A high-quality garden path is a cherished dream of any summer resident. On a site where both a garden, a recreation area, a flowerbed, and a residential building are present at the same time, special requirements are imposed on this element of landscape design, because it must be attractive in appearance and practical - not to fall through and not blur when it rains, repel dirt, do not collapse under the influence of frost. In the variety of options for solving such a complex task offered by the modern building materials market, the use of drainage concrete, which will be discussed below, is quite interesting.

What is drainage concrete

The main physical property that ordinary concrete has is water resistance. This quality assumes a monolithic structure, the absence of internal voids, and high density. For such structures as the foundation of the building, it is very important that moisture does not penetrate into them, so they are assembled from concrete blocks of a large area, with a minimum number of bayonets and seams, and these problem areas, in turn, are protected with special waterproofing fillers.

However, there are situations when such a constructive solution is not very successful, and while maintaining the strength and reliability of the material, it is desirable that it provides the possibility of a through passage of water through it.

It was in search of such a substance that a special type of concrete was invented, combining seemingly incompatible properties, and having several alternative names:

• permeable;
• porous;
• drainage;
• eco-friendly (sometimes environmental).

When laying paths on a garden plot, this constructive solution gives an excellent result: rainwater seeps through the porous structure and freely goes into the ground, as a result, already after a short time after the cessation of rainfall, the surface of the track becomes completely dry and convenient for its intended use - you can walk on it without fear of wetting your feet or getting your shoes dirty.

Important! The main difference between drainage concrete and ordinary concrete is high porosity and water permeability. It is this factor that allows the use of material for the construction of paths in the country.

In addition to country paths, permeable concrete is also used in the construction of larger facilities, such as, for example:

• road surface, both asphalt and cobblestone (as a base);
• sidewalks;
• parks and squares;
• parking;
• playgrounds;
• recreation areas, etc.

Mixture composition

The main components of drainage concrete are cement, gravel and water, in addition, depending on the purpose and formulation used, various polymer modifiers (light granulate), sand and other ingredients can be added to the composition of the material.

Important! The more sand and cement in the solution, the stronger the material will be, but the lower its porosity.

In general, the formula of the mixture should look like this:

It is advisable not to deviate from the above proportions in the manufacture of the solution in order to maintain the desired properties of the finished material. It is important, in particular, that the ratio of water to cement does not exceed 1: 4, otherwise, even with a slight decrease in the proportion of liquid, the concrete path will sharply lose strength.

Crushed stone can be used in two different fractions, for example, larger, from 10 to 20 mm, and smaller, from 3 to 10 mm, in a ratio of 3: 2. The second option, which also shows its effectiveness, is a combination of crushed stone fractions from 5 to 20 mm and screenings with a fraction from 2 to 3 mm, in this case the proportion should be changed to 1: 4.

As for the sand, experts do not recommend completely abandoning its use., since a certain decrease in porosity, which this component introduces, is compensated by an increase in strength, which is also important for the country path. However, if you increase only the amount of cement, the permeability of concrete decreases not so significantly.

Preparation of the place and base of the track

Permeable concrete in the form of a semi-finished product can be purchased at any major construction hypermarket. The product is a dry mixture with verified proportions, which just before installation is sufficient to dilute with water according to the instructions.

Those who want to save money can make a solution on their own. All that is needed for this additionally is a primitive concrete mixer, which is not even necessary to purchase, it is much easier to rent it.

However, before kneading the drainage concrete, you need to carry out some preparatory work.

First step - planning and layout. Paths in the country should meet two basic requirements - functionality and pragmatism. Their main purpose is to connect the main points on the site and provide passageways to the main structures (house, gazebo, barbecue area, etc.).

Of course, the best option would be to lay this kind of path on the principle of the shortest distance, but a track that resembles a school ruler does not look very nice in a small area. Therefore, some creativity in the preparation of the plan is desirable to show and provide for at least slight bends.

Did you know? One of the most unusual types of concrete is LiTraCon (literally "light-transmitting concrete", that is, light-transmitting). Hungarian inventor Aron Lokonshi added fiber to the standard mixture of components, resulting in a material with the same technical characteristics, but with a completely new and sophisticated appearance.

Functionality assumes that the planned scheme will include all the important points that will need to be reached, and, accordingly, after the construction work, households will not need to trample or lay new routes that were not thought out in a timely manner. The optimal width of the country path depends on how many people are planned to be placed on it at the same time. 40–80 cm is enough for one person, at least 100 cm for two.

And a few more rules to consider when drawing up a plan:

1. If you want to make a winding path it is better to provide a maximum radius - this will almost not lengthen the path, but will give the site a decorative and sophistication.
2. The path should not start from nowhere and lead to nowhere.
3. When continuing the journey after reaching an intermediate point, it is important to try to maintain the general trajectory of the direction of movement.
4. It is better to avoid intersections when planning tracks, and if this does not work out, try to at least not make them at an acute angle.
5. In the planning process, you should maximize the use of the given terrain.

