A small pedestrian bridge in is a good decoration for a private area, but it can carry not only decorative functions. If necessary, you can build a bridge with a good functional load for a summer residence, which will be actively used in a garden area. In addition, this building can be decorated with various plants and flowers.
Decorative wooden bridge in the garden
If the bridge is properly planned and constructed for suburban area or, then it can become a unique place on your site, eye-catching. Before proceeding with the planning of the structure of this structure, it is necessary to understand that ordinary pedestrian bridge structures for a river in a private area are various structures whose function is to overcome obstacles of various kinds.
There is an opinion that the installation of a bridge for a summer residence is justified for large garden plots. But in fact, they will look good in modest areas. For example, you can make a continuation with a decorative bridge, which will help to overcome a place that is inconvenient for a pedestrian, and also help to make the garden more interesting and intriguing.
An example of a country bridge made of boards and a metal frame In order for the decorative bridge in the design to look organic and at the same time luxurious, it is worth planning in advance the design of this structure, suitable for general type area and river.
If you have a small territory at your disposal, then you need to choose as many as possible simple design bridge, and its color should be neutral, not particularly distinguishable from colors throughout the territory. The next thing to pay attention to when planning a decorative bridge is the selection suitable design and its location.
Basically, such structures are a good addition to a garden and a house that has a river on the territory, so components and building materials must be selected just for the style of the rest of the territory.
It is also worth considering the presence various buildings, such as, or lights that will be located next to it.
Construction of a wooden bridge over a pond in the garden If yours, especially in the presence of low-lying areas flooded with water in the spring, the presence of a forged bridge is a must. Another situation in which the bridge is a good addition is the design of the road leading to the wooden gazebo. Having made such a special structure near the recreation area, the owner will be able to give his summer cottage a look of completeness.
There are several basic requirements that must be observed when installing a forged bridge:
The main task of those who want to build a garden bridge with their own hands on dacha territory, is the choice of the type of structure, as well as correct selection landscape design. One of the options for designing a bridge for a private area is monolithic buildings. The second option is to use natural and improvised materials, such as smooth a natural stone, plank squares or circles.
Variant of a decorative bridge made of natural stones One of the most exotic and at the same time beautiful options for large ponds is laying out the entire structure of stones. This option will help to achieve a combination with already on coastline in the same style.
It is worth noting that for such a decorative bridge, it is necessary to select stones the same size and one kind. One of the main conditions for the construction of such a crossing is the depth in the reservoir, which should be no more than 45 centimeters. Minimum Height, on which the bridge over the river should rise - this is 10 centimeters.
In order for the surface on which the crossing will be made to be as convenient as possible, its width should be at least 60 centimeters. Another option for decorating a small garden bridge with your own hands from natural material is the use of non-standard stones. 
Such material will be especially relevant if it has a smooth and comfortable upper part. Such a structure is well suited for areas where flowing waters form small wave oscillations at the site of a natural obstacle.
Today there is a large number of various imitations of concrete, repeating the shape of natural boulders. concrete material is different high level durability, and is well protected from negative impact high humidity.
If the owner of the plot with the river wishes on their own create cozy corner on your territory using a connecting bridge, you must follow the following tips:
Building a wooden bridge with your own hands
To make a decorative garden bridge from boards and wood bars, it is not at all necessary to buy new materials. In some cases, improvised means are also well suited. Before proceeding with the construction of connecting bridges for the pond, it is necessary to make sure that the right tool. The tips below will help you set up a bridge for small area with your own hands.
If there is liquid in the reservoir, it must be drained. After draining the bottom of the water obstacle, you can proceed to the installation of pre-prepared boulders. Each of the bars must be laid on a good layer of mortar.
An example of a mounted suspension bridge across a stream on a site After their installation, height alignment is carried out, which is done using the previously installed plates. You should also monitor the presence of strict horizontal tops of all stones. After the behavior of all procedures, the structure should be allowed to dry for 1 - 2 days.
You also need to think about the path leading to the future building. One of positive features bridge at their summer cottage is the ability to connect two different types tracks that differ in texture. In addition, this structure will help to decorate any stream or reservoir.
In some cases, it is considered impractical to make water barriers in your area. But this does not prevent the construction of a small decorative wooden bridge, which greatly increases the attractiveness of the garden area. 
For example, the presence of a suburban area in a recreation area already serves as a reason for the construction of a bridge, which will serve as both an ornament and a guide for visitors.
