Instructions
- Create your plan of where the edging will be in your landscaping and layout your plan with string.
- Remove the dirt from your layout 4" deep.
- Create your concrete form using a 1/4" or 1/2" board and wooden stakes.
- Pour 1/2" of gravel into the form.
- Place concrete into forms.
- Let the concrete cure for about 3 days.
Full Answer
How do you build a concrete border around a fence?
Excavate your planned border perimeter to a 4″ depth and an 8″ width. Compact the soil to create a solid base for the concrete you will add in a later step. STEP 3: Stake outside the border. Drive 1″ x 1″ x 12″ wood stakes at one-and-a-half-foot intervals along the border. STEP 4: Create your concrete mold.
How to build a concrete garden edging?
STEP 1: Decide on the placement of your concrete garden edging. Start by laying out the perimeter of your edging with a garden hose or a length of rope. For best results, devise a design in which the border is at least 5″ wide. STEP 2: Dig and tamp the soil where you’ll pour the concrete.
How deep should a garden border be on concrete?
You can go as wide as you like, but the strongest concrete edging is at least 3½ inches wide and deep. Additionally, at least two inches of that depth should be below the surface of the soil; this below-grade portion holds the border securely in place.
How do you make a simple border for a shed?
Use a shovel to dig an outline of the border location. Excavate the outlined area, digging a trench ½” to 1” deeper than your border, and level the bottom, using a square nosed shovel. QUIK-Tip: Make the sides of the trench as vertical as possible to help support the forms. Construct the forms, cutting ¼” plywood strips.
How do you do concrete edging yourself?
0:577:26How to Build Concrete Lawn Borders - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you have determined the thickness of your border the border height above the ground and borderMoreOnce you have determined the thickness of your border the border height above the ground and border depth dig a trench about a half of an inch to an inch deeper than the border. Thickness.
How deep should a concrete border be?
Concrete borders should be at least 3-and-a-half inches thick and should extend at least 2 inches deep into the ground to anchor them and prevent shifting and cracking. Then dig a trench 1/2 -inch to 1 inch deeper than the desired border thickness, minus the border's depth.
What type of concrete is used for edging?
Fiber-reinforced, QUIKRETE® Crack Resistant Concrete is the ideal product for the job and for a personal touch add one of five QUIKRETE® Liquid Cement Colors to the mix.
Are concrete lawn borders a good idea?
Concrete curbing is a great way to add a special touch that transforms your homes' landscape. This type of permanent landscape edging can really improve the curb appeal of your home. There are a variety of options to choose from giving you the opportunity to be creative when taking your yard to the next level.
What is the best material for concrete forms?
Plywood is the best material for building concrete forms because it retains its shape and integrity following prolonged exposure to wet concrete. Cut OSB panels tend to swell on exposure to water. Plyform panels are the best choice since they're specially engineered for concrete forming.
How far apart should concrete cuts be?
Cuts should be approx. 2-3 times the thickness of your slab in feet. For example, a 6” slab would have cuts 12' – 18' apart.
Does concrete edging last?
Durability of Poured Concrete Edging Concrete is one of the most durable types of garden and lawn edging that you can choose. It isn't prone to rotting, warping, separating or other types of deterioration, even in extreme weather conditions.
How thick is concrete edging?
You can go as wide as you like, but the strongest concrete edging is at least 3½ inches wide and deep. Additionally, at least two inches of that depth should be below the surface of the soil; this below-grade portion holds the border securely in place.
How long does concrete edging last?
10 to 30 yearsWith proper care and maintenance, concrete edging can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years.
What is the cost of concrete edging?
The national average materials cost to install concrete edging is $5.05 per linear foot, with a range between $4.71 to $5.40. The total price for labor and materials per linear foot is $13.08, coming in between $7.71 to $18.45. A typical 100 linear foot project costs $1,308.20, with a range of $771.37 to $1,845.02.
What is cheaper concrete or grass?
