Forged bridges - if there is extra money
The blacksmith's work has always been highly valued, especially when it came to manufacturing a new thing. That is why in olden times the villagers tried to attribute the old metal tools to the repair for the repair, and the new ones had to be ordered when there was no other way out. And today, forged original products, such as lattice fences, gates, as well as the basis for bridges, are quite expensive in comparison with cast or stamped.
Metal railing from interwoven plants or dragons bent in the battle - which only masterpieces do not emerge from under the hammers in the hands of masters. Twisted columns of poles can also become a worthy frame for a particular painting made in metal. However, it should be borne in mind that, being thrown across a water barrier, such a bridge will quickly rust under the continuous exposure to moisture of the .And the painted forging looks not so effective. In this respect, the floor is the least vulnerable, which in any case will be made of wood.
Also keep in mind that landscape design requires the integrity of the site design. That is, if among the beds there is a gazebo made of metal parts, which clearly bear traces of handwork, you will have to endure the rest of the garden decor in the same style. And this means, regardless of any costs, put forged bridges, benches, lamp posts. An alternative can be a mixed style, when wooden structures contain metal parts. This option will allow you to make the same bridge with your own hands.
How to make a wooden bridge with your own hands
If you do not feel the makings of a blacksmith, it's better to pay attention to a tree, it can be easily processed even in the child's inept hands. Almost every owner of the suburban area can find several boards on the farm, a pair of beams or even logs, and more to build a wooden bridge with your own hands, it will not be needed. Unless, the stock of screws does not hurt. If everything is ready, we will begin the preparatory work, namely, the measurement. It is necessary to find out the distance between the areas of hard soil on both banks, and also take into account the possible flood. If the banks are high, make sure that they are not washed away anywhere, and there is no such danger in the future.
At the slightest hint of the unreliability of the banks, they should be reinforced with either a natural stone fastened with concrete or wood, for example, by installing shields from thin logs or slabs reinforced with piles knocked into the bottom. Now you can go directly to the base of the bridge. If the width of the water channel or the ravine allows, you can simply throw the flooring from the logs stuffed with lugs from a bar or logs. To the same load-bearing elements we attach also the racks of the handrail. But if the river is too wide, it is necessary to drive into the bottom of the support. In this case it is better to use thick piles or a bar, and if there is a possibility, then a metal pipe.
The latter option will allow you to weld a metal frame on the supports, on which you can later mount a wooden flooring with handrails. By the way, using a frame with a grid, you can even make a real marble bridge. Of course, it is completely unrealistic to throw a stone slab from the shore to the shore( you still need to find the right size), but pour the base with concrete and strengthen the pieces of broken marble in it, if possible, without gaps - it is quite possible.
Decorative wooden bridges for dachas - simple solutions
How easy is it to build a ferry across a very small distance, that is, more decorative than necessary? What could be simpler? To do this, it is sufficient to have a curved beam( you can even a tree trunk) or an arcuate curved beam, in fact, the culled lumber. We put our future bridge in a bend down and at the ends we prick up half a meter thick trimming of a thick board. The log will have to be slightly trimmed, making a shelf under the board. Now, if we turn our humpbacked frame of the bridge, it will bend in an arc, resting on reliable supports.
If you use screws to strengthen the floor, it is advisable to slightly bore the upper part of the holes for them, if nails, clog them so that the hat completely drowns in the wood.
If as a base the beam will be used, then on its upper plane we fasten the wide boards with screws. For greater decorative, you can not even withstand the same length. If we have a beam spanned, we shove it from above to make a plane. The racks of railing are driven into the ground on both banks at the bridge ends( there we make small embankments raising the path), as a crossbar we take a curved pole, trying to guess with a radius so that it repeats the bend of the deck. This kind of decorative wooden bridges for dachas can be thrown not only through streams and ditches, but also over flower beds and workings.