Ideas to modify an existing path

We have a concrete path leading from the rear door to the rear gate and are looking for ideas to make it blend in better with the garden. it is about 7 metres long. We cannot remove it as it is about 5 inches thick and comes in slabs. Housing association place.
We thought of perhaps tiling it or putting slabs on top, but we are wary of slabs as the path slopes gently and slabs may make it dangerous in the winter months especially as I use elbow crutches.
Can any one offer some suggestions please as we would really like to make our rear garden a place of enjoyment without it breaking the bank? Thanks.

 

I had a similar path when I lived in Norfolk and resolved the problem by covering it with a layer of brown engineering bricks laid in a herringbone pattern ~ on a base of about 1 inch of sand and cement and grouted using the same mix. Fortunately the step up to the front door was high enough to allow for this, but the garden gate had to be altered. It looked nice though and stood up to frost.

 

Slabs or bricks on a bed of sand on top would be a quick fix, or a bed of sand and cement (dry mix) to make it more permanant. I would definately NOT use tiles outdoors though.

You could edge the concrete path you have now with bricks or timber and cover with gravel or a layer of bark for a different look but these two might not be suitable for your mobility as you use crutches.

Steve...

 

The path is 90cm wide and 9 metres long so all in all about 8.1 square metres coverage. Thought about bricks, but it may be time consuming laying so many bricks plus the height is a factor. We can only raise it about 2" at the most so looking at thinner type tiles on a base.

 

I was thinking of slabs rather than tiles. Not too familiar with terminology. Like the idea of the gravel, but not too sure how to stop it spilling out onto the pavement by the rear gate. as the path is sloping the rear gate has a large 3 inch gap at the bottom so that it can be opened. Not too sure if you can have a gate that opens onto the street as we would not be able to see who is walking along when we open it.

 

What about just using plants along the edges just to soften the way it looks? Some nice ornamental grasses or some low growing creeping type plants like thyme or rosemary. Maybe some lavender that will release its scent when you brush past.....

 

Thanks. As the concrete is pitted it is difficult to keep clean so would like to "hide" it.

 

Could you paint it brown to disguise it? I have my concrete fenceposts painted the same colour as the fence panels because I don't like the look of the concrete.

Or you could lay artificial grass on top of it.

 

Good thinking about the artificial grass, but finding a supplier that sells something that actually looks like grass and then trying to match it in with your existing grass may be a problem. Definitely worth investigating as easier than laying slabs.

 

pebble pave

PEBBLE PAVE

very sought after in south africa, and used for driveways, around swimming pools, indoors and even on interior or exterior walls

all colours and patterns available, pretty cheap and very robust .... also non-slip

it's tiny grains of pebbles that are mixed with a very strong clear adhesive, then applied onto existing concrete etc

have not seen any used here in cambridge, but it is absolutely stunning and very cheap (in south africa) .... you will also not get any algae growing on it

here is a youtube video of something similar:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9LQVhq2ePE&feature=related[/url]

 

Sounds like a very good idea Dim

 

We had that around our pool in South Africa but did not know you could get it here. Have to check to see if any one stocks it.

 

it's also known as Permeable Resin Bound Paving in the UK

Resin Bound Gravel for driveways and paths - clearstone paving

 

Thanks will give them a call tomorrow and hope it is not heart attack money. LOL!

 

if it's too expensive for the professionals to apply, it looks easy if you are good at DIY

mix the resins, apply to the pebbles, mix well, ... then apply with a trowel over the existing paving?