Elongated driveway block

Designing a front and side garden for a client whom we designed and built a back garden for last year.

My plan is to keep the plan simple (as is normally best with front gardens) and I am working on the concept and moodboard today.

I want to produce a linear patterned "monochromatic"(ish) driveway from greys/browns and blues (granites colour palette), and I want the units to be elongated more than the usual 2:1 ratio. I deally they would be 400.mm long and 100.mm wide and at least 50.mm thick.

I have searched through all the usual manufacturers if block paving and haven't yet seen any product that resembles what I am looking for.

I had thought as a back-up plan to use a concrete walling product similar to Marshalite walling, or other manufacturer,(dimensions close to 440x100x65.mm) but knowing how easily these bricks can break I am not confident at all of how they will perform under vehicular traffic.

Does anyone know of an available product that is similar to what I want?

Cheers, Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com

Thanks guys.

Mick, thanks for your input, I'm well familiar with the tegula block, we're trying to achieve a different look here though.

Gary, great idea thanks - unfortunately rigid construction for driveways isn't so great here because of the high clay content of sub-stratas regionally and the subsequent massive amount of heave we can experience in the hard winters. I try to find out if these could be used in a flexible situation.

Neil, appreciate your input: we're not going for a herringbone pattern but more similar to a brick bond pattern. I had thought about using monoblock in this way, but I'm not convinced the final finish will be what we want to achieve.

There is a driveway done locally in granite whith similar dimensions to what we're looking for but the current householders are not those who had the work done and have no idea who carried out the work. So I am at a loss as to whether there is a supplier or whether they had them cut specially at CED.

Anyway cheers for the thoughts ;D

Nicky

Replies

Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com February 21, 2011 at 4:42pm

Here's a basic idea of the colour palette I'm after...
Peak surfacing ltd. February 21, 2011 at 5:00pm

have you thought about patterned concrete.

contact a reputable company to discuss if they have any mats that might be suitable

www.picsuk.com ask for mark or john linley .
Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com February 21, 2011 at 5:08pm

Thanks Mike

Not suitable in this situation I'm afraid mate but most grateful for the suggestion.

Nicky
PRO

Mick Gammage February 21, 2011 at 5:18pm

No one manufacturers block paving 400mm long, the largest block manufactured is the jumper blocks in the tegula range of paving available in 4 colours what are 320mm x 240mm with 3 other sizes 240mm x 160mm, 160mmm x 1m60 and 160mm x 120mm

Marshalls tegula block paving

other sizes and colours are also available

Driveway paving

concrete walling blocks are just that.......used for walling ;)
neil gurner February 21, 2011 at 6:59pm

not wanting to seem stupid, what pattern layout would you use with a 400x100 block, if you were still going with a herringbone could you not just use 200x100 but lay them with 2 end to end, would give the colour effect, and should still keep the strength and low budget of normal block paving.

suppose it depends on the finances on the table and how much they wish to be different.

could be an expensive gamble if the wall blocks crack or get oil / rubber stained within a short period.
Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com February 22, 2011 at 9:40am

Thanks guys.

Mick, thanks for your input, I'm well familiar with the tegula block, we're trying to achieve a different look here though.

Gary, great idea thanks - unfortunately rigid construction for driveways isn't so great here because of the high clay content of sub-stratas regionally and the subsequent massive amount of heave we can experience in the hard winters. I try to find out if these could be used in a flexible situation.

Neil, appreciate your input: we're not going for a herringbone pattern but more similar to a brick bond pattern. I had thought about using monoblock in this way, but I'm not convinced the final finish will be what we want to achieve.

There is a driveway done locally in granite whith similar dimensions to what we're looking for but the current householders are not those who had the work done and have no idea who carried out the work. So I am at a loss as to whether there is a supplier or whether they had them cut specially at CED.

Anyway cheers for the thoughts ;D

Nicky
PRO

Phil Voice February 22, 2011 at 9:48am

Hi Nicky

A long shot but have you considered asking a quarry to cut blocks to your requirements in the colours you want?

You never know, they might be willing to offset their labour cost against materials that might not otherwise be viable for other uses.

....or, even hire in a bench cutter and cut them yourself?

You don't say what area you're dealing.
Nick Hill February 22, 2011 at 10:15am

What about these from Tobermore, smaller than you wanted but could give you the right look.
Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com February 22, 2011 at 11:06am

Thanks Phil - is a possibility but will doubtless set the cost beyond our budget. Will make enquiries anyway!

Cheers Nick - these are not far off, if they did a grey blend of colours they'd be near perfect I think. Appreciated mate ;)

Nicky
Jackson's Landscape Design February 22, 2011 at 11:39am

Hi Nicky

Should you find the product you seek then I'd recommend this company for cutting the units to any size and shape you require...believe me they are very reasonable in price too..

I'm using this company to engrave my logo into one unit for each project from here on....like a signature for all who witness my creations .

http://www.lasermaster.co.uk/Lasermaster/Welcome.html

Good luck

Kerry