After making a plan and transferring it to the area, the next important stage begins - track foundation preparation. The planned segment must be cleaned of debris and dug a ditch about 30 cm deep over the entire area of ​​the laid routes. The walls of future paths are fixed with special plastic panels, and the formwork is installed at the bottom, designed to keep the solution in a given shape and not allow it to spread or soak into the ground .

The final stage of the preparatory work is laying a two-layer pillow from gravel (10–25 cm) and coarse river sand (up to 5 cm), which must first be sieved. After laying each layer, the surface must be carefully compacted and additionally compacted by watering.

In some sources, there is a tip before laying the formwork to cover the ground under a future walkway with a layer of geotextiles.

This recommendation is not without meaning, because it allows you to solve two problems at once:

• eliminate moisture accumulation in the lower layer of the track and, accordingly, protect the drainage concrete from premature destruction;
• to block the process of germination through the porous material of weeds, which are not less than moisture, reduce the service life of the finished structure.

How to make a solution with your own hands

When self-preparing porous concrete, it is important to observe not only the proportions, but also the sequence of adding components to the solution. First, sand and gravel must be combined in the concrete mixer, then cement is added to the mixture and only at the final stage is the liquid supplied. Another crucial point to keep in mind is temperature conditions.

However, too much heat can also be a problem. The solution during cooking should not be warmed to temperatures above + 30 ° Ctherefore, if the work is carried out in the summer, it is advisable to install a concrete mixer in the shade and arrange a midday siesta, transferring the bulk of the construction manipulations to the morning and evening hours.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a track

The preparation of a solution of drainage concrete and the production of a garden path from the resulting material are, in fact, a single and continuous process.

Important! A solution of permeable concrete should not be kneaded at temperatures below + 5 ° C.

After the foundation for future passages has been laid, and all the necessary materials have been prepared, the work should proceed quickly and quickly according to the following scheme:

1. Knead the required amount of solution.
2. Put the finished layer in the prepared trench in such a way as to simultaneously fill the specified volume along the entire length of the passage. The coating thickness should be approximately 10 cm. Overlapping and joints should not be allowed, since in this case the formation of irregularities or sag will inevitably lead to a loss of strength and rapid destruction of the finished structure.
3. Align the track with a roller (you can use a special roller, lawn roller or make a device yourself, for example, from a metal pipe, a used gas bottle or, in extreme cases, a plastic bottle filled with any heavy material - liquid or loose).
4. Cover the track with tarpaulin, plastic wrap or other waterproof material until it completely hardens. Leave for a few days.
5. If desired, lay paving slabs on top. The joints between the tiles can be sealed with the same porous concrete, but in its preparation to use crushed stone of the minimum fraction.

Advantages and disadvantages of drainage concrete

The use of drainage concrete for laying garden paths has a number of undeniable advantages.

• These include:
• ease of use - the absence of puddles, due to the high porosity of the material and the preservation of a given shape due to its strength;
• environmental friendliness, including in connection with a significant reduction in the load on the soil and drainage system of the site (compared to conventional concrete);
• neat and decorative appearance;
• durability - since moisture passes through the material without staying inside it, the main reason for the destruction of monolithic structures is excluded, namely, alternate freezing and melting of water in the winter, which creates microcracks in the structure and gradually widens them;
• low cost;
• ease of manufacture.

If we talk about the shortcomings of the material, then they are few. Porous concrete is not suitable for those summer residents who were not lucky enough to live in regions with an excessively changeable climate. For all its uniqueness, eco-concrete is still concrete, therefore, from frequent temperature jumps from freezing to melting, tracks will sooner or later begin to collapse, so for such conditions it is better to use the already mentioned geotextiles or other modern polymeric materials.

Did you know? In the United States, a significant part of the roads is made not of asphalt, but of special concrete, which makes this design much more durable and, in addition, less destructive for cars moving on it.

There are many ways to make the country path easy and even “removable”, that is, provide for the possibility, if necessary, to change the location and direction of the route. If concrete is selected as the material (it doesn’t matter, ordinary or porous), you need to think over the plan in advance and very carefully, since it will be difficult to break this kind of structure.

Finally, the appearance of a concrete walkway may seem too gloomy for someone (compared, for example, with an elegant path laid out of cuts of large trees), and using it as a top layer of paving slabs is expensive, time consuming and expensive. However, such a flaw should still be attributed to the subjective, because for every taste, as you know, it is impossible to please.

Did you know? Many consider concrete the achievement of modern technological progress, but in reality this invention is rooted in hoary antiquity. So, it was a mixture of sand, gravel, cement and water that was used by the Egyptians in the construction of the famous pyramids, which ensured the perfect shape and amazing durability of the buildings.

Garden paths made of waterproof concrete can be an excellent solution to the problem for many gardeners. Of course, it is rather difficult to do this task with your own hands, especially, alone, because the technological process will require high accuracy and great physical effort. But the finished result will solve for a long time the problem of spanking in puddles and getting stuck in the mud, into which any garden or flowerbed invariably turns after heavy rain.