At the final stage of arranging your own site, it is time to think about what material the paving of garden paths and grounds will be made of. Many people look longingly at expensive slabs made of natural stone, realizing that a modest family budget cannot bear such luxury. So what, do not despair! Thanks to the ingenious inventions of mankind, in all branches of construction, not natural, but artificial stone, whose name is concrete, is more popular. The plasticity of this material allows you to create from it "stones" of different sizes and shapes, which can easily be used to decorate areas of any stylistic orientation. In addition, concrete slabs, if there is time, can be made and laid on your own, spending mere pennies. You can read about how to make an inexpensive and beautiful concrete paving right now.
A simple option for making medium-sized slabs involves pouring concrete mortar into a square shape. It is made from four pieces of wood held together with metal staples. The bottom of the mold is made of any solid material that can prevent the solution from spreading. This can be a wooden board, sheet metal, plastic, etc.
Formwork scheme for a concrete slab: 1 - cross beam, 2 - longitudinal beam, 3 - fixing groove, 4 - wedge, 5 - metal bracket, 6 - bottom
In order for the concrete not to adhere to the form during hardening, before pouring it should be lubricated with linseed oil or other technical oil.
The slab, the formwork for which is shown in the diagram, is rather large in size, so it is advisable to reinforce it. This is done by nesting a mesh of round reinforcement in the middle of the shape. The easiest way is to lay the mesh on the first layer of poured concrete so that it is in the middle of the finished slab.
After that, concrete can be poured, which will harden in an hour. However, it is too early to get the product out of the mold - wait 2-3 days for the concrete to gain strength and you were sure that when the formwork is lifted, some of the material will not remain inside.
The concrete has fully hardened for 28 days - only then will it be possible to walk on the slab
To increase the strength of the top layer of concrete, as well as to obtain a smooth, as if polished surface, ironing is performed. At the same time, dry cement is rubbed into wet concrete, which has just begun to set. This can be done with a metal trowel, or with your hands wearing rubber gloves.
A few more options for plates of different shapes
Above, we described the general technology for the manufacture of concrete slabs, tying it to a specific rectangular shape. However, concrete slabs can be made not only square or rectangular. For example, if you have a garden in a landscape or Mediterranean style, then uneven artificial stones, as if worn off by waves or time, will look more impressive as a cover for paths.
Uneven concrete slabs - an option for a landscaped garden
To do this, you can use molds made from hoops of old barrels or other similar material that should bend easily. The strip is given the desired shape (round, wavy or simply uneven) and laid directly on the track. In this case, the poured concrete hardens immediately at the place of its further stay. After 2-3 days, the shape can already be removed, and the edges of the slab can be trimmed to make them look like natural flagstone.
Plates can be made round by assembling an interesting path from elements of different diameters. Any available material is used as forms: basins, buckets, bowls, pots and even trays from flower pots.
Even ... old bowls can be used as molds for such round plates
And on the surface of the tile, you can apply an interesting pattern, for example, in the form of a leaf. To do this, just put an ordinary fresh leaf, for example, chestnut, on the bottom of the mold before pouring the concrete. After the leaf is removed, a spectacular imprint will remain on the surface of the plate. Instead of leaves, you can use any other decorative elements: beads, broken colored glass, mosaics, pebbles.
Recall that concrete is a very versatile material, which can be given not only different shapes, textures, but also painted with all the colors of the rainbow. The easiest way to do this at home is to use acrylic paint, which is added to the concrete solution during mixing.
Nuances and secrets of the correct laying of plates
Externally, concrete slabs, especially those that are not painted, look neutral, therefore, when laying, they can be combined with other road cladding: brick, paving slabs, wood, metal, glass.
As for the technique of laying the slabs, it is quite simple. First, you need to prepare a base of sand with a thickness of 7-20 cm, on which the slabs are laid. In order for them to be securely fixed, they are buried with blows of a special rubber hammer.
Depending on the created track line and its functionality, the distance between the plates may also change. In the event that the path leads from the porch to the house and is used often, then it is desirable that the slabs be laid next to each other without gaps - such a structure will be reliable and withstand regular loads.
