Creating A Garden Path With Cement Can Be Easy And Enjoyable
It actually is fun to do your own home improvements- specially with so many awesome ideas and tutorials which you can find online or simply by enjoying one of the many home improvement stations on satellite TV. Making something with your own hands gives you that sensation of accomplishment and also boosts your self-image as others marvel at your artistry. Which is especially true if you are not a trained person in that area. Cement is one of those all round materials which can be used to make a great many items around your home.
Because I have recently moved into a new home with my husband and love pottering in the garden I decided to make my front garden my first home improvement project. I let him tackle the painting of the home while I breathed in the fresh air. The front garden is after all the very first encounter you and other have with your home so it needs to be charming. Planting plants also takes time to grow, so I figured that tackling the garden first would allow my garden to take shape as we got the rest of the house in order.
When the time came I needed to make a pathway. I saw an idea for a concrete slab pathway with peddles and gem stones set in the concrete. The most important ingredient in making concrete is cement. Cement can be very heavy so if you are a lady, make sure that you get your husband or someone to help you in transporting the cement.
The materials which you need to get started are:
o Cement mix (sand and aggregate)
o Water
o Pave mold
o Shovel
o Gloves
o Wheelbarrow
Design your garden and clear your pathway of all stones and other dirt. Make sure that the surface is even and clear.
Next mix the cement mix with water in the wheelbarrow. The quantity of water to be mixed with cement will be stated on the packaging. Cement mix makes the job so much easier, otherwise you need to mix the other ingredients with yourself.
When the right consistency is reached with the cement and water mixture, the concrete will be ready to place in the mold. Place the mold at your starting point and shovel the concrete into the mold. Use your hand (with plastic gloves on) on flatten the cement and to smooth out the surface. When the surface is smooth you can scatter your pebbles and gem stones evenly over the surface.
Allow to set in the mold for 5 minutes max and then remove the mold and start on the next tile. When you have completed the entire pathway you must let the cement dry over night. By the next morning you can fill the cracks between the tiles with soil and water down the entire pathway to clear all excess dirt.
There are different kinds and strengths of cement, some cement is better for light traffic areas and others that can withstand heavier traffic. When going to the hardware store speak to the salesperson about what you are looking for and they will give you the proper guidance in finding the proper cement for you.
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