Features of brick curbs

To create flower beds, gardeners use various building materials. Brick is considered one of the most common. You can make beautiful borders of various configurations from it. At the same time, both old clay bars and new ones are used in the works. Strong and reliable structures are laid out of them for arranging flower beds and garden paths. Consider the features of this material, its types and styling rules.

The brick curb is able to fit into any architectural style. Such solutions look most advantageous next to brick houses and buildings.

The benefits include a number of factors.

1. Small block sizes. Due to its small size, when creating fences, you do not need to use special equipment. From small blocks, you can lay out flower beds of various shapes - square, rectangular, round or curved.
2. Combination with many natural or artificial materials. Brickwork is in harmony with various stones, glass, wood, shell rock, metal and plastic products.
3. Ability to withstand high soil pressure inside the structure. Thanks to this feature, multi-level structures can be laid out of bricks.
4. Durability of the structure subject to the correct selection of blocks and adherence to the installation technology.

Bricks are sold in a wide range - they differ in shape, texture and technical characteristics. Buying new products for 1-2 flower beds will not be very expensive. If you want to save money on the purchase of material, you can look for it in landfills or abandoned construction sites.

Manufacturers offer several types of material. Basically, flower beds are laid out from red ceramic bricks. It is made from clay with a minimum percentage of undecomposed calcites. When fired in kilns at a temperature of 1000 degrees, the product acquires high strength and resistance to various adverse weather conditions.

Some gardeners make curbs from white sand-lime bricks. It is made from fine sand. Lime acts as a binding component. Silicate bars are manufactured using autoclave pressing technology.

Bricks are classified into 2 groups. They are privates and decorative... The former are distinguished by a lower cost, but their quality is low - cracks, chips and other external defects are often on their surface. Facing brick curbs look more solid and luxurious.

Decorative bars are characterized by perfect geometry. They are:

• smooth with a flat front surface;
• textured with a relief surface (for example, with imitation of decorative plaster);
• shaped with a complex geometric shape.

Decorative and ceramic bricks come in different shades, so you can choose a solution based on your taste preferences and requirements. The most common colors are:

• classic red;
• cherry;
• chocolate;
• straw;
• peach and others.

More expensive solutions are produced by the glazed coating method followed by firing. Such modifications are performed in different colors - from dark and pale to contrasting bright.

The most durable, reliable and expensive flower beds are clinker brick structures. The material is made from plastic types of clay, followed by firing the mass at high temperatures up to 1300 degrees. The finished bars are characterized by low water absorption, good strength and low temperature resistance. To decorate the front part of the bars, mineral chips are applied, engobered or glazed.

To create flower beds from bricks, you do not need a specialized tool. All work can be done using the inventory at hand. For laying a curb without cement, a bayonet shovel, a level, a dense rope or cord, pegs for marking are suitable.

If the structure will be erected using a solution, you cannot do without a trowel, a hammer, a container for mixing the working mixture. When performing large-scale work, a manual or electric concrete mixer can be useful.

To prepare the working mass, you will need cement, fine sifted sand and water. Brick will be needed from materials. For masonry curbs, it is best to give preference to full-bodied bars. Blocks with air voids will not work. Such cavities are designed to improve the thermal insulation of the erected structure. Flowers don't need it. In addition, curbs lined with hollow bricks may soon collapse.

There are several ways to lay bricks for the construction of flower fences in the country. The easiest method is to install the curb without using cement mortar.

Step-by-step instruction:

• marking with stakes and cords;
• removing the top layer of soil with a shovel to a depth of 30 cm to remove the rhizomes of weeds;
• laying out a brick wall around the perimeter of the base.

To create a massive structure or multi-level brickwork, several steps must be taken.

1. Prepare the foundation. For the convenience of work, you can make a preliminary drawing on paper.
2. Apply markings on the selected area, dig a small trench up to 30 cm. Tamp the bottom and place roofing felt on it.
3. To strengthen the structure, the trench is poured with concrete (the recommended ratio of cement and sand is 1: 3, water is added in portions).
4. After the foundation has solidified, it is necessary to start laying out the brick fence.
5. After about a week, plants can be planted in the flowerbed.

Another way to decorate flower beds or garden paths, which was very popular, is herringbone laying... This technology used to make flower beds in hospitals, kindergartens, schools. To create a flower garden, it is best to use a durable red brick, since it will have to be dug into the ground. Installation includes several steps:

• marking the site and digging a trench 10-15 cm deep;
• exposing bricks with a slope of about 45 degrees into the formed recess;
• burying the bars, tamping the soil.

For information on how to make a brick border, see the next video.