A gravel walkway is a great addition to any yard as it provides a place for people to move about and not damage any flower beds. A gravel walkway is also an excellent choice because it's relatively cheap and easy to install, as opposed to a walkway made of cobbles or bluestone. Gravel paths are easy to install because they aren't set very deep - really only a few inches down. What a great way to transform the look of your yard without having to hire a general contractor.
Another great thing about gravel walkways is that the tiny stones it is made up of, move fluidly. Unlike concrete which can crack during winter freezes and changes beneath the ground, gravel will always be so easy to maintain and keep looking great. Also, a gravel pathway can literally take on many different shapes easily. You can make it twist and turn without having to worry about cutting any stones.
However, the gravel path does need a compact base to give it stability. If you live in an area with hard clay, then the compact base can be the soil itself. But in most other areas, especially where soil is sandy, you will need to create a base of tamped-down stone pack - a mix of 3/4 inch stones and stone dust. Then, you should install a lining of landscape fabric over the stone pack, to keep weeds from growing up through the path.
Since gravel moves so easily, it does need an edge to contain it. One great option is galvanized steel as it is durable and malleable. Other options that work just as well are pressure-treated wood, cedar, bricks, cobblestones and plastic edging.
So there you have it. Quick and easy to install, holds up against deterioration, always a traditional and classy choice. A gravel walkway.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
How To Fix A Sagging Fence
How many of you have come across this problem or currently are facing it? Your fence is sagging and dragging in the dirt and not standing up right anymore. Need some instructions on how to fix it on your own so you don't have to call a repairman?
For a gate to stay sound and in place, it needs to have strong posts to hang from and latch to. If these posts become loose in their holes or become weakened by rot and insects, hinges will start to creak, latches won't catch anymore and the gate itself will no longer be able to do it's job.
If the post is just wobbly, you can secure it by packing crushed stone around its base with a sledgehammer. However, if the post is rotten, you will need to remove and replace it.
First things first, remove the gate and set it aside. You will then detach the fence section from the hinge post and dig around it to break it free. It may be set in concrete so you will need to break the concrete into pieces in order to retrieve the post.
Next, set the new hinge post. You may first need to fill in or dig out the hinge-post hole until it's 3 feet deep. Line up the fence with the post to ensure the post is in the correct position to match.
Using a level, ensure that the hinge post is correctly vertical. Attach the fence rails to the hinge post with galvanized deck screws.
Now, put in a nail on the far side of the nearest fence post and tiel a mason's line to it. Pull the line around the post's corner and several feet past the latch post. Attach it to a stake so that the line touches the latch post. Move the hinge post over until it touches the line and make it snug.
Next, secure the hinge pot with 2 2x4s. Screw the studs' upper ends into opposite sides of the posts 3 feet above grade. Mix up two bags of concrete and fill around the post until the concrete is 3 to 4 inches below grade. Let it set overnight.
Now, if the latch post rotted, follow the above steps just without adding concrete. Set the post in a 3 foot deep hole on 2 inches of tamped gravel. Ensure that the top is even with the hinge post's, then fill the hole with firmly compacted gravel and soil.
Time to reattach the gate. Make sure its top rail is level and that it clears the ground by 2 to 5 inches. Close the gate and attach the latch where its bolt hits the latch post.
And voila, you now have a fence that doesn't sage!
For a gate to stay sound and in place, it needs to have strong posts to hang from and latch to. If these posts become loose in their holes or become weakened by rot and insects, hinges will start to creak, latches won't catch anymore and the gate itself will no longer be able to do it's job.
If the post is just wobbly, you can secure it by packing crushed stone around its base with a sledgehammer. However, if the post is rotten, you will need to remove and replace it.
First things first, remove the gate and set it aside. You will then detach the fence section from the hinge post and dig around it to break it free. It may be set in concrete so you will need to break the concrete into pieces in order to retrieve the post.
Next, set the new hinge post. You may first need to fill in or dig out the hinge-post hole until it's 3 feet deep. Line up the fence with the post to ensure the post is in the correct position to match.
Using a level, ensure that the hinge post is correctly vertical. Attach the fence rails to the hinge post with galvanized deck screws.
Now, put in a nail on the far side of the nearest fence post and tiel a mason's line to it. Pull the line around the post's corner and several feet past the latch post. Attach it to a stake so that the line touches the latch post. Move the hinge post over until it touches the line and make it snug.
Next, secure the hinge pot with 2 2x4s. Screw the studs' upper ends into opposite sides of the posts 3 feet above grade. Mix up two bags of concrete and fill around the post until the concrete is 3 to 4 inches below grade. Let it set overnight.
Now, if the latch post rotted, follow the above steps just without adding concrete. Set the post in a 3 foot deep hole on 2 inches of tamped gravel. Ensure that the top is even with the hinge post's, then fill the hole with firmly compacted gravel and soil.
Time to reattach the gate. Make sure its top rail is level and that it clears the ground by 2 to 5 inches. Close the gate and attach the latch where its bolt hits the latch post.
And voila, you now have a fence that doesn't sage!
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