Friday, August 19, 2011

Enhancing Curb Appeal through a Stone Path Walkway

What a better way to kick start your weekend and even score some extra brownie points at home than by this weeks DIY project of a stone path walkway. This is a rather simple way to enhance the look of your home at a mild cost with a high impact. Laying a stone pathway can significantly change the look of your home and give your guests a welcoming feel; all for right around $150.00.
At my home I had an older style of stepping stones which were overgrown with grass and some were mostly buried under ground, my fiancé and I decided that it was more off-putting than appealing to walk up to the front of our home. We visited our local hardware store and purchased various stones which range from grey to tan and created a 3-foot by 5-foot puzzle to fit the look we wanted for our house. The steps for the project were simple:
  1. Designed the Path: We marked out with string and stakes the area for the newly designed path
  2. Created a Base: Dug out the marked area going 6 inches deep into the ground
  3. Filled the Base: Laid down crush gravel for the base and to eliminate erosion
  4. Set Stones in Place: Placed the pattern we designed in the marked area
  5. Filled in the Gaps: We filled the joints with masonry sand that we just swept into the cracks
When all was said and done we spent about $125 and it took about 6 hours to complete. In a half of days work we were able to transform our outdated and unwelcoming entryway into a warm and attractive element to our home.
If you are looking to complete this DIY project at your home, keep in mind the design elements that would correlate well with the rest of your house. If your house has slate rock accents, look into making your walkway out of similar slate. Maybe you have a red brick home, bring the element of the bricks right into your walkway that ties all of the design elements and color together. Repeating these design elements of your home will create a cohesive look that will make your house stand out from the rest.
DIY Network:
Better Homes and Garden:


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