Designing a bridge for a summer cottage
The main condition for the arrangement of bridge structures in the suburban area is the material from which the structure is made. For this purpose, the same building and finishing elements are selected that were used when laying out paths, mounting gazebos or other interior elements.
Since one of the cheapest, but at the same time beautiful materials for the construction of a decorative bridge is a tree, it is worth thinking about increasing the service life wooden elements. To do this, you can apply the simultaneous use of material from wood and metal.
Project and drawing with dimensions of a metal bridge over a stream The metal parts of the bridge will be in most contact with water, which will significantly extend the life of the structure. One of the most popular stone options for the design of the bridge structure is granite or sandstone. This option is especially relevant for territories in which masonry or stone compositions.
If the area where the wrought iron bridge is planned to be built is small or has a small body of water, then building a large bridge, which will take a lot of time and resources, is not justified. In such cases, it is best to use a large sandstone slab that can be laid on each of the banks of the stream, thereby connecting them. In the absence of the possibility of using large materials, forged bridges are perfect.
DIY decorative bridge
Thinking of building a bridge is a very difficult task? It is not necessary to use complex iron structures or go around solid parts.
The classic humpback structure is installed in just one day, given the following nuances:
- Very thick boards are chosen for the base of the bridge. You can also use a wooden beam.
- For small pond two integrated beams with a section of 50 by 200 millimeters and 2.4 meters long are suitable.
- The most difficult thing in such a project is to draw a straight line, along which the wooden material will then be sawn.
To begin with, we measure 120 millimeters from the length of the beam, leave a mark on one edge of the board, then find and mark the middle of the beam. At the other end of the material we measure 40 centimeters. Similar works we carry out with the second beam. 
Now we connect the mark in the middle of the board with the drawn mark on the sides of the tree. Thus, auxiliary lines will be obtained. Each of them has a center, and a measurement is placed in the middle between the extreme and middle marks. This task requires some skill. If the worker is not sure of the success of the markup of the structure, it is best to make a paper template.
When drawing a curve, it must be remembered that the distance between the edge of the beam and the top of the arc is only a couple of centimeters.
Having finished the drawing, we will get a drawing on the bars, which will subsequently need to be cut out. To do this, you need a special saw with a narrow blade. Also, a jigsaw will help to cope well with this task. Its advantage is that it is quite easy for them to turn. After finishing processing wooden material, the resulting curved part is laid on top of the rest of the boards.
The design of the device of the country bridge made of wood Thanks to this, you can see how part of the material taken has taken the form of the part needed for the construction of this structure. Now the received parts must be connected. To do this, you can use four bolts with a diameter of 10 millimeters and a length of 220 mm.
You need to draw a mark where the bolts will be located. The same fastening material is best placed at a distance of up to 10 millimeters from each other. With the help of two clamps we fix parts of the future bridge. In order to make the necessary holes, you can use a large drill for a drill.
It must be remembered that when making a hole on the curved side, the drill must be held at a slight inclination, which will greatly facilitate the further fastening of all elements of the bridge. For reliable fastening of two bases for a wooden bridge, a certain procedure should be followed:
Scheme for assembling a wooden bridge 
In the same way, the manufacture of the second part for the foundation of the construction of the garden bridge is carried out. Finished parts can be used as a template for the second part. By applying the bends of the finished kosour to the board, you will get two identical parts. After the manufacture of the second part, it will be possible to proceed with the installation and design of the entire structure.
The two base elements must be threaded together. drilled holes should be located 5 cm from the bottom edge 10 cm from the sides. In order to save time, two parts of the bridge base can be drilled simultaneously with an 8 mm drill, stacking the bridge elements on top of each other.
Construction drawing of a country bridge On one part of the base we twist the threaded pin and fasten it with a nut and washer on both sides. Now you need to measure how much distance is needed to secure the second part of the base on the other side of the pin. Thanks to this structure, the width of the structure can be easily adjusted and the distance between the foundations of this building can be changed.
After prefixing fasteners, you can start assembling the bridge. Before finally tightening the washers and nuts, it is best to double-check the width of the sides of the building. After you need to tighten all the nuts as much as possible and check the width of the bridge again.
Final bridge assembly before installation The protruding parts of the rods can be cut with a hacksaw. Now we proceed to stuffing transverse boards onto the bridge. They should slightly protrude beyond the edges of the base. For fastening the strips, it is best to use self-tapping screws.
