Curved garden path - Setting out and foundations

[juliar123]

Hi I'd like some info on the foundations for a garden path, in particular the edging, and I would also like some advice on setting the height levels. My path is gently curving, and we've already excavated a trench in the shape of the path. The path is 23m long and 1.2m wide. For the topping of the pathway, we plan to lay brick pavers at the edge and then infill with self binding gravel or (cue horror music!!) hoggin with a thin layer of gravel on top.

We have excavated a trench in the soil for the path. Either side of the path are existing flower beds. So there is loose soil at the walls of the trench.

First question is how to create the edging. There seems to be two options. (1) lay a foundation hardcore/MoT grade 1 scalpings in the entire width of the trench tamp it down and then lay a mortar ridge at the edges ontop of this as a bed for the bricks. or (2) lay a foundation of a concrete ridge as a base for the edge and then once dry infill with hardcore/scalpings and use the concrete foundation for a mortar bed for the bricks.

But with either method I'm a bit confused. (1) if the bricks on mortar are just on a bed of hardcore, and then the earth is pushed back up to the sides at the garden bed side, what will stop the scalpings from eeking out into the garden bed over time. and with method (2) if I lay a ridge of concrete and then try to infill with scalpings, then when I come to tamping down the scalpings with a vibrating plate, what will be holding the concrete ridge in place.

Ok that's the first problem. The second problem is how to lay out a string line for a curved path, in order to set the level for the top of the bricks on the edging. The only method I can think of is to put in a series of pegs down the centre of the path at the required height, and then run string lines off these to either side of the path and anchor them with pegs in the flower beds. But this doesn't give a string line going down the length of the path, it just gives a series of tangential lines across the path.

many thanks for any guidance

Julia

[lutonlagerlout]

we had quite an extensive thread on this recently

100mm of type 1
then 75mm of 6:1 grit sand cement

use path edgings or rails to screed the path

then lay the bricks with the mortar already on them

joint up as you go

any half decent builder will be able to show you this

cheers LLL