In recreation areas, near a gazebo or a pool, plates can be laid at intervals of several centimeters, planting these voids with lawn grass. An interesting installation option exists for arranging terraces. In this case, the plates are stacked next to each other, and then some of them are removed and real mini-flower beds are planted in these empty pockets. Very original and simple!
Sidewalk slabs are a modern material that is optimal for the improvement of your own site. The product is easy to install and requires no painstaking maintenance. Unlike asphalt pavement, concrete paving can be successfully combined with a variety of vegetation.
When arranging garden paths, you should determine the texture, color, shape of the flooring and think over the paving rhythm. This will allow you to create a real composition on your own site and emphasize the style of the space. Concrete elements are a practical and convenient solution... They provide free access to key objects, connect garden areas, ensure neatness and cleanliness.
Things to consider when bookmarking:
- paths should connect buildings and structures;
- the approach should be comfortable;
- you should think about whether decorative, walking or reserve paths are necessary, their duration and width;
- when laying, take into account the drainage of water. The cross slope ensures that the liquid flows into special troughs.
The introduction of special additives into the concrete composition protects the finished product from cracking and delamination. Fibers and plasticizers are considered effective.
Shapes and sizes
To organize the improvement of your own summer cottage or garden, you should determine what size of products will be used.
The values \u200b\u200bprescribed by the standard are indicated in the table data:
| Brand | The form | Length, mm | Width, mm | Thickness, mm | Weight, kg | Pcs / m2 |
| 1K.6 / 1K.8 / 1.K.5 | Square | 200.00 | 50.00 | 7.68 | 25.00 | |
| 2K.5 | 250.00 | 15.00 | 16.00 | |||
| 2K.6 | 250.0/280.0 | 11.30 | 12.75 | |||
| 2K.10 | 250.00 | 15.00 | 16.00 | |||
| 3K.6 / 3K.10 / 3K.5 | 300.00 | 21.00 | 11.10 | |||
| 4K.7 / 4K.10 / 4K.5 | 375.00 | 33.75 | 7.16 | |||
| 5K.7 / 5K.10 / 5K.5 | 400.00 | 38.40 | 6.25 | |||
| 6K.7 / 6K.10.6K.5 | 500.00 | 60.00 | 4.00 | |||
| 7K.8 / 7K.10 / 7K.6 | 750.00 | 60.00 | 135.0 | 1.78 | ||
| 8K.10 / 8K.8 | 1000.0 | 80.00 | 240.0 | 1.00 | ||
| Rectangular slabs | ||||||
| 1P.5 / 1P.6 | Rectangle | 375.00 | 250.00 | 50.00 | 22.50 | 10.67 |
| 1P.7 | 240.00 | 120.00 | 70.00 | 4.80 | 34.72 | |
| 1P.10 | 375.00 | 250.00 | 50.00 | 22.50 | 10.67 | |
| 2P.7 / 2P.10 / 2P.5 | 500.00 | 30.00 | 8.00 | |||
| 3P.7 / 3P.10 / 3P.5 | 375.00 | 45.00 | 5.33 | |||
| 4P.7 / 4P.10 / 4P.6 | 750.00 | 60.00 | 67.50 | 3.68 | ||
| 5P.7 / 5P.10 / 5P.6 | 500.00 | 90.00 | 2.70 | |||
| 6P.10 / 6P.8 | 1000.00 | 500.00 | 80.00 | 150.4 | 2.00 | |
Decorating options
Reinforced paving slabs are an economical material that will be cheaper than paving from natural stone. Modern products are distinguished by a wide variety of textures and colors, which makes it possible to make the option that best suits the stylistic design of a summer house or garden. Outwardly, she can remain neutral, therefore it can be easily combined with brick, natural stone, cobblestone.
