages. The main downside is that you will need a large amount of material. In terms of decoration, the tire track is significantly inferior to stone or cement surfaces. The ductility of rubber is also considered a disadvantage - you will have to spend a lot of time straightening it.
Another disadvantage is that rubber, under the influence of sunlight, begins to emit harmful substances into the air. It is recommended to arrange paths away from playgrounds or playgrounds.
How can you lay down
It is recommended to lay the rubber strips horizontally, in a herringbone pattern, or form a long strip of plates. If there are a lot of tires, it is not necessary to dissolve the tires for the track - the tires are fully laid, sinking into the ground. This method is good for sloping areas. The tires will serve as both a walkway and a staircase. Each of the methods has features and tricks.
horizontally
A horizontal track is the easiest way to mount a rubber track. Belts, prepared from tires, are laid horizontally, with minimal gaps.If the track rests on concrete and there is a limited amount of material, it is recommended to make wide spaces between the rubber bands. Filling the gaps with pebbles and shiny pebbles will add decoration to the path.
Herringbone
A more difficult option for installing a track from unnecessary tires is to arrange the stripes in a herringbone pattern. For the path, thin or medium tires are used - thick rubber bands are difficult to shape.
rubber plates
Old tires are often cut into tiles of different shapes and sizes. The installation resembles the installation of pavers. Here there is an opportunity to apply imagination - it is easy to create different patterns, weaves. Rectangular or square cut tiles are attached to the base. For the manufacture of the base, it is recommended to use polyurethane glue and acetone. When laying tiles, it is important to observe proportionality, otherwise the track will look sloppy.
To decorate a tiled surface, it is worth using colored pebbles. Painting the sidewalk in a color that matches the pebbles will dramatically improve the look of the path.
Do-it-yourself installation work
Installation of the track is simple - it is enough to prepare the necessary tools and materials in advance and understand the laying technology. It is worth marking the path in advance, to roughly calculate the area. It is important to take into account the peculiarities of the suburban area - the rubber caterpillar will help to hide some flaws. If necessary - level the relief - remove elevations, fill deep holes.
Preparation of materials and tools
To make a rubber path, you will need: a sharp knife (the jigsaw will simplify the work), a hammer, a tape measure and an axe. For fastening, purchase nails (from 7 cm long), wooden slats. If the terrain is rough, you will need a shovel.
Of the materials for the manufacture of a rubber path, gravel and sand are needed. Some site owners use a stone backing, especially if the track is installed on clay, sandy soils that are prone to creep or erosion.
For the path itself, rubber tires are used. Craftsmen warn - more attractive tracks are obtained from imported tires. Rubber is easy to cut and level. For cutting household tires, it is better to use a jigsaw, otherwise making the track will become exhausting work. To keep the track smooth and clean, it is recommended to use tires with the same wear. Otherwise, you will have to experiment with the support - increase or deepen the rubber bands.
Ribbon formation
The most difficult step is the preparation of the rubber bands:
- Using a knife (permanently apply lubricant to the blade), separate the tire rim from the protector, to facilitate the work follow the circle.
- Cut the tread (if the rubber is too thick, use an axe).
- Fix the tape with nails on strips of wood (first apply a layer of molten resin), let level.
Fold the finished rubber bands into neat piles, avoiding repeated deformation. If an unusual path is planned, immediately weave the prepared rubber bands, and also reinforce the material with nails and wooden slats.The width and length of the rectangles are arbitrary - depending on the intended shape of the track.
How to create a solid foundation
The first stage of the work is the preparation of the trench. Depending on the width of the path, the depth of the ditch is 30-50 cm. It is recommended to carefully tamp the bottom. Apply a layer of gravel or small pebbles, re-tamp, compact the substrate. If possible, fill the substrate with a concrete solution, which will significantly extend the life of the track. For dense soils, pouring with concrete is not necessary.
Aligning and Securing Ribbons
Before laying rubber sheets, consider what elements will be used to decorate the track (lanterns, curbs, drainage systems). In areas flooded with water, it is recommended to immediately install a drain.
If the paths are laid with a width of 3-5 strips, leave gaps 1-2 cm wide. Water will go into the gaps, and the grass that has passed through the substrate layer will become a reliable fixer for the " bricks" rubber . The strips are fixed with cement mortar (if the trench is filled with concrete). If no backing is used, the rubber bands are applied directly to the prepared surface. It is easy to move such a track to another location, correct defects or replace tapes.
make borders
Edges are used to securely fasten rubber flooring. It is recommended to decorate the edges of the path in the following ways:
- deepen entirely along the edges of the tire (in a vertical position), leaving low edges above the ground;
- grind the rubber bands remaining after laying the track and lay out the curbs, fixing with nails, concrete mortar, metal staples;
- cut the tire in half, dig the resulting arcs along the edges, deepen it into the ground or pour it with concrete.
It is also recommended to decorate the edges of the path with the remaining rubber bands. Simultaneously with fixing the main web, the ribbons will serve as a reliable support. Borders will become a fence for a flower garden. Flowering or ornamental plants planted along the path will add sophistication and partially distract from the flaws of the rubber, especially if old tires have been used.
It is recommended to use it to decorate the edges of truck tires, which differ in relief pattern and rubber thickness.
Examples of ready-made solutions
In the absence of imagination or basic skills, it is recommended to use ready-made schemes for the manufacture of rubber tracks. The easiest option is to cut the cut tires, stretch them with wooden slats and nails and lay them in a previously prepared place.
This path seems unpresentable, but it will serve reliably for many years. Decorating the path will help with the application of paint intended for the rubber. The advantage of using a special coating is that the paint will create a protective layer against ultraviolet rays and make the surface smooth.
Another, more difficult option is to prepare large identical squares. Apply paint to a third of the rubber "tiles", leave the rest black. Lay out the middle of the path with black squares, lay colored squares around the edges. The laying must be done in a checkerboard pattern. Secure the edges with cement edging. This path will serve as an excellent entrance to the garage.
A rubber track from old tires is an effective and simple option for changing the garden, recreation area, adding piquancy and individuality to the summer cottage. With a little time and effort, patience, and using cheap and affordable materials, it's easy to create a comfortable, versatile path that's sure to be a decoration.