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Old 09-25-2010, 08:51 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,234,375 times
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I have to agree, in Austin, I think that "city sidewalk" look is going to make resale a bit more difficult. Plus, as said, cracking.
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Old 09-25-2010, 12:28 PM
 
63 posts, read 133,220 times
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not allowed
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Old 09-25-2010, 01:48 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
16,787 posts, read 48,885,787 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thesonofgray View Post
To each their own, but I think that's really ugly. I'd much rather have a nice stone walkway. Sure, the stones shift, but that's actually a good thing - it helps prevent the stones from cracking. Plus, I like a more natural look.
I think those walks will look fine once the form work is removed and landscaping installed. It is a matter of taste, but it seems to silly to look at a photo of a site under construction, with green wet concrete, wood forms and stakes still in place, no landscaping and declare it ugly.
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Old 09-25-2010, 03:41 PM
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Location: Ohio
17,107 posts, read 37,987,924 times
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Tell the approving bodies that you need this for wheelchair access. You have a relative who visits frequently, and may even move in someday who is dependent on a wheelchair. This relative loves to sit outside and your new backyard will be perfect for that. You'll be submitting your plans for a wheelchair ramp soon.
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Old 09-25-2010, 03:46 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,234,375 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CptnRn View Post
I think those walks will look fine once the form work is removed and landscaping installed. It is a matter of taste, but it seems to silly to look at a photo of a site under construction, with green wet concrete, wood forms and stakes still in place, no landscaping and declare it ugly.
I saw two photos - one under construction, the other a completed sidewalk. I assumed that thesonofgray saw the same two photos since they were before his comment.
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Old 09-26-2010, 09:15 PM
 
Location: 78731
629 posts, read 1,647,358 times
Reputation: 347
Quote:
Originally Posted by CptnRn View Post
I think those walks will look fine once the form work is removed and landscaping installed. It is a matter of taste, but it seems to silly to look at a photo of a site under construction, with green wet concrete, wood forms and stakes still in place, no landscaping and declare it ugly.
I've spent more days than I want to remember looking at concrete - both unfinished and finished - due to my job. I know what concrete looks like / will look like in any state.

Like you said, it's a matter of taste. It just looks "excessive" to me, and excessive concrete just isn't aesthetically appealing. But, of course, the definition of "excessive" and what is aesthetically appealing is a matter of opinion.

Bowie had a good idea/point. I can totally see the purpose of doing this if accessibility for the disabled/elderly was needed.
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Old 03-01-2021, 04:00 PM
 
1 posts, read 343 times
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I know this thread is really old. I moved to the Fort Worth area about two years ago and just can't get over how there are no concrete walkways from backyard to the driveway. I like the look of the pictures posted and am going to pour a walkway so my wife and kids don't have to trudge through a muddy swamp after it rains to get to the trash cans.

I think clean concrete is very aesthetically pleasing and convenient. Grass all the way up to both sides of the house, up to the back wall of the backyard is an invitation for bugs and mosquitos.

As far as drainage, a couple channel drains on the interior side of the new pour, running under the sidewalk going to the previous path of drainage will keep those interior unpaved areas well drained.

Last spring it rained so much here where I live that it took 3 days for my side yard to stop being a swamp, yet we still had to walk through it to get to the trash cans. I don't really think this is about "aesthetics" as much as it is cheap builders sparing themselves money when they build entire neighborhoods in ten months.
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Old 03-01-2021, 05:17 PM
 
181 posts, read 157,800 times
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Personally, I like the concrete. I attempted to expand my driveway to a 2.5 width with a sidewalk extension to the side gate to facilitate trashcan in/out. Not to mention lower maintenance. My HOA (which isn't too strict) reluctantly declined, but only because they didn't want concrete over the sewage lines that went under there. Something about not having a permanent structure over an easement. I thought the home builders didn't do it as a way to increase margins by reducing building costs, but the impervious cover issue makes sense too.
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Old 03-01-2021, 05:53 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,243 posts, read 35,474,152 times
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Well, if you like a sidewalk to the back, build one .
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Old 03-02-2021, 07:35 AM
 
Location: Avery Ranch, Austin, TX
8,977 posts, read 17,471,443 times
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Seems like a good use for that recent invention...decomposed granite
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