Table of Contents
Ultimate Guide: Walks, Patios & Walls
Table of Contents
Introduction
WALKS
Designing Your Site
Making a Site Plan
Walk Designs
Hard Walks
Soft Walks
Wood Walks
Edging
Edging Materials
Grading and Drainage
Drainage
Changes in Walk Level
Soft Walks
Layout and Preparation
Stone
Types of Stone Aggregate
Wood
Loose Aggregate
Lumber Walks
Treated Lumber
Untreated Lumber
Boardwalks
Building a Boardwalk
Dry-Laid Walks
Tools You Will Need
Material Selections
Brick
Brick Patterns
Adobe Blocks
Stone
Installation Tips
Interlocking Pavers
Concrete Patio Blocks
Setting Stone Directly on the Ground
Possible Materials
Laying Stone in the Ground
Walks on a Gravel-and-Sand Base
Plotting and Excavating the Subbase
Laying Paving Units in Sand
Spread Sand
Set Pavers
Fill the Joints
Filling Wide Joints
Hard Mortar- Bed Walks
Anatomy of a Mortar Walk
Site Conditions
Mortar Mixes
Tools for Working with Mortar
Preparing Paving Materials
Preparing for the Concrete Base
Install the Forms
Pouring the Concrete Bed
Pouring the Concrete
Begin the Pour
Screed the Surface
Finishing the Concrete Surface
Rough-Float the Surface
Curing Concrete
Setting the Walk
Set Forms
The Mortar Bed
Setting the Walk
Fill the Joints
Ceramic and Stone Tile
Suitable Types of Tile
Setting Tiles in Mortar
Prepare the Surface
Lay the Tiles
BUILDING
Steps
Step Design
Finding the Run and Rise
Wood Steps
Steps on Grade
Building the Steps
Landscape Steps
Concrete Steps
Determine Run and Rise
Excavate the Site
BRICK STEPS
Building Brick Steps
PATIOS
Creating a Comfortable Climate for Your Patio
Making a Site Cooler or Warmer
Soft-Set Patios
Types of Patios
Installing Patio Pavers
Mortar-Bed Patios
Concrete Patios.
Making a Concrete Patio
Patios on Concrete Slabs
Flagstone and Brick Patios
Tiling a Patio
WALLS
Dry-Laid Stone Walls
Tools
Types of Stone
Selecting Stones
Estimating Amounts
Wall Building Basics
Building Requirements
Constructing the Wall
The First Course
The Second Course
Cap the Wall
Footings for Walls
General Requirements
Footing Size and Depth
Footing Forms
Buying Concrete
Dry Mixes
Wet Mixes
Estimating Amounts
Mixing Concrete
Mixing by Hand
Using a Power Mixer
Building Footings
Building Forms
Pouring Concrete
Mortared Stone Walls
General Requirements for Stone Walls
Constructing the Wall
Concrete Block Walls
Types of Block
Shapes and Sizes
Estimating Amounts
Basic Requirements
Building a Block Wall
Set the First Block
Stucco Finishes
Applying Stucco
Brick Walls
Types of Bricks
Brick Sizes
Types of Walls
Anatomy of a Brick Wall
Estimating Amounts
Basic Requirements
Footings
Reinforcement
Mortar
Building a Single-Wythe Wall
Wall Layout
Building a Double-Wythe Wall
Wall Layout
Retaining Walls
Basic Requirements
Excavation
Drainage
Footings and Reinforcement
Landscape-Tie Retaining Walls
Building a Landscape-Tie Wall
Interlocking Concrete-Block Walls
Dry-Laid Stone Retaining Walls
Building a Dry-Laid Retaining Wall
Appendix I
PLANNING AND DESIGN
Basic Landscape Design
What do You Expect From Your Yard?
Working with Your Surroundings
Formal Versus Informal
Basic Site Design
Design Techniques
Dividing Your Design Into Specific Parts
Organizing Your Site Design
Appendix II
PLANNING YOUR SITE
Types of Soil
Dealing with Drainage
Drainage Systems
Grading Your Site
Resource Guide
Glossary
Index