Need help creating front door walkway.

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

So the way the front of my house is laid out the previous owners threw stones in the yard to create a walkway that I hate. I also hate the rock garden. I'm going to be pulling up those rocks keeping the majority of the shape to plant a garden with stone block edging, however I'm going to angle it to create much more space to connect a walkway with the front door. I was considering making a concrete walkway with a paver mold that followed the curvature of the garden there with edging stone on either side. My major problem here is I don't feel like tackling steps. There's a much smaller grade slope to the left of that light post, where the previous owner put those pavers, theres a steep slope to the right of the light post where they're broken and sliding down the hill. Very poorly thought out. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on either forgoing stairs and having a zig zag walkway past the light post to the left or if there's an easier way that I can DIY steps to the right of it. Despite being a contractor for years when I was younger, I never had to pour steps, only side walks so the task seems a bit daunting to me. Please disregard the grass, it was seeded recently and I'm waiting for the bald spots to grow before I cut it so it's way overgrown right now lol.

Featured Answer

Denita

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Make sure to leave enough room from the house for deep and wide landscaping beds and a very wide walkway - at least 42 inches wide at a minimum and preferably wider.

Consider starting your walkway to the left of the light post and swing out and up rather than along the right side.

Curved stone walkway leads to front door · More Info

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

suezbell
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
You could start at your driveway and dig out a four feet wide, straight, gently sloped ditch in which to pour your sidewalk, one that will end at a point about six feet in front of your porch at a point just beyond the right side of your front door frame.

Create a square concrete slab on which to set precast concrete steps leading from your steps to your sidewalk.

https://www.google.com/search?q=precast+concrete+steps+lowes&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0xZTjpPPoAhUhn-AKHVcaD34Q_AUoAnoECA0QBA&biw=1366&bih=654

Prepare your base for your sidewalk and pour it -- using those stones beside the house being optional.

You will have created a planting area between sidewalk and house.
shirlpp
6 years ago
Why can't you just do a paver walkway?
Related Professionals
Gaithersburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Stamford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Utica Landscape Contractors · Flagstaff Landscape Contractors · Dallas Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Gary Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Lagrange Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Louisville Interior Designers & Decorators · Danbury Interior Designers & Decorators · Pittsburg Architects & Building Designers · Poplar Bluff Architects & Building Designers · San Marcos Architects & Building Designers · Potsdam Architects & Building Designers · Milwaukee Architects & Building Designers · Santa Barbara Architects & Building Designers
Burke
Original Author
6 years ago
Thats what I was going to do but the yard is sloped, fairly steep to the right of the light post I thought it would be a hazard to have a steep slope walkway to the front door, no?
shirlpp
6 years ago
Some slope is needed for water runoff. It's hard to see the slope from your pictures. Maybe you need a landscaper to take a look at it.
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I'd just clean it all up and do something like these:

clean up the the rocks under the window and do something like they've done here^

put some type of border around your flowerbed. these, plastic, or brick, or cement border,,,anything to keep them separate and clean looking
Burke
Original Author
6 years ago
I was definitely going to edge the beds I’m going to replace the rock garden thing with a regular garden. Probably going to use a rumblestone edger but I love those walkways thank you! I’m going to look into that now!
PRO
Design Interior South
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Pavers can be done they will flatten out the area and level it for the walk way. I have a slope on the side and have had three companies come out that do professional pavers and not one of them has so much as balked at the slope which is significantly more sloped than yours.

That said I would do something that is more in line with the style of your home. A brick or paver walk way would work but it needs to be redirected to the actual front door and not come in on the side. I am not sure why a topiary is planted right smack in front of your front door but that needs to be moved. I would remove your rock garden and then transplant the topiary between the two windows on the left. Then plant some low growing shrubs. Re route the walk way so that it comes up to the front door not to the side of it. Do you have a porch area to the right of the front door? Is that why there appears to be a sofa there? It looks off because it is blocking the window. Are you wanting a seating area there? Do you use that area?
Burke thanked Design Interior South
Burke
Original Author
6 years ago
@Design Interior South I'm going to try and pull those plants up today. The previous owner had them there with no entrance to the house. But you're absolutely right. We do use the sofa quite often, maybe I'll take the shutters off so you can't see the window behind it.