In order to select a suitable fastening material, it is necessary to take all measurements in advance and, based on the data obtained, buy self-tapping screws. But before proceeding with the fastening of the boards, it is best to outline the places for installing the planks along the entire length of the base. The best distance between two boards that people will walk on is one centimeter.
To make a bridge in the country with your own hands, use wood, metal and other materials. Hinged structure- this is original decoration suburban area.
Garden bridges allow you to arrange a transition through a pond, stream or other landscape element. Such a product can be designed with your own hands or bought in ready-made. Before you make a bridge yourself, prepare drawings. To do this, you need paper and a pencil. Home-made decorative garden bridges across the stream are mounted within one day.
Material selection rules
The choice of material is made taking into account individual preferences and features of the landscape design of the cottage.
In the process of manufacturing the bridge, the following indicators are taken into account:
- Durability and reliability. These qualities are possessed by both wooden and forged and metal bridges. The resulting structure is treated with special protective equipment.
- Safety. The product must be strong. Structural elements are fixed securely. The frame must be able to support the weight of at least 1 person. The base of the bridge is installed on a previously prepared foundation or soil.
- Decorative. The design is needed to decorate the site. The decorative bridge needs timely painting or varnishing.
The wooden bridge is a natural product, which is characterized by high thermal insulation properties and ecology. From wood, you can make a simple or complex structure of any length.
To make the base of a metal counterpart, you will need special equipment. From a constructive point of view, metal bridges for summer cottages are presented in the form of bent beams and a wooden or metal walkway. If you buy ready metal structure, then it will take several hours to install it. To decorate the product, lanterns, railings, living plants are used.
Forged analogues are easily made by hand with the proper experience and knowledge. For the improvement of cottages, you can use combined bridges, presented in the form of a combination of elements of wooden and forged structures. The base and railings are made of forging, and the flooring is made of wood or burnt boards with engraving.
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Step-by-step instruction
To make a garden bridge with your own hands, you will need the following tools and materials:
- shovel;
- capacity;
- bulk building materials;
- level;
- welding machine;
- roulette;
- bars;
- metal rods;
- stakes;
- boards 40 mm and 30 mm thick;
- antiseptics;
- brushes.
First you need to choose a place for the future building. It can be installed near flower bed. Everything else is removed from the site. The ground is being prepared for the upcoming installation of the bridge.
If it is planned to install a heavy structure, it is required to fill the foundation.
If necessary, the bridge is fixed on the banks of the stream with piles 80 cm long.
For the arrangement of a metal or forged structure, it is poured strip foundation. The base is tied with metal edges by welding. To install a structure several meters long, you will need to put several bars under the base. To strengthen the product and protect it from moisture, bricks, concrete columns or stone are installed along each edge. Concrete tends to expand with temperature fluctuations, so the supports are driven in from one side. The base of the structure needs waterproofing.
Long boards are treated with an antiseptic and painted. The design of the bridge can be presented in the form of a flat or curved shape. To make a humpbacked bridge, you need to bend the boards. The edges of the material are cut off, the parts are soaked and bent according to the pattern until they are completely dry. For small bridges, they are used as guides. PVC pipes. To increase their strength, metal rods are used. To equip the base of the structure, load-bearing beams are used. Stringers are made from a dry and durable board with a section of 50x300 mm.
A decorative bridge in the garden is a special design that is good not so much for its functionality, but for its ability to decorate the surrounding landscape, to complete the overall landscape picture. Therefore, when planning to build bridges in the garden with your own hands, you need to consider all kinds of principles for placing structures, their types, and then create your own original, stylish, unlike other options.
Of course, during the construction architectural forms small type in the garden or park look advantageous natural materials- stone and wood. They are harmoniously combined with the surrounding plants, flower beds, wooden buildings, dry streams of stone, pebbles and sand. But buildings made of metal and concrete look no less attractive.
A small bridge over a stream, made of artificial stone and decorated with wrought iron railings, looks quite natural surrounded by greenery
Classifying designs according to the material of manufacture, there are several types.
Wooden bridges
They are great for suburban area with already installed buildings and wooden decor - a bathhouse, gazebos, tables, benches, a well. To make wood last longer, choose one of the most valuable breeds- larch, cedar or oak. Special antiseptics, impregnations and varnishes increase the service life and give the tree the desired shade.