Placement depends on the purpose of the pad or track:
- if the path is laid from street to house, the products fit tightly to each other;
- if the trail is rarely used, the slabs can be mounted with gaps, which are sown with annual flowers or ornamental grass;
- when arranging open terraces, recreation areas, areas around the pools in the laying of slabs, you can make recesses for planting undersized shrubs and flowers;
- the distance between the plates should be the same, taking into account the length of the standard step.
Decorating
The standard step is taken by an adult, which is about 0.74 meters
- installation of slabs with a stone or clinker connection;
- painting concrete in any color;
- adding to the top layer of marble or stone chips, colored glass, metal or ceramic elements, pebbles, flat stones;
- decoration of slabs with a relief pattern.
Tracks can be straight or curved. In the latter case, you can visually expand a small area, but it takes too much trouble. Aesthetic appeal can only be achieved if the path is equipped with curbs.
Coloration
There are two ways to paint concrete slabs - adding pigment to the working solution, coloring finished products... Pigment injection is a more expensive option, based on the use of special dyes and white Portland cement.
Painting of the finished track is carried out using special compounds that have a penetrating effect. To obtain a rich shade, the plates are processed several times.
Finished concrete track painting technology
For work, you will need the specified tools and materials:
- water or acrylic stain;
- film;
- concrete sealant;
- spray gun;
- paint roller.
In addition to decoration, it is necessary to organize the protection of concrete slabs, for which dry cement is rubbed into their surface
Sequencing:
- the working surface is thoroughly cleaned, freed from dust and debris. If necessary, the plates are washed using special degreasing detergents;
- the length and width of the slab are measured, which will allow you to calculate the paint consumption;
- walls, flowerbeds, lawns, trees located next to the path are covered with foil;
- the dye is placed in the spray gun;
- coloring starts from any corner. It is recommended to keep the device at a height of 50-60 cm from the processed concrete slab;
- 2-3 layers of dye are successively applied. Before spraying each subsequent coat, it is shown to wait for the previous one to dry;
- when the finishing layer is applied, the track should dry well, so it cannot be used for about two days;
- dry coating can be sealed with sealant to protect the color. When working, use a roller for painting with a short nap.
With the help of paint, the plates are decorated with natural stone. The paint is applied to the surface in uneven layers. Some areas should be translucent, others densely colored. The alternation of light and dark areas should be irregular to achieve a natural finish.
Surface decoration with drawings
The easiest way to decorate finished panels is to apply a pattern to the surface. Work is carried out on the second day after pouring, when the solution did not have time to lose its plasticity... With a screwdriver or a thin steel bar, closed figures that imitate flagstone are cut out on the product, with a slot depth and width of about 5.0-7.0 mm. During operation, soil accumulates in the gaps, which makes it possible to achieve a complete illusion of masonry.
Printed concrete
Slabs, the surface of which is processed using special matrices, look very beautiful. Before embossing, a tinting fixer is applied to the uncured surface of the product. The finished track acquires a texture that successfully mimics natural materials, - boardwalk, slate, paving stones. To protect the coating from abrasion, it is treated with acrylic impregnation.
Decorating with pebbles, ceramics, glass
Product prices vary based on regional pricing and manufacturer
A similar design is implemented according to the indicated principles:
- decorative elements are glued to a sheet of thick paper with a reference point for the future drawing;
- when working, water-soluble glue is used;
- paper is installed in a mold and poured with concrete;
- when the material hardens, the paper base is washed off with water.
If you place a corrugated metal sheet backing into the mold, you can give the board a relief texture.
Glossy shine
Country paths can be purchased spectacular shine if you use potassium or sodium water glass impregnation... Such compositions are characterized by high adhesion and allow the formation of a durable coating. Alternatively, synthetic resin or wax formulations can be used. Impregnations fill the pores of concrete, protecting it from destructive media, weathering, moisture... All substances are applied with a spray gun or brush. The dilution method depends on the manufacturer's recommendations, so you must strictly follow the instructions in the instructions.
Concrete slabs for paths, price
In private construction convenient to use paving slabs 500x500 mm - for the arrangement of general-purpose paths and sidewalk slabs 1000x1000 - for the organization of sites and entry zones. Products can be made independently or purchased ready-made.