Artificial turf is often the more affordable landscaping option than concrete. Turf alone can typically range from $2-$8 per square foot, and installing a turf lawn can range $4-$20 per square foot including materials and labor.
Is concrete cheaper than grass?
Concrete usually costs around $4 to $10 per sq ft (0.09 sq m). According to Landscaping Network, plain concrete is the cheapest, around $2 to $5 per square foot (0.09 sq m). Stamped concrete can cost up to $10 per square foot (0.09 sq m). Colored concrete costs are between $5 and $15 per square foot (0.09 sq m).
How deep should you dig a border?
You will need to consider the size, proportions and shape of your border. If you're opting for a longer border, it should be deeper (90cm – 1.2m depth – 3-4ft) but if you're doing a super long border then double this up!
How thick is concrete edging?
You can go as wide as you like, but the strongest concrete edging is at least 3½ inches wide and deep. Additionally, at least two inches of that depth should be below the surface of the soil; this below-grade portion holds the border securely in place.
How deep should a concrete apron be?
Acceptable material—concrete is the most common, followed by asphalt, and then pavers. The thickness of the apron. For example, concrete on the non-apron portion of the driveway should be a minimum of four inches thick, while codes may require the apron portion to be as much as seven inches thick.
How deep should edging stones be?
around 6 inches deepDig a trench around your lawn, path or driving way. For example, if the stone your using is 6x2 inches you'll need the trench to be around 6 inches deep. In addition to your stone, there will be around 2 inches of concrete at the base, along with around 2 inches of the stone visible above ground.
How to make a cement border?
Project Instructions. When working with cement-based products, always wear eye protection and waterproof gloves. Step 1. Remove any landscaping materials like stray and mulch from the desired border path. Step 2. Use a shovel to dig an outline of the border location. Step 3.
How to maintain a consistent width of concrete?
QUIK-Tip: Maintain a consistent width of the forms by placing spacers at regular intervals. Make sure the spacers are pushed down to the bottom of the form before pouring the concrete.
What to wear when working with cement?
When working with cement-based products, always wear eye protection and waterproof gloves.
How long does it take for concrete to cure?
Cut in control joints about every eight feet using a margin trowel. Water cure the concrete for a minimum of 3 – 5 days using a fine water mist.
How deep should a concrete border be?
Concrete borders should be at least 3-and-a-half inches thick and should extend at least 2 inches deep into the ground to anchor them and prevent shifting and cracking. Then dig a trench 1/2 -inch to 1 inch deeper than the desired border thickness, minus the border’s depth.
How wide should a wood spacer be for a concrete border?
Use 1-by-1-inch or 1-by-2-inch wood spacers — 4 or 6 inches wide — at regular intervals to ensure the border keeps a consistent width. Slide the spacers between the forms to keep the forms parallel; you can keep the spacers there, or remove them, before pouring the concrete.
What is a border on a lawn?
Lawn borders define your flowerbeds and pathways, giving your landscaping a finished look. You can form concrete to the desired shape and color or stain it to match your style, and you won’t find a more durable, long-lasting edging option.
What size board do you use to make concrete?
Create your concrete form using a 1/4" or 1/2" board and wooden stakes.
How much does it cost to install concrete edging?
This will depend on how wide the edging will be and how long the border is.
How long does it take for concrete to cure?
Once the concrete is in place, it needs to cure. Make sure to follow the instructions on your concrete bag by either applying a sealer or keeping the concrete slightly damp for a couple of days.
How to secure a board to a stake?
Secure the board to the stake using two screws, one toward the bottom and one toward the top. You will need to remove the clamp for one screw. TIP: You may need to use a 90-degree drill attachment. The length of your strips will determine how far apart you will space the stakes.
How to measure edging width?
After you have placed one side of the layout, add a gap and lay out the other side of the border. This gap will represent the width of your edging.
Do you need to pack dirt inside a form?
