Concrete sidewalk is one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to transform a summer cottage or a country house. Now is the most suitable season for this material as it dries quickly. The Novate.ru editors offer several original ways of laying tracks using available materials and technologies that even beginners can handle. Among them: manual work, the use of stencils and textured rollers, stamps and forms.
1. The optimal composition for creating a sidewalk path
First of all, when creating a sidewalk, you need to take care of the suitable quality of concrete. For this, it is recommended to use the following components and proportions: 54 kg of crushed stone, 22 kg of cement, 19 kg of sand, 9 liters of water and 100 grams of plasticizer. The last ingredient can be replaced with regular dish detergent. If desired, a pigment is added to the concrete composition so that the track is not gray, but a more original and beautiful color. The plasticizer helps to create a clear and high-quality print of the pattern.
Method number 1. Stamping masonry
First, the necessary space for the path or platform is poured with concrete. When the surface is dry, it usually takes 2-3 hours and needs to be covered with cement powder. After that, a stamp is applied on top, which is subsequently pressed tightly with a suitable tool: for example, a wide wooden board with a handle. You can make it yourself. The masonry is stamped with a stamp, section by section. After the concrete is completely dry, it must be rinsed with water and then allowed to dry again. Repeat the operation several times. Then comes the topcoat in the form of urethane varnish or a special varnish for concrete. They are applied with a roller.
Method number 2. garden path
First, the necessary space is cleared for pouring concrete. To do this, you need to dig up the ground a little, after which this place is covered with plastic wrap. After that, a stamp is placed on top of the polyethylene, pre-lubricated with petroleum jelly or other viscous substance. Subsequently, the form is filled with concrete. Stamps come in different shapes and sizes, you can buy them or make your own if you want. The mold should be removed 5-10 minutes after pouring and then proceed to the next area. After the completion of the work, the seams are filled with sand, gravel or small decorative stones. The final stage is rinsing the track with water.
Useful advice: For decorative concrete, two main forms of stamps are most often used: flexible silicone (polyurethane) or plastic. The first ones are distinguished by a variety of patterns and textures, as well as ease of use. And the latter have increased rigidity and provide the pavement with a sharper geometric shape. Silicone soft dies require more effort and workmanship. But with proper operation, they serve for a longer time, and do not require preliminary preparation before work. Polyurethane dies with a hardness higher than 80 units are considered optimal for use. Shore.
Method number 3. Stamping masonry by hammering
This method is carried out by combining the first and second technology. First, the concrete is completely poured over the required area. And then the stamp, as for pouring in the second version, is placed on slightly dried concrete and tapped on top with a heavy hammer to get an impression. Alternatively, you can do the entire pattern by hand using a sharp object such as a spatula or hoe.
Method number 4. Work with a textured roller
A very beautiful sidewalk path is obtained using a textured roller. And this method is also distinguished by excellent accuracy of the drawing and the speed of its implementation. First, concrete is poured onto the prepared surface, after which it is given a short rest period to dry, and then it is applied with a roller. To make the drawing clear, the roller is pre-lubricated with a special agent.
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Method number 5. Wood texture
A special kind of creating a sidewalk path can be distinguished by a wooden texture. It is done with a silicone stamp. The sequence of work is the same as in method # 1. The texture of the tree looks very unusual, and after painting the similarity is quite significant.
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Method number 6. Hand laying
For this option of masonry, you will need a thick layer of concrete, therefore, for a start, a metal frame is laid on the prepared surface and the film. After that, the area is filled with calibrated concrete. While the building material is still not completely dry, a concrete pigment is added to make its texture more heterogeneous and beautiful. Smoothing with a spatula helps to maintain this effect. After that, a stone impression is made with a metal rod using a gentle pressure.
And these I would like to see 15 chips from developed cities on my street.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/230620/55018/