If we consider the device of tracks made of similar materials from the point of view of economic costs, then on concrete slabs 50x50, the price does not exceed 70 rubles / piece.; paving slabs 1000x1000 will cost more, the price per piece reaches 850 r. If you make the product yourself, you can save about 30% on costs.
With strict adherence to technology, you can get material that matches the specified qualities:
- resistance to aggressive compounds, oil products, chemicals;
- resistance to mechanical stress and abrasion;
- the ability to withstand constant loads and temperature drops (up to 300 freezing cycles);
- resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
Concrete slabs are a modern material that can be an excellent alternative to other types of coatings.
How do-it-yourself concrete paths in the garden are made from slabs is shown in the video:
The most popular material for garden paths is a concrete slab... The tracks made of this material are very strong, durable and inexpensive.
There are many different ways to brighten up boring gray concrete walkways with simple designs. Concrete paths can be different in texture, color and shape.
Lay out concrete paths on the site for everyone. First of all, we prepare the base for the concrete slabs. In the places where the tracks will lie, we remove the top layer of the earth, in length and width corresponding to the dimensions of the future track.
In the formed moat, we fill up the sand. Then we level it and tamp it. After that, concrete slabs can already be laid on this layer. To keep the tracks strong and stable during operation, you should deepen them with a sledgehammer.
You can also use a hammer to deepen. Before deepening, you need to put a wooden board on the plate. This will protect the slab from damage.
When laying concrete slabs back to back, you need to lay out a layer of sand 2-3 centimeters for sandy soils. If the soil is heavy and consists mainly of clay, then a layer of slag or gravel about 10 centimeters thick must be placed in front of the sand layer. In this case, the sand layer will be 5 centimeters.
For good strengthening of the track, it must be placed on a solution that is applied to a previously prepared base. The solution should be small. After all, it is not applied to the entire tile as a whole, but only to its corners.
A garden path made of concrete slabs will be comfortable and at the same time will well complement the composition of the landscape design of the garden plot. Making concrete slabs with your own hands and paving a garden path with them is quite easy and now we will prove it to you!
DIY concrete slabs
The advantages of concrete slabs for paving garden paths are as follows:
- high concrete strength
- durability of concrete slabs
- ease of creating and paving concrete slabs
- ease of replacing damaged slabs
- a garden path made of concrete slabs does not require special care and money to maintain
- concrete slabs can be creatively decorated during the creation process
- small cash costs for the creation of concrete slabs and paving garden paths with them
To make a concrete slab with your own hands, you just need to prepare a mold, make a concrete solution and pour it into the mold. After the concrete has set completely (this takes about 3 days, depending on the weather conditions), you can start paving with concrete slabs. Now we will take a closer look at the stages of creating a concrete slab with our own hands.
In order to make a concrete slab, we need the following materials and tools:
- Wooden beam with a section of 50 * 50 mm
- Hammer (metal and mallet)
- Nails
- Steel sheet
- Concrete mortar components: cement, water, sand, gravel and dry mix for concrete
- Materials for decorating tiles (color pigments, broken ceramic tiles, small natural stones, etc.)
- Reinforcement (at your choice, either rods with a diameter of 5 mm, or reinforced mesh)
Creating a mold for a concrete slab
A mold for a concrete slab is created based on the future dimensions of the slab. As for the size of the concrete slab, it is determined by the width of the garden path. We recommend creating a mold with dimensions of at least 50 * 50 cm, so that the process of casting the plates is not lengthy, and the garden path is comfortable to move. You can make a trapezoidal, round, rectangular, etc. mold, everything is to your taste.
So, we take wooden blocks, cut them into suitable lengths and fasten them with nails - the mold is ready. It is best to make several molds at once in order to simultaneously produce 2-3 concrete slabs.
It is easier to make a mold for concrete slabs without using a steel sheet. To do this, you need to find a flat surface, stretch a plastic wrap on it and put a mold made of bars on top. As soon as the solution is poured, we wait for the plate to harden, after which we disconnect one of the sides of the mold with a chisel. After that, we fasten the mold again and repeat the procedure. With this cycle, one mold can be enough for 10-12 disconnections / connections.
