The Family Handyman: The Best Garden Bed Edging Tips, This Old House: How to Install Belgian Block Driveway Edging, How to Make a Walk With Pea Gravel and Concrete. @Revolutionary Gardens: they did complete the top coat with the anticipation we would do the Belgian block curbing and that they would perfect the edges with a chop saw when making the curb trenches. While shooting a story with mason Fabiana Cruz in 2019, FHB Deputy Editor Matt Millham brings us through a quick walk through on how to install a Belgian-block driveway apron, from setting the base to cutting, laying, setting, and jointing the block.Read more on adding a belgian-block driveway apron: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2019/02/27/add-a-belgian-block-driveway-apron Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on new Fine Homebuilding videos: https://www.youtube.com/finehomebuildingConnect with Fine Homebuilding: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finehomebuilding/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FineHomebuildingMagazine/Twitter: https://twitter.com/fhbmagazinePinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fhbmagazine/About Fine Homebuilding:We go directly to the job sites and design offices of the most qualified and talented builders and designers in the industry to get the information you need to create the highest quality homes possible. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Plant the plants of your choice along the back edge of the Belgian blocks to provide a more attractive border. Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the trench. Using a mason's trowel, fill the trench behind the blocks with concrete, mixed to a stiff consistency, until it's level with or slightly higher than the asphalt's surface. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Lay a chalk line along one edge of the driveway and drive nails into the driveway next to the chalk line every 5 feet. It also creates that nice clean edge yet isn't as imposing as it is when the stone is placed on edge. It might take you a couple of days but installing Belgian block edging is not a Herculean task. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites. Would love input on whether doing Belgian block curbing would be a good investment/necessary/increase perceived home value/superfluous/of no consequence one way or the other? To help you through the process, we have come up with a simple installation guideline below. (A little muscle for lifting the blocks helps, too.) Choose how you wish to install the block and measure the dimensions of the block to determine the width and depth of the trench needed. They are rough to the touch and are usually not polished. Avoid varieties with extensive root systems that could nudge the blocks out of place. Thirdly, I guarantee that when your tire accidentally side swipes a perpendicularly placed belgium block, it will do a lot more damage to your tire. Before the mortar a few blocks were easily knocked loose by a . Wondering about those moth-like flies hanging around your drains? They were careful with the job and it looks good, took them about a day for just the apron. Full curing may take up to a week, depending on the weather. So, the cost to install Belgian block driveway edging in both cases will differ. Some say you need 6 concrete bed underneath, others say 6 stone base, some want poly sand instead of mortar. Snap the chalk line between each secured point to leave a clear, straight mark to follow when cutting the asphalt. You might need to pry a little to get it all out. Bed and even up the remaining stones, one after the other, keeping each one tight against the last. Secure a Chalk Line Photo by Kolin Smith The edges of an asphalt driveway need to be cut straight so that the blocks line up evenly against it. It might take you a couple of days but installing Belgian block edging is not a Herculean task. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Looks like there are a lot of ways to do these. Sometimes, the asphalt in some areas wont be cut clean. Mix a batch of concrete, following the manufacturer's instructions. For one, its easier to get lawn mowers and other machinery over. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Home All About Installing Belgian Block Driveway Edging. If I place a line I can trim off most of the jagged edges to get mostly a straight line except one section which has broken off where I may have to come back and fill it in later.Is this advisable? It also creates that nice clean edge yet isnt as imposing as it is when the stone is placed on edge. First, lay 5 to 10 blocks side by side next to the trench to determine the length of the first section. Do you want to jazz up your driveway or boost its curb appeal in general? Place the first block into the concrete, pushing it up against the edge of the driveway and tapping on it with a rubber mallet until the top is even with the mason's line. If your driveway is slightly uneven, you might want to place stakes somewhere in the middle of the trench with some gap. Do I fill the gap with stone dust/sand or mortar? You can make the decision, based on your convenience and budget. The depth of the trench should be at least half the blocks height. Is it supposed to keep ants from falling over the edge? Dig a trench along the perimeter of where you would like to install the edging. That's a nice, clean look. Tie the line to the nail at one end, then pull the line taut as you loop it around the other nails along the edge, making sure it still rests on the asphalt's surface. Overall however the asphalt is in good shape - no cracks etc. With the right guidance and necessary tools, anyone can add a neat row of Belgian blocks to their driveway. Sunday: Finish laying the stones and backfill with soil. I much prefer it placed on an angle. 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How to Build a Wall and Pour in Place Concrete Caps For Wall Odell Complete Concrete 1.2M views 5 years ago Timelapse of a 26 day work of building a retaining wall (in 10 minutes) simcaclub 5.8M. Start by drawing a line along the edge of your driveway on one side. