Dig a trench along each edge of the driveway. Tip: Most trash collectors wont take asphalt waste. Required fields are marked *. Smooth the surface of the concrete with a mason's trowel to cover the back of the blocks until you're about 2 inches beneath the top of the blocks. In such cases, consider getting in touch with local asphalt producers who can use it to recycle. Wondering about those moth-like flies hanging around your drains? Lay a line near the edge of one side of the driveway. Repeat all steps for the other side of the driveway. just the apron was done. If the edging is installed along a flower bed, fill in the back side of the trench with mulch from the flower bed. In the part of Connecticut where I live, a lot of driveways have Belgian-block aprons. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. Add another 2 inches of gravel or rock and tamp it down. Dig a trench about 4 inches wider than width needed for the Belgian blocks and 5 inches deeper than the height. First, lay 5 to 10 blocks side by side next to the trench to determine the length of the first section. They were careful with the job and it looks good, took them about a day for just the apron. The whole assembly is about 1 ft. thick and should be built on undisturbed soil. He has been published on various websites. 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. Check the sand base for level and add or remove sand as needed to make the sand base level. below the top of the sidewalk to allow room for the bricks and about an inch of sand. We have created our guide visualizing Belgian block edging as a DIY project. The prices might vary in different regions but that wouldnt make a huge difference. 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 asphalts surface. 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. Ive seen many that have gone bad. Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the trench. With the right guidance and necessary tools, anyone can add a neat row of Belgian blocks to their driveway. Installing Belgian block edging can be an exciting home improvement project as it doesnt require heavy-duty equipment while also adding aesthetic value to your home. Clay soil has poor drainage, which means water pools beneath the blocks and slowly erodes the clay. Repeat all steps for the other side of the driveway. Belgian block was once widely used to pave streets and can still be found in some cities hundreds of years after installation. All About Installing Belgian Block Driveway Edging, Cambria Countertops Buying Guide Explained in 13 Steps, 20 Budget-Friendly Ways to Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal, Your Ultimate Guide to Remodeling Your Kitchen or Bathroom[2022], Home Security Guide: How to Keep Your House Safe At All Times, Creative Ideas for Designing a Small Purple Bathroom That Feels Spacious and Luxurious, How Often to Fertilize Indoor Plants: A Guide to Houseplant Fertilizers, How to Plant Succulents Indoors? Some say you need 6 concrete bed underneath, others say 6 stone base, some want poly sand instead of mortar. 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. No way. Concrete usually takes about a week to fully cure and be adequately rigid. 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. this was also in NJ. 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. Belgian Block Curb: Prices range from $9-$11 per foot, installed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So, depending on how much you want to spend, any edging will add a neat look to your driveway. Still, Belgian blocks are a popular go-to when cities or homeowners want to dress up a space. Use a block of scrap two-by-four lumber to spread it evenly. Carson Barrett began writing professionally in 2009. All Rights Reserved. But if you want to do it on your own, you will save on labor costs. Wedge a spade into the cut line and pry the waste asphalt away from the side of the driveway. Set jumbo blocks in 2" bed of concrete. I want to lay the blocks at an angle (vs placing them vertically) in concrete (using sakrete mix). The trench needs to be wider than your blocks so that theres enough space to hold the concrete thatll go in later. It might be a regional thing so you need to know your market but I think it looks ridiculous. Before the mortar a few blocks were easily knocked loose by a truck, which they fixed. If your driveway is slightly uneven, you might want to place stakes somewhere in the middle of the trench with some gap. Trees and wild bushes end of street, bank going down to a brook just beyond them. Check the sand base for level and add or remove sand as needed to make. 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. There's no functional reason to not do it. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. I live in the region where Belgian block is an asset. The driveway is abut 70' long, steeply inclined, and we're the last house on a dead end. Drive a stake at each end of the trenches and tie a masons line to mark the desired height. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. There is also that rubbery edging sold at Home Depot. Lay a chalk line along one edge of the driveway and drive nails into the driveway next to the chalk line every 5 feet. 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. 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. The concrete should be stiff in consistency and it should fill up to the level of the asphalt surface. Spread 1 inch of coarse masonry sand over the stone base layer. This is often the cause of swales in cobblestone and Belgian block streets. Lay a chalk line along one edge of the driveway and drive nails into the driveway next to the chalk line every 5 feet. A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. Add 2 inches of 1/4-minus gravel or crushed rock to the trench and pack it tightly with a hand tamper. The first is the height of the blocks. 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. 10. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Is it supposed to keep ants from falling over the edge? We just had a new driveway installed and have an opportunity to add Belgian Block curbing to it for a reasonable cost. Cut the edges of the driveway away along the chalk line with a concrete saw. Then comes the crucial step of digging the trench by the sides of your driveway. Heres how to install one. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. Landscape the Border. Belgian block, more commonly known as sett stone, is quarried stone cut into rough, rectangular shapes, and is often confused with cobblestones which vary in size and shape. A Belgian block edging will not only enhance the aesthetic of the entryway but also provide a clear visual aid while youre pulling into the driveway or reversing your car. If the edging is installed along a lawn or a flower bed, use mulch from the flower bed to refill the back of the trench. First, place 5-10 blocks next to the trench to gauge the length of the first section. (A little muscle for lifting the blocks helps, too.) Cover the. I have dug trenches 10" wide and 7" deep along the edges of the driveway. Belgian Block Installation 1. Use a hand tamper or the blunt end of a digging bar to pack the stone tight. Repeat for the remaining blocks in the first section, making sure theyre flush with the level line and one another. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! All rights reserved. The blocks make an excellent choice for fire pits because they are highly durable and will withstand harsh elements. Will have to fix that if we don't do the curbing. Hammer nails, with a gap of about 5 meters, along the edge halfway into the asphalt. Wedge a spade into the cut line and pry the waste asphalt away from the side of the driveway. The running water from the hose will keep the dust down. Continue adding rock until the finished depth of the stone base after compaction is 4 inches; the remaining depth of the trench should be 1 inch plus the depth you wish to set the Belgian block. The edges of an asphalt driveway need to be cut straight so that the blocks line up evenly against it. The edges of an asphalt driveway need to be cut straight so that the blocks line up evenly against it. Company has been around a while but most of their work is asphalt not block. With expertise in both landscape design and installation, were the right choice for you! 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. 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. Set the first block in place, wiggling it into the concrete slightly until its level and sits against the edge of the driveway. Back in the horse-and-buggy days, it was common to see Belgian blocks paving American city streets. Mortar and finish joints, most about 3/4. Don't 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. Nothing ruins warm weather fun like a mosquito bite. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Do I fill the gap with stone dust/sand or mortar? a) the current edge of the asphalt driveway is jagged in places and not straight -some places small pieces have broken off. At least half of Belgian blocks should be set in the ground, but you can set the stones even with soil grade to make a clean mowing edge. 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