Making concrete mortar
The most suitable ratio of materials for concrete mortar is the following: 1 share of cement / 2 shares of sand / 4 shares of gravel (or crushed stone). It is also recommended to use ready-made concrete mix, which is sold in dry form, but only it will cost more than making it yourself.
In order to mix the concrete solution well, it is better to purchase it, or to make it yourself, it is not so difficult.
The concrete solution can also be mixed manually using a trough and a shovel, but in this case it will take more time and effort.
Now the most important thing: the amount of water in the concrete solution. It should be noted that the ideal proportion of water in the mortar should be ¼ the weight of the cement, but you are unlikely to be able to mix the mortar well, therefore it is allowed to pour a little more water (40% of the cement weight).
If you mix the concrete solution by hand, you must first mix the dry material until smooth, then add water little by little. An excess of water significantly reduces the strength properties of the concrete product. A solution is considered ideal, which, squeezing in a fist, forms a form that does not spread or crumble.
Pouring mortar into a mold and reinforcing concrete slabs
So, let's move on to the main stage of creating concrete slabs with our own hands. First, set the mold and mix the solution. Next, fill the mold with half of the required solution. We put reinforcement rods (or mesh) on the solution and add the rest of the concrete solution.
It is good, of course, to pour concrete slabs on vibrating tables, which will carefully tamp the mortar in a mold and remove excess voids from it. This technology is used to create concrete slabs.
If you do not have the opportunity to use vibrating tables, then at least tamp the mortar with a wooden homemade rammer and level the surface with a trowel.
As soon as the molds are filled in, we leave the products for a few days, so that the solution grabs and hardens. Usually it is enough to wait 2-3 days. All this time, it is necessary to moisten concrete products several times a day so that they do not crack in hot weather. If it is not possible to wet the concrete slabs, then at least cover them with a damp cloth.
Concrete slab decoration
Several ideas can be used to decorate concrete slabs.
The first is that when creating a concrete solution, a color pigment is added to the mixture, which will give the concrete slab an original color. The most popular color pigments for concrete products are umber brown and ocher mineral dyes.
The second way is to lay it out on a concrete slab made of natural stones or broken ceramic tiles. This procedure must be carried out while pouring concrete slabs. After the solution is poured into the mold, wait a few hours for the concrete to grab a little, and lay out the pattern on the slab, slightly tapping the material to decorate with a mallet.
Do-it-yourself concrete paving technology in the garden
In order to pave a garden path from concrete slabs, you need to do the following steps:
- Preparing the area. We remove garden debris, remove bushes that get in the way, remove stones, etc.
- We mark the boundaries of the garden path. To do this, use wooden pegs and a rope, or simply fill the borders with sand.
- We remove a 10-centimeter layer of soil over the marked area. In the resulting pit, we tamp the bottom and fill it with 5 cm of a sand cushion.
- We lay concrete slabs from one side of the track to the other. The gaps between the slabs should be no more than 3 cm. In order for the slabs to sit tightly in the sand, we tap them with a mallet. We make sure that the path is even, for this we either add sand under the slabs, or, on the contrary, remove the excess.
- We fill up the gaps with sand, tamp and sweep away the excess with a broom.
That's the whole technology of paving concrete slabs in the garden with your own hands. As you can see, there is nothing complicated, the main thing is to know the basics that we have provided you.
We draw your attention to the fact that if you decide to create a path from concrete slabs on, you just need to cut out areas for concrete slabs in the lawn grass, fill up a layer of sand and put the slab on the prepared place!
What garden plot or country house is complete without paths? First of all, they serve to move the owners, therefore, they must be strong and correctly located. They are also a decoration of the territory, with the help of paths you can not only create an interesting decor, but also visually enlarge the site if you make the paths longer. Paths today are created from a mass of various materials:, artificial stone, but remains the most popular, because it is optimal in value for money... What's more, made of concrete easy to do with your own hands.