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The prices might vary in different regions but that wouldnt make a huge difference. Ive seen many that have gone bad. Repeat all steps for the other side of the driveway. There is also that rubbery edging sold at Home Depot. Measuring from the driveways surface, mark the desired height of the blocks above the asphalt on both stakes. You can improve the appearance of the driveway by installing Belgian block edging. Nothing ruins warm weather fun like a mosquito bite. Youll install the edging in 5- to 10-block sections, filling the trench with concrete as you go. We place half the concrete, lay-in welded wire reinforcement, place the rest of the concrete, rake it roughly flat, and compact it with the faces of the rakes. Snap the chalk line between each secured point to leave a clear, straight mark to follow when cutting the asphalt. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Remove any excess soil within the trench to make sure the base is as flat as possible. Back in the horse-and-buggy days, it was common to see Belgian blocks paving American city streets. Lay garden hoses or rope to lay out the design for the edging; make the layout about 4 inches wider than the actual space needed for the Belgian block. To stand up to heavy loads, these aprons should be constructed in three layers: a reinforced concrete base, a mortar bed, and the mortar-jointed Belgian blocks on top. Friday: Cut and prep the driveways edges. A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. Youll follow this line to cut through the asphalt. Spread 1 inch of coarse masonry sand over the stone base layer. Houzz nutzt Cookies und hnliche Technologien, um Ihre Benutzererfahrung zu personalisieren, Ihnen relevante Inhalte bereitzustellen und die Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu verbessern. Tap the blocks with a rubber mallet to embed them firmly in the sand base. Once all the blocks have been installed, use a push broom to sweep paver base into the joints between the blocks and between the blocks and asphalt. To help you through the process, we have come up with a simple installation guideline below. Read our review of the five best dishwashers of 2022. Secure the bases. Step 9 Will have to fix that if we don't do the curbing. You'll have to excavate an eight-inch deep edge along your driveway, clean the edges with a chisel and a sledgehammer, and stake the line to make sure everything lines up correctly. Here's how to install one. Repeat all steps for the other side of the driveway. Using a masons trowel, fill the trench behind the blocks with concrete, mixed to a stiff consistency, until its level with or slightly higher than the asphalts surface. It is an excellent home improvement idea as well. Spray the ground beside the hoses with landscaping spray paint. Plant colorful flowers beside the edging when the weather warms up and you'll love how this project makes your whole front yard feel more spiffy. We have to have stone driveways for drainage and the Belgian blocks are usually in four or five rows across the bottom of the driveway to keep the crushed stone from going out on the street. The going rate in our area is normally very high, but our landscaper is willing to do it for $2,000 which is a fantastic price. 4. An asphalt driveway often looks a little ragged around the edges, especially after a season's worth of snow, salt, and shoveling. 10. If youre planning to hire a contractor, the entire project will cost somewhere around $1,800-$2,600, depending on the length of your driveway. Here we set a stringline on one edge and measure down to check our concrete depth along that side, and use a 28 form board as reference on the other. Here are the steps that you need . That sounds like a nice idea, right? thick, but it doesnt require the precision of a normal slab. (For better drainage in areas prone to frost heave, dig the trench a bit deeper and tamp in a layer of crushed stone.). Repeat all steps for the other side of the driveway. Hold the brick set at an angle slightly off vertical as you work; this will undercut the surface slightly for better adhesion of the mortar. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. the trench should be about 8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Driveway Edging: Installing Belgian Blocks. Using a concrete saw, cut the asphalt along the chalk line. Measuring from the driveway's surface, mark the desired height of the blocks above the asphalt on both stakes. Install the rest of the blocks in the first 10-block section, using the same method. My questions. Upgrade your exterior lighting instead. It would include a gravel footing under cement foundation and cement between the blocks, which are roughly 1' square. Why is that? When all 10 blocks are in place, push the concrete 6 inches up their back sides, then trowel it smooth at a 45-degree slope. Im an engineer and overthink everything. Drive a wooden stake into each end of the trench on both sides of the driveway. Your email address will not be published. This brings us to the next question how to install Belgian block driveway edging? Mark the desired height above the asphalt along each side. How to Fix a Sinking Driveway Drainage System, Melting Snow: Heated Driveway Systems vs. Portable Heating Mats, Driveway Repair and Replacement: Options & Costs. Ready to join the 100,000+ homeowners matched with pros? O Kyou drive way is on a slopeWhat composite is the driveway and what is at the bottom? The plywood should extend below the 24 the thickness of the paver brick plus 3/4 in. Tie a mason's line tightly between the stakes in each trench, and set the line so that it's the height you want the blocks to be. Required fields are marked *. Here's how to install one. Can I hang 2 differently shaped pictures over the couch. 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