- materials
- calculation
- Utensils needed
- preparation
- Setting curbs: instructions
- frequently asked Questions
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Curbs are an essential element for paving paths, for bed division and other purposes on your own property. You can even set curbs without the need for concrete as a foundation.
In a nutshell
- Curbs can be set without concrete if a sand or gravel foundation is used
- the pit should not be too wide so that the stone elements sit firmly in the ground
- the foundation must be thoroughly compacted
materials
The implementation of the project of setting curbs without concrete is extremely easy if you determine the exact amount of material required beforehand. Of course, you need matching curbs, which can be made of the following materials:
- Natural stone (e.g. gneiss or granite)
- cobblestones
- concrete
- plastic
- old bricks
The stone height can vary, but stones with a height of between 20 and 25 centimeters sit much more securely in the ground, since only about a fifth of the element protrudes from the ground. Since you are not fixing the stones to concrete, you must take advantage of the pressure exerted on them by the ground. A width of five to seven centimeters for the stones would be ideal, as they should not be too thin. This makes the demarcation much more robust.
calculation
The amount of stones is determined by the following values:
- stone length
- length of demarcation
For example, if you create a ten meter path and need a lawn edge made of stones with a length of 20 centimeters, you need 50 pieces. Since you want to set the curbs without concrete, the material to backfill the pit is also important. Use either gravel or building sand for this. To determine the quantity, you need not only the foundation height and the pit length, but the width. Since the stones are quite thin, it is sufficient if you use the width of the hand tamper as a guide. These are usually between ten and twenty centimeters wide:
- Calculate the material volume required for the pit in m³
- Formula: length of the pit x width of the hand tamper x height of the foundation (4 cm) = volume
- Example: 10m x 0.1m x 0.04m = 0.04m³
- corresponds to about 40 l or 60 kg round gravel (0 - 6 mm), 40 l or 64 kg building sand
- Add 15% (compaction)
- corresponds to about 46 l or 70 kg round gravel (0 - 6 mm), 46 l or 73.6 kg building sand
Tip: If you cannot place the stones in a straight line, you should use variants with an additional rounding on one side. In this way, curves can be easily implemented.
Utensils needed
In addition to the material, you also need the right utensils to implement the project. Since you only set curbs and do not need a large foundation, you set a hand tamper instead of a vibrating machine. Due to their small size, these are ideal for this purpose and can be rented from specialist companies or hardware stores for five to six euros per day. You also need:
- hand pounder
- spade
- hand shovel
- guideline
- post for staking
- Ruler or tape measure
- level
- working gloves
- rubber or band-aid mallet
preparation
Once you have all the materials and supplies ready, you can start preparing. It is important with this that you proceed very precisely so that you can set the foundation for the curbs correctly without concrete. This is the only way to guarantee that the boundary is in place and does not immediately shift again. However, this variant is not suitable for heavily used paths or areas, such as garage driveways. With these, concrete is a must. Garden paths or lawn edges, on the other hand, are no problem at all. The preparation mainly involves staking out and digging the pit. Start staking:
- Set posts for cord at the beginning and end
- Distance corresponds to the length of the boundary
- Tension a guideline between them
- Adjust the path in the middle over more posts
- in this way, for example, curves can be marked
- Height 2 to 5 cm
- check with a spirit level
- Adjust the guide line exactly to the height
You only need to stretch a single string as the pit for the project will be dug right next to it without concrete. Due to the low height of the visible stone sections, the guideline can be placed quickly and accurately. Then dig the pit. The depth of the pit is found by adding the layer height for the foundation (4 centimeters) to the stone height, for example 25 centimeters. Now pull off the desired overhang, for example 4 centimetres. The hole must be 25 centimeters deep. If there are any bumps or steps, you must identify them individually. It is raised as follows:
- Width corresponds to hand tamper width
- Dig a pit with a spade along the guideline
- measure the height
- Remove remaining soil with a hand shovel
- Pit bottom and sides should be level
Notice: If you notice that the stones don't quite fit in the end, you can cut them to size with a suitable saw. This allows gaps to be filled or protruding elements to be shortened.
Setting curbs: instructions
Once the pit has been dug, the curbs can be laid. Do not remove the guideline at this point as it sets the height of the boundary. Since you have already aligned them with the spirit level, the boundary remains straight. The following instructions explain the steps for setting without concrete in detail:
- Fill the pit with sand or gravel
- Note the layer height of 4 cm
- Thoroughly compact the layer with a hand tamper
- Adjust layer height with sand or gravel
- compress again
- repeat until the 4 cm foundation is completely compacted
- Place stones in the pit on the foundation
- Check the height carefully against a guideline
- Adjust the height with the rubber mallet
- this fixes the stones
- fill it up with excavated earth
- Press down the excavated earth well
- optional: fill joints with earth, sand or mortar
frequently asked Questions
How can the course of the stones be planned more easily?If your garden is very large or has a difficult layout, outdoor planning is not that easy. In this case, it is advisable to photograph the garden or a corresponding section. Print out the picture and draw the desired line with a pen. In this way, for example, a completely new garden path including curbs can be effectively planned.
Can you just use dirt instead of sand or gravel?Yes, this method is also possible if the soil is sufficiently clayey. In this case, it is only important that you dig the pit for the stones beforehand so that you can then use the excavation as a basis for them. The excavated earth is loosened up in a wheelbarrow and then filled into the pit. Compact well and place and fasten the stones as already described.
What are the necessary steps in case of weeds between the stones?As soon as you see weeds sprouting between the stones, simply remove them. Pull the seedlings out of the ground as soon as possible and check the spots periodically afterwards.