# 1. Why are concrete paths good?
Before equipping concrete paths on your site, you need to know about all the advantages and disadvantages. To the main merits paths completed include:
Among the disadvantages can be called:
If we compare concrete paths with other options in terms of the merits and simplicity of the arrangement, then they win in many ways. Associated with this is the desire to independently organize such trails on the site. To start with it and what to consider?
# 2. What are the steps in creating concrete walkways?
The whole process of creating concrete paths can be divided into the following stages:
Number 3. What tools and materials will you need?
Before starting work, you should stock up on everything you need, namely:
No. 4. How to design a track?
The first step is to think where the tracks will be located, who will navigate them and when, which determines their width and shape. On paper, you can draw a plan of the site, indicate on it the location of all buildings and important zones, connect them with straight lines, which will be the axes for future tracks. The paths can remain level and straight only between huge beds, in other cases it is better to make them slightly curved to give the territory an interesting look and make the movement more comfortable and convenient.
Track width, which leads from the gate to the central entrance of the house, should be about 2 m, 0.8-1 m wide is enough for auxiliary paths, between the beds you can arrange paths about 0.5 m wide.Those paths along which the car will move should not narrower than the machine itself.
No. 5. How to correctly calculate the weight of building materials?
So that in the process of construction work you do not have to urgently buy or sand, it is better to estimate in advance at least approximately the amount of materials that will be needed. The concrete layer may vary in different conditions: for heavy clay soil - 5-7 cm, for sandy and light loamy soil - 10 cm.In addition, if the soil is marshy, then you need to provide a layer of gravel 5 cm thick.In any case, you will need the so-called pillow made of sandand has a thickness of 10-15 cm.
The calculation of all the necessary materials is quite simple. Suppose it is necessary to build a track W \u003d 1 m wide, D \u003d 10 m long and T \u003d 10 cm (0.1 m) thick, and the underlying sand layer will be equal to P \u003d 0.1 m:
- to organize a sand cushion, the amount of sand required is calculated as W * D * P. In our case, it turns out 1m * 10m * 0.1m \u003d 1m 3. According to the reference information, the weight of a cubic meter of sand is 2400 kg, so 2400 kg is needed to complete the subbase;
- concrete can be prepared in the proportion of 3 parts of sand and 1 part of crushed stone, cement and water, but there are other options, which will be discussed later. It is more convenient to first calculate the volume of concrete required according to the formula W * D * T, it turns out 1m * 10m * 0.1m \u003d 1m 3. According to the background information, the average weight of a cubic meter of concrete is 2800 kg. The resulting weight of the volume of concrete can be divided into 5 parts, excluding water: 2800/5 \u003d 560 kg - the weight of one part, i.e. cement. The rest 2240 kg is the weight of sand, gravel and water. You may also need dyes, plasticizers, water repellents, etc.
Of course, this calculation does not pretend to be strict mathematical accuracy, but it allows you to roughly understand how much and what is needed. 
No. 6. How do I mark up?
According to a previously prepared plan for the location of garden paths, it is already necessary to determine where the paths will pass directly on the ground. Their location is indicated wooden pegs, which drive in at the same distance from each other and stretch a rope between them. This is the easiest and least laborious stage of work.
No. 7. How to prepare the ground?
At this stage, they begin to select the topsoil at the locations of the trail. The earth is removed along with small roots that can begin to rot, form voids in which water can accumulate, and when it freezes and increases in volume, additional pressure will be exerted on the track.
If the layer of the "pillow" of sand is 10 cm, and of concrete - 10 cm, then taking into account that it is better that the track was 3-5 cm above the ground level, you will need to choose 10cm + 10cm-3cm \u003d 17cm soil. If a drainage layer of gravel is needed, then add another 5-10 cm to the resulting value. A soil layer is selected with a shovel.
No. 8. How to mount the formwork?
Formwork - a structure for pouring concrete. It is made of wood. If you need to make smooth lines or curves, you can always use plywood or other flexible material. The formwork is mounted immediately or in parts, since the concrete is poured gradually. The second option will also save material costs.
