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Design

Laying design can make a significant contribution to the overall appearance of the area to be paved. The options for distinctive end results – whether from patterning of an individual product, or via combinations of products and shades are almost infinite.

This section is, therefore, necessarily confined to basic principles only, from which designs to suit specific projects may be developed individually.

Preliminary checks

Ensuring that the specified paving system is suitable for its intended purpose is a fundamental requirement. Before deciding on laying design, therefore, it is advisable to validate product selection against anticipated traffic, loadings etc.

The following checklist may, therefore, be helpful:

  • Is the paving area designated for pedestrian use only – or is any vehicular trafficking likely?
  • Will any vehicular trafficking:
  • Be occasional overrun only, or regular?
  • Be limited to cars only?
  • Include light commercial vehicles?
  • Extend to HGV/heavy duty loading?

Accordingly, under normal service conditions, does the selected paving meet the necessary criteria in terms of strength, thickness and declared traffickability?

General principles

Design and overall looks may be influenced by one or more of the following:

Laying patterns

The principal patterning styles are as listed and illustrated. However, there are other options which may be influential on final laying design and contribute attractive visual results.

These include:

  • Complementary combinations of more than one paving type/product.
  • