The bridge in the garden is a design characterized by attractive design and functionality. With its help, you can decorate the landscape of any site, for example, garden or country. To achieve the most picturesque design, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the principle of creation, possible materials and the placement of such bridges.

Destination in landscape design

For most people, a bridge is associated with a river. It is believed that it is needed only to connect the two coasts. But it is not always the case. The product can act as a transition for artificial reservoirs and even just for beauty. However, the most beautiful design will look right next to the water.

Sometimes bridges are specially set up so as to admire beautiful small waterfalls, ponds, alpine slides or flower beds, relaxing your soul from everyday fuss.

With the help of designs, you can change the perception of the surrounding area, to achieve a picturesque landscape. Products are often used to focus on the merits of the site, for example, to build a clear spatial structure of the site or visually increase it.

If the decision that the bridge to be on the site has already been made, you need to decide where exactly to install the structure. In the presence of a reservoir, the product is put through it. An alternative is to place the structure in places that imply or require step over or bypass. The last possible option is places requiring emphasis on the general landscape background.

Important! Forged or any other bridge across the reservoir is installed in the place where the channel has the smallest width. This allows you to achieve a durable and compact composition.

For example: the bridge will look organically through the “dry” arteries, especially if there is a relief in the picturesque areas. No less interesting, you can beat the design by installing it over the flower beds. In general, it is important to ensure that the overall picture is organic. If you want to achieve a complete and rather original recreation area, you can place the bridge so that it leads to the gazebo.

Features and material selection

Today, many different types of garden bridges are known, but the most popular classification of two categories: functional and decorative structures. The first option is a structure connecting 2 banks of the reservoir. And decorative ones can be placed anywhere, binding to a place or object is not required, and everything is determined by the desire of the owner.

The main distinguishing feature of decorative designs is a smaller (compared to functional) size. They play the role of decoration, and usually you can’t walk on them. However, in terms of their ability to improve the design of the territory, decorative designs are not inferior to functional ones.

Important! If you plan to make the bridge not only attractive in appearance, but also functional, then you need to pay attention to operational characteristics. The safety of people who will walk on the structure directly depends on this.

The variety of bridge designs is amazing. Designs can be low and high, have a railing or be without them. The configuration can be straight, arched, arched, zigzag, in the form of flooring, suspended or some other.

The main thing when choosing is to take into account the style of the site so that everything looks harmonious. Attention is always attracted by the shape of the bridge, therefore, if you plan to do it yourself, you need to rationally evaluate your strength and figure out what you can really do with your own hands.

Wooden bridges

Wood is the simplest material for erecting a structure with your own hands. It is multifaceted and easy to process, so creating a real miracle will not be difficult.

• The main advantages are as follows:
• ease of processing;
• ease of construction;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability;
• aesthetics.

At the same time, a bridge made of wood does not need casting of “bulls”. Strong enough stones at the entrance and exit at a distance of 1 m or more from the stream. It is also advisable to support the railing so that you do not accidentally fall with them. It is very simple: the logs on which they will be supported need to be made longer by an average of 30–40 cm and a small depression should be cut out for emphasis.

Important! The flooring must be made of boards with a thickness of 30 mm or more, with a gap of 3 mm (for water drainage after rain), or sheet pile on glue. This is especially important for horizontally laid boards.

It’s best to use hardwood to create a bridge.for example, oak, pine, cedar or ash. They are strong and durable. Another plus is the ability to stack logs horizontally and convexly. You can decorate the bridge with solar-powered lights. In the daytime they will be charged, and in the dark they will beautifully illuminate the adjacent territory.

• There are also disadvantages:
• less resistance to moisture in comparison with other materials, for example, stone or concrete;
• color loss over time.

But the cons are negligible. You can safely choose a tree for making a bridge with your own hands.

Metal

Metal is considered one of the most advanced materials used in the construction of building structures. They have been using it since ancient times, including for creating bridges.

• The main advantages of such material are:
• the possibility of high-speed installation, if the elements are ready;
• no need for monopolization;
• low price;
• ease of construction (especially compared to stone and concrete);
• high specific strength.

• Cons of metal bridges:
• high sensitivity to dynamic effects;
• low resistance to weathering, the result is the likelihood of corrosion;
• hypersensitivity to increasing weight of the temporary load.

Metal allows you to create a bridge of absolutely any configuration and size. It is enough to make strong supports, for example, of concrete, and the design can easily withstand any load. With proper care (in particular, corrosion treatment), the product will last for many years.

Important! Manage yourself will succeed in the presence of a pipe bending machine and a welding machine. In addition, you can use pipes made of rolled steel and decorative elements, purchased in finished form.

Concrete

Concrete bridges are made mostly monolithic. In addition, block, also in demand, is allocated as a subspecies. Most often, the base is cast with the addition of metal reinforcement between the two “banks”. In this case, the holes to insert openwork handrails remain. Bridges can withstand any weight, even small garden equipment, so you can walk safely.

• Pluses of model:
• high resistance to mold, fungus and dampness;
• the possibility of obtaining a homogeneous design due to high-quality fillers;
• reasonable price of material;
• excellent soundproofing parameters;
• excellent resistance to any climatic changes;
• durability (on average 50 years or more);
• resistance to decay;
• increased moisture resistance (largely due to the presence of water-repellent and sealing elements);
• excellent durability.

In general, the construction of concrete bridges is not very popular due to the considerable complexity of the work. More often they build metal or wood.

• Minuses:
• the complexity of the construction (although the work is less time-consuming in comparison with stone structures);
• susceptibility to shrinkage, which often leads to cracks in the masonry;
• high mass;
• low resistance to acids and alkalis;
• at constant load, the effect of "creep" is observed.

Stone

Stone is one of the most durable, if not just eternal, materials. It fits perfectly into the garden area, decorated in a European style. For a more attractive frame, it’s worthwhile to place several blocks of stone of impressive size. They can be natural or made artificially from sand and cement. You will get a bright combination.

• The main advantages of stone bridges:
• low operating costs;
• durability;
• aesthetics;
• the possibility of erection of local stone;
• ballasting;
• ability to withstand large compression (therefore, they are mainly built in the form of an arch for compression work);
• low sensitivity to increasing weight of the temporary load.

• The minuses include:
• low resistance to bending;
• sensitivity to precipitation of supports;
• significant laboriousness of work;
• high construction cost due to the complexity of stone processing;
• low tensile strength.

With your own hands to build a bridge from stone is possible, but more difficult than from other materials. The main problem is the processing of stone to create blanks. In addition, it is necessary to create the formwork of the required shape.

Did you know? Hamburg in Germany is considered the record city for the number of bridges. Here there are more than 2300 pieces, which in total exceeds the number of structures in Amsterdam, Venice and London combined.

Block constructions

Block bridges are considered fairly simple structures. Span structures - beams. They are also used to cover the distance between the supports. Beams can be with a through or with a solid section. Supports also work on bending, since they perceive exclusively vertical loads from span elements. Such a bridge looks interesting and extraordinary.

• The main advantages:
• no shrinkage of concrete (unlike monolithic structures);
• construction terms are small;
• high strength;
• appearance appeal;
• resistance to dampness, decay, moisture, insects;
• excellent thermal insulation characteristics;
• resistance to compression;
• great for creating structures with a small number of spans.

• Cons are also available:
• rather high price (the reason is the need to use steel);
• the difficulty of self-implementation.

Designs can be split (each span has a beam overlap) or continuous (there is a general overlap of beams) temperature continuous (horizontal load is perceived as in continuous view, and vertical - as in split type) and cantilever (console and suspension supports are used in the creation). Each species is interesting in its own way. The most popular split and continuous models.

Important! Only a professional bricklayer will cope with such work. It will require the use of cement blocks and bricks, and the design will be monumental and spectacular.

How to build a bridge with your own hands

After the desired material is selected, the shape and style are selected, you can begin to manufacture the bridge. To do this, you must act in accordance with a simple algorithm. First, a drawing is made, the required tools and materials are selected. Next, the installation of the bridge itself is carried out.

Bridge drawing

Any design work necessarily begins with the creation of a product drawing. The best option is to develop a full-fledged project, especially for heavy options (stone, concrete and especially block). The easiest way to build wooden structures, largely due to the fact that they do not need to make a separate foundation.

Drawing up a drawing is not the most difficult job, and you can easily cope on your own. It is also permissible to hire an assistant or find a ready-made option on the Internet. If you trust the master, then he can reflect the drawing in the 3D-program. Or you can draw everything on paper yourself. Keep in mind that the bridge must be reflected in two planes to be able to affix dimensions.

At the stage of creating the drawing, it is worth considering the presence / absence of fences for the bridge. If this is a functional design, then a railing is still necessary. This will increase security. The shape of the bridge can be any, but the humpback product is the easiest to erect. The lightest construction: skewers and sturdy flooring. More complex products require the addition of handrails, balusters.

The right tools

With the independent construction of the bridge, regardless of its material and shape, you will definitely need a set of certain tools, both manual and electric.

Among the important ones:

1. Cutting tool. It can be an electric jigsaw, a circular saw, a sawing machine, a hacksaw for wood. Additionally, you should worry about the availability of a thicknesser.
2. Electric drill and drill for it or a screwdriver. Needed to create holes for fasteners.
3. Grinding equipment and planers. Necessary for grinding and wood processing. You can choose a hand tool, but it will take more time and effort of the master.
4. Marking tool. This is a pencil, ruler and square.
5. A hammer and a screwdriver will be useful for installing fasteners. Additional products - nozzles for heads and bits.