The formwork should protrude 5-10 cm above ground level. At the bottom of the prepared trench, it is necessary to lay a construction mesh, and after every 5-6 m of the future path, install across the boards, which play the role expansion joints... Thanks to them, the concrete path will not crack when the temperature changes, placing the load on the boards. The height of the expansion joints must match the height of the track.
No. 9. How to arrange a pillow?
The so-called cushion under the concrete walkway performs several functions, the main ones are:
- concrete load distribution;
- drainage.
The sandy base allows water to pass through well, which means that the soil under the path will not freeze through, provoking the deformation of the path. Under the sand, many experts advise organizing a layer of compacted rubble, but this is not always necessary. Over time, the sand can go into the ground along with the water passing through it, so it is better to lay under it waterproofing layer made of, or agrofibre... The last two show themselves very well, since they do not rot and are perfectly permeable to moisture.
The sand layer must be well compacted. You may have to wet it for this, since there should be no voids inside. The surface must be level so that the concrete layer is evenly distributed. It should be noted that alternative to sand concrete screed or flat stones can become, but their thickness must be taken into account when deepening the trench.
No. 10. Concrete preparation and mixing
There is no only correct proportions in the ratio of sand, cement, gravel, water and other components of concrete. Concerning amount of water, then the best option would be 1 part water to 4 parts cement, but as the composition is prepared, water can be added to improve plasticity.
For lanes with light loads, you can choose a ratio of cement, sand and gravel, such as 0.5: 5: 4. For car tracks, a 1: 1.5: 2.5 ratio is suitable. Many experts use universal composition of durable concretewhere cement, sand and crushed stone are in a ratio of 1: 3: 1. Additives are also used that give the concrete the necessary qualities.
It is better to choose cement not lower than M300, you can take river sand, gravel 10-20 mm in size. Granite is ideal. If the load on the paths is large, then a larger fraction of crushed stone of 40 mm can be taken. It is convenient to mix all the ingredients in a concrete mixer, but in its absence, any container such as a trough or just a large steel sheet is suitable. First, sand and gravel are mixed, then cement is added, a gray mass is obtained. After that, add half of the required amount of water, mix, and then gradually add the rest of the water so that the composition becomes the desired consistency.
In theory, the thicker the concrete, the stronger it is, but with more liquid it is easier to work and evenly distribute it. To simplify your task, you can add add a little plasticizerwhich makes concrete more plastic and fluid without excess water.
No. 11. Reinforcement and pouring
Reinforcement or reinforcing mesh is laid on a sand cushion, over which concrete is poured. The bottom of the trench can be additionally poured with water so that it does not sink under the weight of the concrete. The layer is leveled and compacted until the so-called laitance appears, which gives the concrete excellent strength characteristics and allows it to harden rather than dry out. So that the concrete hardens, and not dry, it is recommended to periodically wet the surface with water or cover it with polyethylene. Some even spread plastic wrap under the concrete, but this is not the best way. 
So that in the future water does not accumulate on the paths and puddles do not form, you can make its central part a little higherthan the side ones. The next day, when the solution has hardened slightly, but still soft, you can decorate the surface. For example, you can make furrows in a chaotic manner, simulating a stone surface. The next day, white or red cement mortar is poured into the furrows.
No. 12. Final work
2-3 days after pouring the concrete, you can remove the formwork and pull out the pegs. Places deformed by pegs are treated with a solution with a waterproofing additive. The edges of the track are cleared of debris, covered with the remaining earth and compacted. In a few days it will be possible to walk along the path.
Since the garden path also has a decorative shape, it can be given interesting appearance... This is either an imitation of natural stone, as mentioned above, or imparting a characteristic texture, coloring, or indentation of pebbles, buttons, fragments of tiles at the stage of solidification. In places where there is not so much walking, you can make not a monolithic concrete path, but mold slabs... Cheapness and simplicity made concrete the most popular option for creating a wide variety of garden paths.