Wooden bridges are traditionally decorated with carvings: they give the balusters an original shape, cut out a pattern on the supporting beams, and decorate the railings with ornaments.
stone bridges
Beautiful, noble and almost eternal buildings. When installing a garden bridge with your own hands, do not forget about the weight of natural stone. For the installation of structures made of sandstone, marble or granite, construction equipment may be required, therefore, sometimes a lighter analogue is used - artificial stone.
When building a structure made of stone - natural and artificial - you should select elements that are similar in shape and color and in harmony with the surrounding objects.
metal bridges
Forged structures are exquisitely beautiful, especially when surrounded by flowers and greenery. They demand special attention and timely processing, as the metal is subject to corrosion.
Forged bridge will be cheaper if ordered only metal base, and do-it-yourself wooden elements (flooring, railing details)
concrete bridges
They look monumental, serve for a long time and, with appropriate decoration, can decorate the garden with large quantity stones or plants. Finishing with colored tiles, stone chips or acrylic paints will favorably hide gray concrete.
It is hard to guess that this original bridge is made of architectural concrete: its surface is stylized as stone and painted with acrylics.
The combination of several materials will make the garden bridge unique, help to give a little personality. Metal and wood, stone and wood are well combined.
Examples of successful accommodation options
The main purpose of the bridges is to cross the reservoir, but often on the territory personal plot they are installed with a completely different purpose - to enrich, diversify the design.
The wooden bridge is part of the backyard composition. Stylistically, it matches garden gazebo built from the same material
Good places for mounting decorative structures are the following objects:
- small lakes, artificially created ponds, streams;
- natural ditches and ravines;
- dry streams;
- flower beds and separately decorated flower beds;
- paths and paths.
The traditional placement of the building above the reservoir is subject to certain rules. A crossing over a stream or pond is established at the most bottleneck, since a small design is much stronger, and it looks more decorative. Country bridges for a garden with a dry stream are characterized by such qualities as compactness, miniature size, and elegance. The material for their manufacture must be combined with the surrounding coating: they are, as it were, a continuation of the tracks.
A miniature bridge of the simplest design, thrown over a dry stream, favorably enlivens a monotonous composition of stones, greenery and flowers.
This bridge is an example of how organically can be combined various materials: paving slabs, natural stone, wood, facing mosaic tiles
When installing small architectural forms, including bridges, it is necessary to take into account the style chosen for the garden. Suppose wooden structures, simple and slightly rough, are ideal for garden plot country style.
The choice of form and design of the structure
Before drawing up a sketch, it is worth considering everything existing forms and their options, and then make a choice. You can conduct the following experiment: take a picture of the intended installation site of a decorative bridge for the garden, print the photo big size and try on him various designs cut out of paper. It will be seen which shape design fits perfectly into the overall picture.
According to their configuration, bridges can be divided into several types:
- Direct - they are optimal for self-production;
- Zigzag - these are guests from the East, where the violation of the straight line is a protection from evil spirits;
- Arched - look artistic and suitable for any style;
- Step-by-step - ideal for dry streams and shallow reservoirs;
- Stepped - resemble two staircases with wide steps, united by a common platform;
- Suspended - complex structures requiring compliance with safety regulations.
Here is a photo selection of each of the options:
When building direct bridges from any material, it is necessary to consider a drain for rainwater; in this case these are the gaps between the floorboards
The ideal material for the construction of a zigzag bridge is wood - both piles and flooring are made of wooden elements treated with impregnation and antiseptic
The “humpbacked” shape of the arched structure is achieved different ways. One of the most common is giving load-bearing beams certain curved shape
Large flat stones are best for creating a step bridge. The distance between them should be comfortable for stepping over.
A stepped structure can become a kind of observation point: with top platform it is convenient to consider the surrounding landscape, admire the sunset
If you decide to choose a suspension bridge, then it is better to stop at a small structure firmly fixed on piles driven into the ground.
Master class: making a wooden bridge
The easiest way to decorate a backyard area is to create a composition from a pond and a wooden garden bridge, and both objects can be made by hand. Let us dwell on the construction of a flip-over structure made of wood.
To install a simple structure, you do not need concrete base or piles driven into the ground, but if the bridge connects the high banks of the stream, then additional reinforcement will be required.
When installing a wooden bridge across a pond, you should carefully strengthen the parts of the banks that serve as supports. For strengthening use natural stone and concrete
According to the installation method, garden bridges are divided into several types: I - into concrete supports; II - on concrete supports and piles; III - on piles
The basis of the bridge are two slightly curved beams with a cross section of 0.2 m x 0.35 m and a length of 2 m. They can be made from straight blanks, using a jigsaw and a chisel, removing excess wood. A flooring of boards (3.5 cm), evenly distributed along the length of the beams, is attached to the beams.
