Block Paving demystified
Thanks to the mass production techniques and lower prices of concrete blocks, block paving has seen an expansive growth. Block paving can be used for variety of purposes and makes a style statement of its own. They can be used on driveways where they have been known to provide years of good service. They can also be used for patios and paths to create unique and attractive designs. Block paving can also be used in place of asphalt on estate roads, and many other such uses. These small paving units let your imagine get a free run because of the high variety of design options possible.
Block paving can be of two types - one which use the concrete molded blocks, and the other which use kiln fired clay bricks also known as brick paving. In this article we will talk about the first type of block paving only using concrete molded blocks. These blocks are easily and widely available and come in a wide range of prices.
The blocks used in block paving come in a wide range of thicknesses ranging from just 40mm to 100mm based on their area of application. The blocks for use at home are usually between 40mm thick to 65mm thick. For road construction blocks of 80mm thickness are preferred. The 100mm blocks are used for high load areas like ports, freight yards, and airports. Apart from the thickness, the blocks also vary in shape, size, textures, and colors. The colors and textures available are very wide in variety and can be used to create interesting designs. There is a standard size to which most of the rectangular blocks comply, thus you can easily interchange blocks from different manufacturers to create unique patterns. Some of the blocks are even reversible so stained blocks can easily be replaced. However, when going in for colored or textured blocks, make sure you check how they will look years from now, for the blocks get their color from dyes which are prone to fading in the sun.
Apart from choosing different colors and textures to achieve unique designs in block paving, you can also experiment with the different patterns possible in laying the blocks. Some of the more popular patterns of block paving are the 90 herringbone, 45 herringbone, stretcher bond, and the basket weave. The laying technique is not very difficult and can be completed without any professional help. The most popular laying technique is the flexible laying technique in which the blocks are laid on a layer of sand and fine silica sand is filled in between the joints. There are other methods too, information for which is freely available on the internet.
Block paving once done, does not require high levels of maintenance. Occasional sweeping to remove the dust, weed killer treatments twice a year to ensure that weeds and mosses don’t start growing in the sand joints, and sealants to ensure the color does not fade as quickly and to protect the blocks from oil spillage, are more than enough to ensure your block paving lasts you or many years.
|
