Use a spade or half-moon edger which has straight sides that cut straight down into the soil. To help you through the process, we have come up with a simple installation guideline below. So, depending on how much you want to spend, any edging will add a neat look to your driveway. Shown: 11x7x4 Belgian block stones, around $4 per block at stone yards. 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. If you're choosing Belgian block to edge your driveway, they come in a variety of different colors and sizes. say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." Just wondering on what people think here. 2) the driveway is asphalt and meets the street, which ends there at the bottom of our driveway. The trench needs to be wider than your blocks so that theres enough space to hold the concrete thatll go in later. Place and rake flat half of the concrete, then lay the weldedwire fabric followed by the rest of the concrete. Bed and even up the remaining stones, one after the other, keeping each one tight against the last. Ready to join the 100,000+ homeowners matched with pros? I'd use it on the house somewhere else. The depth of the trench should be at least half the blocks height. A Guide to Growing and Caring for Succulents, How to Choose the Right Color Scheme for Your Homes Exterior, The Benefits of Adding Outdoor Lighting to Your Home, An Installation Guide for Range Hood Vent Through Ceiling, 20 Budget-Friendly Ways to Boost Your Homes Curb Appeal, 10 Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Companies In Syracuse, NY, 10 Best Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Companies In Tonawanda, NY, Illuminate Your Space with these Small Bathroom Ceiling Light Ideas. 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. Add topsoil over the concrete to let it dry slowly. Frustrated by buzzing creatures following you around the house? Step 8 Using the same process, set the opposite corner block. Repeat this step on the other side of the driveway. Live from the International Builders' Show, Josh Salinger discusses keeping water out of basements with this membrane from Delta-MS. 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. I want to lay the blocks at an angle (vs placing them vertically) in concrete (using sakrete mix). 4. To keep dust down, attach a hose to the fitting on the saw and run water through it as you cut, or have a helper hose down the asphalt in front of the blade while youre working. Repeat for the remaining blocks in the first section, making sure theyre flush with the level line and one another. Keep dust down when using the concrete saw by running water through the saw or having an assistant spray the driveway in front of the saw. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Skip to main content. Smooth the concrete against the back of the blocks with a pulling motion. I could try to provide a photo tomorrow once there's daylight to get one, if that would help? Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Spread 2 inches of crushed rock or 3/4-inch minus gravel, using a mixture of stone that has some stone dust for easier compaction. Do I fill the gap with stone dust/sand or mortar? As you set the first block, try wiggling it into the concrete so it sits flat against the edge of the driveway. Check the sand base for level and add or remove sand as needed to make. Dig a trench along the perimeter of where you would like to install the edging. One example could be Belgian block garden edging. Choose a location for your fire pit that is 20 feet from structures and overhanging tree branches, but close to a water source in case of emergency. 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 more lime, the more workable with more resiliancy, but the lower strength. Avoid varieties with extensive root systems that could nudge the blocks out of place. Finish Installing the Edging. 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. The concrete should be stiff in consistency and it should fill up to the level of the asphalt surface. That's a nice, clean look. Chip away any rough edges left along the driveway with a hammer and maul, and use the hammer and maul to cut the bottom of the driveway in towards the center at a slight angle to help provide a better grip for the concrete. I can confidently In spots where the asphalt was thicker or wasn't cut cleanly, use a brick set and a maul to remove loose or stray chunks. If youre not comfortable with dust, you can connect a hose to the fitting of the saw. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Plant the plants of your choice along the back edge of the Belgian blocks to provide a more attractive border. The edges of an asphalt driveway need to be cut straight so that the blocks line up evenly against it. 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. e-mail: info@belgianblock.com inventory| gallery| applications| installation| about the company| contact us| home 2016 Belgian Block Sales Co. Below is a picture of belgium block placed on angle. Your email address will not be published. a) the current edge of the asphalt driveway is jagged in places and not straight -some places small pieces have broken off. The recommendation is to use the mortar with the LOWEST strength possible to carry the load. Lay a line near the edge of one side of the driveway. Dont bother trying to hold the saw level; instead, let it sit on the asphalt and rock it forward to cut one small section at a time. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. The mortar should be workable but firm enough to support the weight of the block. BELGIAN BLOCK.com Landscaping A cost-effective way to give an upscale appearance to any project. Saturday: Dig the trench and lay the stones. Install the rest of the blocks in the first 10-block section, using the same method. We have created our guide visualizing Belgian block edging as a DIY project. Belgian Block Curb: Prices range from $9-$11 per foot, installed. Using a concrete saw, cut the asphalt along the chalk line. There is also that rubbery edging sold at Home Depot. Cut the edges of the driveway away along the chalk line with a concrete saw. Backfill the trench with topsoil, which will help the concrete dry more slowly, resulting in a harder cure. To make the asphalt easier to get rid of, split it into chunks about 1 foot long, using a brick set and a maul. Tap the block with a rubber mallet until its top is even with the height of the level line. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. 13. $2k for lining that driveway is a steal. Our guide will teach you both how to get rid of gnats and how to prevent future infestations. When disposing of the strips of asphalt from the driveway, cut it into 1-foot sections with a hammer and maul; contact an asphalt producer, as they may recycle it. Youll of course need the raw materials and the necessary equipment. If its difficult to remove the entire line of asphalt, cut them into small chunks. Check for level and adjust the rocks to achieve as close to level as possible. Best Home Warranty Companies In Nevada 2023, Overview of How To Install Belgian Block Driveway Edging, 9. Spread 1 inch of coarse masonry sand over the stone base layer. It would include a gravel footing under cement foundation and cement between the blocks, which are roughly 1' square. The cost of Belgian block driveway edging for a DIY project is mostly affordable, but the process can be a bit time-consuming. length of 24. Our ultimate guide on how to get rid of mosquitoes offers options for DIY and professional ways to eliminate these pests. As This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers demonstrates, installing the blocks requires just a few basic tools and a rented saw for cutting through the asphalt. Here's how to install one. I have dug trenches 10" wide and 7" deep along the edges of the driveway. In such cases, consider getting in touch with local asphalt producers who can use it to recycle. You might need to pry a little to get it all out. No way. For the last 30 years, I have owned the landscape company Designing Eden LLC based in New Milford, CT. We offer landscape designs, landscape installations and garden maintenance services in Fairfield and Litchfield County Connecticut. Avoid varieties with extensive root systems that could nudge the blocks out of place. For long or unevenly pitched driveways, place additional stakes at the midpoint and as needed along the trenchs length, and tie the line to each one at the proper height. Read our review of the five best dishwashers of 2022. Here are the steps that you need to follow to install Belgian block edging. Any form of edging that is above grade is just a tripping hazard to me. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Measuring from the driveway's surface, mark the desired height of the blocks above the asphalt on both stakes. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page. Drive a wooden stake into each end of the trench on both sides of the driveway. Tie a mason's line to one stake at the marked line, pull it taut, and secure it at the mark on the other stake. I just had a company do an asphalt driveway with a Belgian block apron. do it if you like it. Start your subscription today and save up to 70%. If Belgian isnt used for curbing the driveway, we use metal edging, which isnt inexpensive either. Lay the Belgian block on the sand base layer and push them tightly together. Dig a trench along each edge of the driveway. At this house, a second apron also provides a transition from the gravel drive to a blacktop parking area by the garage. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Centuries back, these stones were used to pave streets but over time, they came to be used mainly for decorative purposes. I assume they still have to do the top coat, so they'll do the cobbles then run the last coat of asphalt up to them? Belgian block is now most commonly used decoratively in yards and proves a durable material for edging flower beds, driveways and walkways. 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. To help you through the process, we have come up with a simple installation guideline below. Youll install the edging in 5- to 10-block sections, filling the trench with concrete as you go. With a pulling motion, smooth the concrete against the back of the blocks at an angle until the top of the concrete sits about 2 inches below the top of the blocks. Use a chalk line to mark the cuts. Fill the gap in the trench behind the blocks with concrete until it's about as high as the driveway. But if they're saying the driveway is completed and the cobbles will go next to the asphalt with all the wobbly edges that come with it? Dig a trench about 4 inches wider than width needed for the Belgian blocks and 5 inches deeper than the height. You can choose virtually any layout to create edging for your garden, but you must provide a sturdy base layer to prevent the Belgian blocks from shifting. Still, Belgian blocks are a popular go-to when cities or homeowners want to dress up a space. Youll follow this line to cut through the asphalt. In this article, well share the pros and cons of the top termite killers on the market. Then comes the crucial step of digging the trench by the sides of your driveway. Sweep paver base into the gap between the blocks and the edge of the driveway. Before the mortar a few blocks were easily knocked loose by a truck, which they fixed. Sunday: Finish laying the stones and backfill with soil. For the most part the edges are clean, except on the lower left (visible in photo) where a large tree and root were removed so the lawn dilineation was ragged. In the part of Connecticut where I live, a lot of driveways have Belgian-block aprons. Ideally, the top of the concrete should sit about 2 inches lower than the top of the blocks. For one, its easier to get lawn mowers and other machinery over. (For better drainage in areas prone to frost heave, dig the trench a bit deeper and tamp in a layer of crushed stone.). 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