Block Paving Costs and Ideas

Block paving, also called stone paving is an often used decorative technique of making a paved path or driveway. The main advantage of stones over other paving materials is that individual stones can be reused time after time. A drawback of using paving stones is the relatively high costs associated with each individual stone. When deciding what style of driveway you would like you must ask how much does block paving cost?

When undertaking block paving the first step is to excavate a wide area for the paving. This will allow you to select the size of blocks you require. The next step is to break up the area into sections and once the sections have been selected, remove the existing pavement. This includes removing any piping, drainage and sub-base facilities such as concrete, rebar and piles.

One of the most popular types of alternative paving materials used in block paving projects is a herringbone pattern. This consists of round shaped stones arranged in either a herringbone or basket weave pattern. This pattern has many different laying patterns such as basket weave, diamond plate, circular raking and straight line. These are all laid out on top of a base of gravel to prevent them from slipping or shifting over time.

Yellow is one of the most popular colours used for block paving where it is laid in rows of three. Another popular colour is blue which is laid in half circle rows. You will also come across black and red coloured stones laid in half circle rows. The use of colours in this type of paving is to create contrast within the layout to help improve the visibility of the route and reduce the risk of drivers hitting things.

Once the ground is prepared, the paving contractor will prepare the final layer of gravel by hand or using a trowel. This layer of gravel is called the top tip. The top tip acts as a guide for the new driveway and prevents sloping areas from being created. The reason you need to lay the top tip of your block paving in the correct manner is because if you didn't then the newly laid stones would slip over time and cause damage to the newly laid paving.

When you lay your first individual blocks, your design might not flow as you originally planned and you will have to experiment with angles and placement in order to achieve the best look for your new driveway. It takes a while to learn how to lay block paving in a manner that enhances the individual characteristics of your block and adds to the general design of the project. Once you master this particular aspect of block paving, you can move to construct the actual interlocking paths that will link up the individual blocks. When you get more comfortable with your design you can take your knowledge to the next level and construct intricate designs that will incorporate the interlocking feature of your individual blocks. This will take some study and some experimentation but is well worth it in the end when you start to see the finished product.