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