Drawing up a drawing of the bridge indicating required dimensions can make your job a lot easier. The length of the structure depends on the size of the object over which it will be placed.
Between the boards, it is necessary to leave gaps 1-2 cm wide. All parts are dried before installation and treated on all sides with impregnations and antiseptics.
When drawing up a drawing, it is necessary to take into account every little thing, for example, consider fixing at the junctions of balusters with beams or railings with balusters
The design of the railing may be different. The simplest is curved arcs mounted on several balusters. The railings are decorated with bamboo inserts, thick hemp rope or carvings.
Decorated railings are a way to add variety to a simple bridge design. It was worth adding rounded elements on the racks - and the bridge acquired a more decorative look.
A simple decorative garden bridge, without decorations and frills, can complement a park area stylized as a wild forest.
Several raw boards, a railing made of crooked poles on one side - and we get an original stylized bridge, as if hastily knocked together
The video demonstrates an example of landscape design, where almost all structures are made by the hands of the owners of country estates.
Decorating your own site is an indescribably pleasant experience. It is here that people create their own place for both physical and moral relaxation. Fancifully arranged flower beds, various decorative elements- everything cheers up and encourages further creativity. Especially nice decorate the site on one's own. Bridges in the country are one of the great opportunities to give personality to your own garden.
Types of bridges
The functional purpose of bridges, and even more bridges, has changed dramatically. Now they are far from always being an ordinary connecting element of the two banks. Their main purpose was decorative ornament, separation of different zones on the site. Therefore, before choosing the type and style of the bridge, one should carefully analyze what exactly the small wooden structure will symbolize, which zones it will connect: it directly depends on how exactly the bridge should be located.
- The style of the planned bridge largely depends on where it starts and where it ends. rock garden appeals to simplicity and sophistication, as required by Japanese culture.
- Lush gardens need a whimsically decorated building.
- Bridges located over streams or artificial reservoirs, a gazebo is required on one of the banks - this is how a certain completeness of a part of the garden is achieved.
If you plan to build bridges for a summer residence with your own hands, then wood will be the most optimal building material. Wooden structures fit perfectly into any style on any site. In addition, the deteriorated parts of the wooden bridge are easier to replace than the components of the concrete or metal bridge. The latter often have to be redone entirely or put up with the resulting deformations.
Tools and necessary materials
- Boards, a planer, a set of screwdrivers, a saw and a hammer, sandpaper.
- Drill with a set of drills, a file, fasteners - nails, screws.
- varnish, paint brush, protractor, ruler and pencil for marking.
Stages of construction
Every building needs a foundation. For bridges, they can be two boards, having a width and height of at least 6 and 12 cm. The length of the base depends on the length of the future bridge: it should be half a meter longer to fix the bridge in the right place.
A straight bridge has practically no decorative value, so the bridges for giving should be rounded. This can be achieved in different ways: create several steps that will rise from one end of the bridge to the middle and go down to the other end. Or, using skillfully turned boards, create the most rounded base by attaching additional guide boards to the base, forming a pleasant semicircle.
Before you start working with wood, you need to pre-treat it: process the boards with a planer, and sand it with sandpaper to achieve the effect of a smooth tree. Then think about protecting wooden building materials: process them by special means, preventing wood decay, or hitting it with a bug.
The installation of the future bridge is carried out on flat surface. On two parallel bearing boards, forming a strong foundation, the steps of the bridge are attached. Boards of small width look neat and beautiful, but you will have to suffer with them.
If you plan to make a stepped bridge, you need to nail small risers to the base, which will form the base of the steps. Narrow boards are attached from above, forming an external, visible canvas of the bridge for giving.
After clearance appearance the bridge needs to be supported. They are located parallel to the steps, on the edges of the bridge, fastening and lifting it at the same time.
For arrangement railing balusters can be purchased, or you can use ordinary boards with a small thickness, sanded and treated with an antiseptic protective agent.
Railings are often a straight line. If you need to get a curved line, you need to calculate the height of the extreme balusters, organize the joint of the railing parts and mount the structure using fasteners.
The finished bridge requires careful processing with the help of paint and varnish products. Such actions will not only strengthen protective layer construction, but also give the tree a pleasant shade.
