88v8
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- Glorious Gloucs
Before it was trashed by successive builders, our drive had quite a decent surface and looked pretty 'cottagey'.
The surface was what is known in the trade as Type 1, in other words consolidated crushed stone. The previous owners had grass growing in it, sufficient in area and quality to need the attentions of a lawnmower.
Here, we look down to the lane. This is how it was. Now, 15 tons of mud has gone down it, and 15 tons of concrete has come up, plus umpty-ump tons of bricks etc, and in wet weather it is a quagmire.
Here is how it was three years ago at the foot of the steps to the cottage.
To the far side of these sentinel bushes now sits the base of our garage.
In front of the garage I want a parking area, about 18ft square.
I am torn between trying to reinstate what was, and doing something different.
The Type 1 is all very well in the dry, but is difficult to keep clean. Mud tracks up the drive from the lane, and the surface cannot be swept or washed.
Gravel is a pain to keep weed-free and tends to migrate.
The only old-looking option I can come up with is cobbles or setts. New ones.... they will quickly acquire patina in the wet. At £75/ton they are not expensive, but the labour of laying them will be. And do they look cottagey'??
I would intend to leave the rest of the drive in Type 1, we might have to skim off the top and re-cover it.
Are there other paving options worth considering?
Ivor
The surface was what is known in the trade as Type 1, in other words consolidated crushed stone. The previous owners had grass growing in it, sufficient in area and quality to need the attentions of a lawnmower.
Here, we look down to the lane. This is how it was. Now, 15 tons of mud has gone down it, and 15 tons of concrete has come up, plus umpty-ump tons of bricks etc, and in wet weather it is a quagmire.
Here is how it was three years ago at the foot of the steps to the cottage.
To the far side of these sentinel bushes now sits the base of our garage.
In front of the garage I want a parking area, about 18ft square.
I am torn between trying to reinstate what was, and doing something different.
The Type 1 is all very well in the dry, but is difficult to keep clean. Mud tracks up the drive from the lane, and the surface cannot be swept or washed.
Gravel is a pain to keep weed-free and tends to migrate.
The only old-looking option I can come up with is cobbles or setts. New ones.... they will quickly acquire patina in the wet. At £75/ton they are not expensive, but the labour of laying them will be. And do they look cottagey'??
I would intend to leave the rest of the drive in Type 1, we might have to skim off the top and re-cover it.
Are there other paving options worth considering?
Ivor
