How to make crushed stone paths in the country with your own hands, the choice of material and technology
Stone paths to a summer cottage are irreplaceable, as it is much easier to walk along them and move inventory, as well as vehicles. You can commission the construction of a path from professionals, or you can build a path yourself. When creating, you can use a decorative stone, thereby turning the path into a work of art. Let's see how to build a crushed stone path in the country with our own hands.
Varieties of stone for paths
A path in a summer cottage can be built from stones of different races and fractions. Depending on the race and fraction, the stones differ from each other in appearance and hardness. Consider popular and suitable breed varieties that are suitable for our purpose.
Gravel
The gravel paths are pleasing to the eye and convenient to navigate. Gravel is considered one of the best options for building a path.Gravel fractions differ in size and color, thanks to which, by combining fractions of different sizes and colors, it is possible to create a decorative work of art that will delight the eye and complement the image of a flower garden during the hot season.
It is customary to divide gravel into several varieties with certain features of appearance and structure.
Pebble
Pebbles or as people often call them pebbles are small rounded pebbles. The pebble acquires a smooth round shape due to long-term exposure to the surface of river or sea water. The surface of the pebble path should be thin, no more than five centimeters thick, because the smooth shape of the stone does not allow the pebbles to adhere tightly to each other and stay in one place, causing the pebbles to slide in different directions, and the shoes will fall to the surface...Therefore, it becomes difficult to move along the path and carry garden equipment.
Mountain
Mountain gravel - gravel with a rough surface due to the effect of natural conditions on it - wind, rain, temperature changes. This type of stone contains a large amount of impurities in the form of clay and dust. Due to its shape and impurities, mountain gravel, unlike pebble, is well compacted. Therefore, the surface collected from gravel reliably retains its shape. This type is actively used for the construction of country paths.
Ozerny
Lake gravel is a type of natural gravel mined from the bottom of lakes. Just like pebbles, under the effect of water it has a very smooth surface.The surfaces are weakly connected to each other, and the stones quickly disperse under pressure, so such a stone is not the most convenient for walking. However, this is compensated by an appearance that can decorate any summer garden.
Therefore, this variety is usually used for decorative purposes. A path made of lake, river or sea gravel will pleasantly complement the image of a flower garden.
Crushed stone or crushed stone
Crushed stone or, as it is called in the common people, crushed stone is a free-flowing inorganic stone material of a fine fraction, from pieces of more than five millimeters. Created by grinding gravel, boulders, and various rocks into debris. Unlike solid gravel, this material conforms better and holds its shape more firmly without collapsing under pressure.
Granite crushed stone does not split under load, withstands fluctuations in humidity and temperature. The material is suitable for the construction of a solid walkway. The only downside is that the faction's sharp surfaces can cause injury if they fall in the way. It is also difficult to walk on this material in thin-soled summer shoes, and even more barefoot - you can easily injure your feet in sharp corners.
Slate
Natural slate has a structure of several layers, which are divided into plates. The material is marketed in the form of tiles of various sizes and thicknesses. It is convenient to work these plates by hand. By choosing tiles of the right thickness, you will create a smooth, flat surface that is comfortable to walk on and will reliably withstand any pressure. However, among slate there are very porous materials that are not strong enough to be used as a walking surface.
As a material for building a path, quartzite slate containing mica is suitable. It is much stronger, however, due to the complexity of the treatment process, it will cost more.
Granite Screening
Granite sifting is an artificial material that is obtained during the extraction of natural rocks by crumbling. The fractions are lower than that of crushed stone. It is better to use a fraction of less than five millimeters to build a walkway. Such material will be convenient for walking along the track in summer shoes.
The material does not absorb liquids, it is resistant to low temperatures in winter. It is durable and does not deteriorate over the years. Granite screenings are sold in different color variations, depending on the rock deposit. The most affordable color is gray. There are gravels of red, blue, green and other colors, the use of which will help make your path decorative.
Cobblestone
Natural paving combines strength, durability and affordability. Pavers are sold in different shapes and sizes, so you can create the surface design that suits your summer cottage. Paving a path with cobblestones is now popular in landscaping because the process itself is relatively simple and the path is durable and aesthetically pleasing. You can also decorate flower beds with cobblestones, build decorative walls, thereby decorating the site in a unique style, where all the elements will combine and together create an integral landscape.
Plastushka
Plastushka is a popular and inexpensive material for building a path in a summer cottage. It is one of the most readily available materials used in landscaping.Represents plates of various shapes, sizes and thicknesses. The material is durable and easy to use.
It is a symbol of well-being and success in life, as well as a symbol of good taste. The stone is sold in several colors: from grey-green to white.
Comparative analysis of gravel and crushed stone paths for the garden
A crushed stone surface will be more durable, walkable and moisture resistant than a gravel track. This material withstands the load better, withstands temperature fluctuations, and the stones stay firmly in place thanks to the angular surface, so they will not scatter to the side under pressure.
The only drawback of crushed stone as a material for building a stone path is that due to the angular and sharp shape of the stones, it is inconvenient to walk along such a path in shoes. summer, and even more barefoot. Falling on rubble can cause injury.
Gravel is affordable, easier to walk on and less traumatic. Its disadvantage, compared to crushed stone, is subsidence due to heavy loads, since, due to the smooth surface, the stones do not hold firmly in place relative to each other and easily diverge.
Technology and stages of laying stone paths
Let's directly consider the technology of laying a stone surface.
With pillow
To lay a stone path on a sand pillow, we need to make a trench, calculating the depth so that the stones themselves and the sealant fit into it. Formwork so that the trench does not crumble on the sides. Moisten and level the trench, then tamp.
Then fill the trench sand with an even layer and put a stone on it.Place the stones carefully so that they fit snugly inside each other with minimal space between them. Fill in the gaps with smaller pebbles.
We tap each stone by hammering it into the sand so that the path matches exactly.
Instead of sand, concrete can be used as a pillow. It's expensive, but the design is very sturdy and reliable. We dig a trench and pour concrete with a layer about thirty centimeters thick. Stones on concrete are fixed with a special glue.
Mass
The fill path can be made of gravel, crushed stone or fine shale. We mark the contours and dig a trench twenty to thirty centimeters deep. We install large stone or brick curbs. We proceed to fill the trench.
Pour the larger fraction of the stone as the bottom layer, mix it with clay or sand and tamp it. Then we fill the top layer with crushed stone, shale or fine pebbles. Various materials can be combined to achieve a balance between the strength of gravel and the aesthetic beauty of gravel. We pat carefully, leveling the surface of the path.
Rules of maintenance and operation
The advantage of stone paths is that they are low maintenance. They are easy to clean, even in winter, and are durable enough not to be damaged by hard tools. Slate and limestone paths must be treated with special agents that repel moisture, since under its influence the material will be destroyed.
It is necessary to protect surfaces made of bulk materials from moisture. In order to make the filling surface solid, use a special glue for stone.Sprouting weeds should be removed from the path, but moss can be left, as it is harmless to the structure of the stone, while it is able to give the path even more decoration.