Discussions

I need a walkway built in my backyard, about 36' x 2'. I can't afford anything elaborate, but I found this SUPER cool idea online using Concrete Forms or Molds that make your walkway look like it's made of stones or bricks, but it's just concrete (so clever! and so cheap!) but I can't seem to find the forms in Brandon. Here's the link if you'd like to see...  
 
http://www.budget101.com/content.php/502-How-to-build-a-faux-stone-walkway  
 
So I guess I have two questions:  
 
1. Has anyone seen these forms/molds here in town?  
 
2. How else could I make a low-cost walkway? I'd love to use bricks, but I hear that is the most expensive and labour-intensive way to go...

Would like to know if anyone has found these molds around!

Have you asked at Home Depot, etc if they can order it? Otherwise it looks like you'd have to order something online.

I've seen these around. Try Home Hardware, Rona or any of the big box stores like Home Depot.. Some of the websites you can check inventory.  
 
https://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Building-Supplies/Building-Materials/Masonry-Products/Concrete-Forms/Eps-Foam/13-Cobblestone-Stepping-Stone-Form/_/N-nthvj/R-I2610302  
 
https://www.rona.ca/en/cement-mold--random-stone-duo-pathmate  
 
Good luck.

I already checked Rona, Home Depot, and Western Concrete. They don't have any. I will give Home Hardware a try. I may just order online and hopefully it will arrive before winter ;)

I bought the mold and mixer at Green Spot ten years or so ago. Bag of concrete per mold fill, I believe.  
 
For a cheap walkway, what about building a deck? Build pallets of wood, level and shim to rest properly on the ground.

Lee Valley carries them, I'm not sure if the Winnipeg store stocks them or not, but that's another option for ordering if need be.  
 
search cobblestone mold at www.leevalley.com  
 
Edited by hutchster, 2017-06-14 14:45:47

Lee Valley, Rona, Ebay and Amazon.ca sell them online. You could try Alternative Landscaping or Peavey Mart.

When we moved into our home the previous neighbours had used this method to lay a patio. Frankly, I cannot wait to tear it up and replace it with proper bricks. The patio is next to impossible to keep clean. The resulting stones have a rough and uneven surface. They are not smooth and level as in the picture. As a result, the stones trap dirt. We have a large spruce tree next to our house, and I am constantly having to sweep needles and pine cones off the patio, never mind the seeds that come off the other trees.  
 
I use a heavy broom and a shovel. Consequently, I end up removing not only about half the dirt and grime, but a good portion of the sand between the stones. I find that the sand between the stones frequently needs to be replaced. Overall, I would go with a smooth topped, level paving stone, correctly installed, that is easy to sweep and hose off. You can even get a sealer for the stones that prevents dirt from adhering while sealing in the sand "grout".  
 
I acknowledge that our situation may be due to the skill of the original installers. Nonetheless, I am not a fan and suspect that this may be one of those "harder than it looks" DIY projects.

Search "patio/driveway bricks" in the classifieds.

I bought a mold from Rona (cost $19+ tax). From Home Depot I bought the ready to use Quickrete Concrete mix (can't remember the cost. The prep work of levelling an area was the most work. My DIY patio turned out great.

A few years ago I built a walkway by simply digging a wide enough 4 inch deep path, setting some 2x6s along the sides and filling it in with crushed limestone, Walking on it slowly packs it down. Every year I just spread another bag or 2 of limestone on top until it stopped settling, I may do the same at my current place for the couple of metres of grass to my garage door.

Quickrite has 4 different shapes for their sidewalk moulds  
https://www.quikrete.com/athome/walkmaker.asp

You could just build a form to hold the concrete and use a decorative door mat to imprint a design in the concrete. Here are some pics from Pintrest  

used to carry them, thats where I bought some.