READY FLOW DRIVES & PATIOS
Block Paving
If you are considering block paving, ensure that you have appropriate foundation material to match the underlying soil or subsoil so as to avoid later subsidence. Also ensure that the edging is well fixed to avoid slippage which leads to unsightly spreading of the blocks over time. We are experienced in turning old damaged concrete pavements into attractive, block paved pathways.
Foundations must be firm and of a hardcore base (ideally washed crushed stone or medium grade concreting sand) of at least 100mm thick or 150mm for an unstable soil such as thick clay.
When laying a patio or drive it is not necessary to prepare a sub-base, providing the underlying ground is firm. The area should be dug out to about 100mm (to allow for the blocks and the sand bedding layer.) This should then be compacted using a vibrator or whacker plate. A 50mm sand bedding layer should be prepared as for a driveway. The required digging depth must allow for the hardcore base.
The laying course material may be spread in one layer and screeded to the appropriate level, making due allowance for the reduction in thickness achieved during compaction.
Any hard surfaced areas such as drives or patios will be impervious and should incorporate a 1 in 40 fall or slope away from buildings to allow drainage of rainwater. To avoid breaching or damaging the damp proof course of a house, a paved area must finish at least 150mm (6in) below this line. Also, where necessary drainage.
Block Paving Weed Membrane
Commercial Landscape Fabric is an incredibly tough premium quality, durable weed control / landscape fabric - for use in the home garden or professional landscape market sectors.
Manufactured from Polyethylene coated polypropylene fibres, this fabric is unaffected by cement, lime and alkaline soils making it ideal for use as a stabilization material under paths, drives, patios, etc as well as an excellent weed control fabric.
Bedding in the Right Way
Firm edgings are essential to keep the blocks from sideways movement. Edgings set in concrete or a concrete haunching are ideal. All pavers are laid by hand with joint widths of approximately 2-5mm in a specified pattern. Full pavers should be laid first from an existing laying face or edge restraint and carried on to complete the days work area.
Leave spaces around obstructions i.e. manhole covers and put cut blocks in later. Blocks should be cut using a mechanical or hydraulic block-splitter.
Use a kneeling board and lay planks to carry barrows to avoid shifting or tilting blocks which have been laid but not bedded in.
Recessed Manhole Covers
Recessed covers allow paving to be laid within the tray maintaining the continuity of the paved surface whilst still allowing easy access to the underlying services.
Where an existing manhole cover has straight sides, Plaspave can be laid in a stretcher course and butted up against the unit.
Where this is not possible, it will be necessary to cut blocks as shown. Blocks can be laid on sand immediately next to the ironwork but should be mortared into position if there is a possibility of the sand migrating beneath the manhole surround.
Also, if a manhole cover is used which will not allow the paving to abut the frame, then a surround of concrete with a cube crushing strength of 40N/mm2 must be constructed as shown.
Compressing
When the surface is complete, the area should be compressed twice or three times by an appropiate vibrator, ensuring that vibration does not occur within 1metre of any unrestrained edge. In the case of patios or paths bedding can be completed by a club hammer or mallet using an off-cut of wood. This action will cause the sand from below to penetrate the block joints.
Finishing
Clean dry sand or crushed rock fines should be brushed over the surface and into the joints. The area should then be recompressed. This filling and final compaction helps make the surface impermeable and causes better ‘interlocking’ of the blocks. The area is then ready for trafficking.
RESIBLOCK - PERMANENT PAVING SOLUTIONS
RESIECCO is a jointing sand stabiliser of exceptional effectiveness, based on a low viscosity thermoplastic-acryl copolymer emulsion. Whitish in liquid state but becomes clear when dry, it incorporates a completely unique moisture drying system eliminating the problems common to conventional solvent acrylic systems. Since it is solvent free it does not give off unpleasant odours. Its function is to bind the particles of sand together and to the vertical faces of the paver.
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Block Paving Patterns
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45° Herringbone Plaspave Sixty Traditional Brindle |
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90° Herringbone Arlanda Traditional Brindle |
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Offset Herringbone Amalfi Carrara Stone |
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Basketweave Plaspave Sixty Marigold |