Improving Your Landscaping

Posted on: 25 April 2016

If you are looking to improve the appearance of your backyard, you may consider adding a sidewalk to use for peaceful strolls through your land. Instead of using asphalt or slate as many people do, consider constructing a sidewalk from pieces of recycled lumber. This will be an eye-catching pathway that will be sure to gain you several complements from visitors. Here are some general instructions for creating this wonderful wooden masterpiece in your own backyard.

Materials You Will Need

• Wood stakes
• Measuring tape
• 2x4 pieces of lumber
• Hammer
• Flat-edge screwdriver
• Wood planer machine
• Sander and medium-grit sandpaper
• Wood preservative
• Paintbrush
• Deck screws 
• Wood sealant

Plot Out The Positioning

Before you can start the project, you need to know how much wood to obtain. Add stakes to your yard to plot out the path you wish for your walkway to follow. Jot down measurements to help you figure out how many pieces of wood would fill in the area. You can cut pieces of lumber to fit as needed.

Obtain Lumber For The Project

To keep your cost down, you will need to hunt for lumber to recycle into your sidewalk. If you notice someone is going to be tearing down a deck, this lumber would work wonderfully. If someone is doing renovating, wood may be thrown out from the project. Drive around your area searching for projects such as these and ask if you can take away the refuse people are not using. Many lumber yards have sales on lumber that is already cut and returned by contractors. Periodic lumber sales may also give you a bargain if you look at the right time.

Preparing The Wood Pieces

If you are using old wood, the planks will need to be refinished before you place them on the ground. Remove any nails from the planks using the claw end of a hammer or the flat end of a screwdriver to pry them out. Use a planer on each board to remove any wear from the outer surface. Afterwards, use sandpaper to smooth down each plank a bit before constructing your walkway. New wood planks will not require sanding, making them a great alternative if you can acquire some at a cheap price. Brush some wood preservative on each board to help protect it from the elements. 

Constructing The Sidewalk

Lay boards flat end to end along each side of the interior of your staked out pathway. Add a second tier by laying boards flat centered perpendicularly over the bottom layer so the longer sides are flush with neighboring pieces. Use your decking screws to attach the ends of the upper tier boards to the bottom frame pieces. Add a sealant to the wood after they are in place for added protection. If you wish, stain the boards before sealing.