Basement Entrance

Figure A--The first step to a pleasant walkway is removing unappealing growth and clearing a path for a new stone or concrete path. Survey your space on how you can link up an existing pathway so that the front and back of the home can be blended and beautified. In this example, a retaining wall will be added to complement the existing wall.

Figure B--A fiber-reinforced construction-grade concrete is your best choice for a walkway. It can even be colored with a cement coloring. You can also choose from several different concrete molds to design a path that suits you. Use multiple molds if you are running a long path of concrete. Pour an extra mold and use the pieces to fill in awkward gaps in the path.

Figure C--If you are adding a retaining wall, make sure the area is level throughout the process. A two-inch-thick bed of concrete serves as a good bed for the cement blocks. Be sure to wet the blocks down as you lay them so that the moisture from the concrete bed doesn't wick up into the cement.

Figure D--Cap blocks are the best way to cover the holes of the cement blocks and provide a smooth, clean look to the wall. You may choose, however, to fill the holes with soil and use the blocks as planters. You can also choose from many decorative stones to serve as cap stones.

Figure E--After applying wall-finishing product with a trowel, use a brush in a swirling pattern to provide texture for the surface. This will greatly enhance the look of the product.

Figure F--Once all the hardscaping is complete, you have the chance to devote yourself to softscaping with pleasant plants. As you can see, there aren't many steps involved to produce such a dramatic result. A project like this only takes around two days and costs less than 300 dollars.