Now that your form is done, you need to pack down the dirt inside the form.
Can you mix concrete in a tub?
You may want to use a mixer, depending on the amount of concrete you need (most concrete companies have a calculator, like the Concrete Calculator from Quikrete ). If you’re not using a ton of bags, mix it in a wheelbarrow or plastic tub according to the instructions on the bag.
How to spread concrete into border?
Having mixed the concrete to a firm, workable consistency, pour it into the border form, using a margin trowel to spread and consolidate the mix.
What is concrete edging?
Always affordable and at once both decorative and functional, concrete garden edging effectively defines garden beds, tree surrounds, and driveway curbs, their versatility enabling you to match any landscape contour.
How long does concrete garden edging last?
Perhaps most appealing of all is that concrete garden edging lasts for years and years. Once you’ve completed this project, you can forget all about it and rest assured of its durability. Even though the quantity of requisite materials will vary in keeping with the ambitiousness of your vision, you can use the steps below to make concrete garden ...
How to make a spacer for a fence?
For spacers, cut 1″ x 1″ boards in lengths equal to the width of the border. Meanwhile, set 1″ x 1″ x 12″ wood stakes along the outside of the border in three-foot intervals, then set your spacers as needed along the bottom of the excavated area to maintain a consistent garden border width.
How wide should a garden hose be for edging?
Start by laying out the perimeter of your edging with a garden hose or a length of rope. For best results, devise a design in which the border is at least 5″ wide.
How long does it take for acrylic cement to cure?
Finally, apply acrylic concrete sealer to the concrete before letting it cure for three to five days. Once the concrete has cured, remove the forms and backfill against the lawn border with dirt or sod.
How wide should a concrete border be?
You can go as wide as you like, but the strongest concrete edging is at least 3½ inches wide and deep. Additionally, at least two inches of that depth should be below the surface of the soil; this below-grade portion holds the border securely in place.
How to make a border with plywood?
Place your first plywood where you want to start your edging. Position the plywood in the trench along the guide, and drive a 12”-long 1×2 stake on the outside of it. Remember: The form and stake should be no higher than the desired height of your border.
How to attach plywood to a stake?
At the opposite end, insert a 1×4 stake so that plywood strip overlaps only half of the wider stake. Attach the plywood to the stake using four screws this time (two rows spaced an inch apart). The extra set will ensure that the plywood form is securely attached—especially important if you’re forming the concrete edging in a curve.
How to cut plywood for concrete?
Use a circular saw to cut 4-foot-by-8-foot plywood sheets lengthwise to create the sides of the concrete forms. Good for either curvy or straight designs, these bendable strips should be as wide your concrete edging’s desired depth (above and below ground) plus an extra inch for gravel in the trench.
What is edging in landscaping?
Lawn and garden edging elevates your landscape much like how a frame does a photo: The dramatic emphasis around the perimeter focuses attention on what’s within the borders. While you’ll find a variety of edging materials at your local home improvement center, virtually nothing offers as much creative flexibility and as sharp of appearance as poured concrete. It can be molded into curves or corners for a distinct separation between lawns and rock gardens or flowerbeds—by do-it-yourselfers of any skill level! Then there’s there’s durability to consider: Not only is concrete one of the strongest materials around, it’s virtually maintenance-free. Best of all, concrete is affordable (approximately $2 per linear foot for poured concrete edging). By all accounts, it’s a no-brainer means to boost your curb appeal.
How deep should a trench be?
Your trench should be one inch deeper and two to three inches wider than the size of your concrete edging. When digging, try to keep the sides of the trench as vertical as possible. Scrape the bottom of the trench even with a flat-head shovel to remove any rises in the soil or lingering dirt clods. Photo: quikrete.com.
What is Quikrete crack resistant concrete?
Quikrete’s Crack Resistant Concrete Mix is fortified with synthetic fibers so that it reaches 4000 lbs. per square inch (psi), which greatly reduces the risk of the border cracking.
