~terry
Thu, Dec 3, 1998 (08:07)
seed
How do you build a road to your place? This is about roads, driveways,
lanes, streets, and other ways to pave the planet.
~terry
Thu, Dec 3, 1998 (08:08)
#1
Art Turner offers a unique solution:
There is an alternative to asphalt that is worth considering for that
situation: the end result is probably strong enough for residential use.
You know those littl six-packs of plastic starter pots that they sell
tomato
seedlings in? Keep those in mind.
When pouring a concrete sidewalk, the usual thing to do is reinforce it
with
welded wire mesh on a 6" x 6" grid. You've seen the stuff a million
times,
you know what I'm talking about.
Someone came up with the idea of making something that's a lot like those
plastic six-packs for starting plants, but you lay them down (upside
down)
on your crushed gravel concrete base. They're made so the 6x6
reinforcing
wire fits right over. You place the reinforcing, pour the concrete,
strike
it even, and let it cure. Then, you just go over it with a blowtorch,
and
burn the tops of this cheap plastic formwork away, resulting in a grid of
reinforced concrete. Fill the voids with soil. Sow grass seed, or just
let
the weeds grow up.
This is similar to, but an order of magnitude cheaper than the precast
grass
pavers. Not as crisp, either, but you can't have everything.
~autumn
Thu, Dec 3, 1998 (08:08)
#2
Wow, some people really know their infrastructure--have to admit I just take it for granted.
~wolf
Wed, Dec 16, 1998 (16:36)
#3
how about buying a home with a driveway already?