How Do You Build Forms For A Curving Concrete Sidewalk?
Building curved forms for a sidewalk or other concrete project is not much harder than building straight forms, and the results are definitely more interesting. • Mark the curve. Use 12-inch (30.5 cm) hardboard siding (sometimes called Masonite) ripped down to 6-inch (15 cm) strips in 16-ft. (4.8 meter) lengths. (Full-service lumberyards and home centers carry all this forming material.) Flex it to the desired shape of your sidewalk and stake it down. Use marking paint to mark the ground next to the form. • Slice off sod with a sod cutter, then dig out the rest of the sidewalk path to a depth of 6 inch (15 cm). Dig out about 3 inch (7.6 cm) wider on both sides of the paint marks to leave room for forms. Set aside some topsoil to fill against the forms and sidewalk later. • Start thinking about drainage issues at this point. If water tends to collect in the yard in spots, you may want to elevate the walk in those areas, so don’t dig as deeply there. Long, flat areas should have one side
Putting a sidewalk on your property is an inexpensive way to add to the landscaping around your home. You can add a curving concrete sidewalk as easily as a straight one. All it takes is a little bit of extra prep work. As with any concrete project, the preparation is the largest part of the job. Decide where you want to build your new sidewalk. Measure how long and wide you want to make the sidewalk. Make sure you have any necessary building permits before you start the project. Go to the lumberyard to pick up your supplies. Most lumberyards can cut the hardboard siding into strips for you. To make it easier to haul the floppy pieces of siding home safely, bundle them together with a 2×4. Wrap them securely with packing tape. Rough in the new sidewalk. Tie string to a couple stakes to help you get a general idea. Remove the sod. Dig deep enough to allow for the fill, the reinforcement mesh and the thickness of the sidewalk. Anchor a stake at the beginning of the sidewalk and another o
