How to Make Belgian Curbing

Put on gloves, goggles, face mask and hearing protection. Clear children and pets from the area. Inform close neighbors of noise and dust to prevent accidents or violation of local ordinances.

Straighten the edge of existing asphalt by marking a new edge with a chalk line and using a concrete saw to cut through. Remove waste in small sections and dispose according to your trash collector's regulations.

Clean up the edge of the driveway using a maul and brick set. Undercut the asphalt when possible to improve the bed.

Dig a trench that is at least half the length of your stones. For increased stability, dig 1 to 2 inches deeper than half the stone length. Facilitate drainage by tamping a crushed stone bed into the trench (be sure to include this extra depth in your calculations). For example, 12-inch stones require at minimum a 6-inch trench. With additional room for drainage stones and leeway the trench depth would be 9 to 10 inches.

Set wooden stakes at either end of the drive. For longer pathways, include additional stakes every 15 feet. Notch the wooden stakes at the desired height of the curb. Knot mason's line at each notch so that the string is taut between posts. This will guide the setting and adjustment of stones.

Lay blocks along the edge so that they are ready to be set in the trench. Fill a section of the trench with 1 inch of concrete. The concrete should be the consistency of snow, and hold a rough shape if shaped by hand. Insert stones so that they are flush against the edge of the driveway and level with the height line. If working with multiple people, assign one person to manage concrete and two people to insert stones. If working alone, work in sections to avoid accidental drying of concrete.

Shovel a thicker concrete mixture behind the stones and smooth with a trowel. The concrete line should expose the top 2 to 3 inches of the stone's back face. Continue along the entire edge.

Sweep and pack stone dust (paver base) into the seam between the curb and the driveway and between stones. Paver base is a filler containing stones of varying sizes from chunks to dust. Apply this material when moist to ensure maximum compression and durability.

Fill the back of the trench with topsoil. This will slow the drying of the concrete and improve strength.