This is the standard kit for creating a bridge of wood - the easiest option for home construction. If you plan to erect a structure made of other materials, the list of required tools can be expanded.

Video: gathering a garden bridge

Step by step instructions

Depending on the material, the construction of the bridge may vary. General algorithm: foundation creation, flooring development, installation of railings and decorative elements. To make the design beautiful and reliable, you need to follow step-by-step instructions.

Creating a bridge of wood begins with the preparation of the required material. Thick boards or a powerful beam will be needed for kosour. Moreover, the cross section of the boards should be more than 50 × 200 mm.

Did you know? There are bridges for crossing both land and water transport. The most famous representative of the latter is Magdeburg, crossing the Elbe River and reaching a length of 918 m.

Further construction is carried out as follows:

1. Sawing a beam to obtain a curved kosour and gluing parts of the desired shape. The markup is done first. From one edge of the board 2.4 m long, 120 cm should be laid aside to find the middle. Next, 40 cm are laid from the edges.
2. Labels are connected by lines to form a triangle. It can be slightly rounded for later convenience.
3. Next is the middle of each line and arcs are drawn with a pencil. Everything is done on the "eye", but you can use the paper template.
4. A special saw with a narrow blade (an alternative is a jigsaw), the board is placed in a line.
5. The cut out part should be removed and laid on the other hand. Now the flat board has become curved. Subsequently, the details will need to be fastened together, but the previously arched part should be used as a template for the next kosour.
6. The connection of parts is carried out by means of 4 bolts (diameter - 10 mm). They are screwed in increments of 15–20 cm into the inclined part. To do this, the parts are connected by means of clamps, and the kosour is placed on the rib, and auger-type drill is drilled according to the created marks. Keep in mind that the drill must be tilted slightly. This will subsequently provide strength.
7. The top of the arc should be drilled through, while the bottom should not.
8. Now you can disassemble the design, drill everything you need. The direction has already been set - and it will be easy.
9. For strength, PVA or wood glue should be used. The selected material is applied to the rib of the lower element, and then to the upper. Further, everything is fastened with a clamp at the top of the arc. It remains to tighten the parts with bolts and allow to dry for a day.
10. Kosoures are additionally polished for aesthetics.Then everything is connected and strengthened by means of threaded rods, under which holes are drilled, combining the parts. The studs are positioned so that to the bottom edge is 5 cm, and to the side - 10 cm.
11. All parts are thoroughly connected using studs after adjusting the design in width.
12. Next, the flooring is performed - covering the bridge with boards. To create a humpback construction, slats 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick are suitable. Fastening should be done with self-tapping screws. And distance spacers will help to achieve a well-balanced protrusion between the elements.
13. The bridge is ready. It remains to install it. This can be done both on the foundation and without it.

Video: do-it-yourself decorative wooden bridge

The erection of a metal structure is performed according to this algorithm:

1. Purchase of blanks and welding of the side parts. To do this, the parts are laid out on a stand, and their evenness is checked by a laser level.
2. The construction of the sidewalls in the overall design. Welding of scarves and the basic elements of the flooring to the sidewalls is done in place. It is also important to brew all the voids where (even theoretically) water can get.
3. Installation of a bridge with concreting of supports. First you need to drill wells with a depth of about 1 m. Next, supports are inserted into the holes and verified by a vertical meter.
4. Then the wells are poured with concrete and the supports are installed.
5. Welding of internal arches and balusters. First, the first elements are welded. Balusters are located between them at an equal distance.
6. Decoration with ready-made elements or in-house.
7. Strengthening the banks of a stream or other body of water through planks and pipes.
8. Puttying deep dents and painting them for aesthetics of the bridge.
9. The device of wooden flooring using boards of equal width.
10. A metal bridge with wooden flooring is ready.

Video: metal garden bridge

The development of concrete, stone and block bridge is the prerogative of professionals. Without proper preparation, making a high-quality design on your own will not succeed.

Important! Do not spare electrodes, since the safety of subsequent operation of the bridge depends on the quality of welding. Seams will not be visible, so you can do without stripping them.

1. Creating a reliable foundation. It can be concrete or stone supports mounted on different sides of the stream. Between them there should be a distance of 0.5 m or more.
2. The carrier span is mounted on supports in such a way as to achieve the location of the two ends at the same level.
3. Next, the frame is mounted with stone, concrete or block flooring. If desired, can be replaced with a lighter wooden or metal.
4. Installation of railings and steps.
5. Installation of decor and light sources (optional).

It is difficult to overestimate the role of bridges in landscape design. Both functional and decorative designs are equally in demand. If you want to install the model in your garden or at the cottage, you should figure out which model is more suitable, think over its shape, material and decoration elements. In any case, the bridge is unlikely to be superfluous in landscape design. He will add a garden or house territory with a fabulous atmosphere in which it will be really nice to relax.

Watch the video: How To Build A Backyard Bridge. Outdoor. Great Home Ideas (November 2024).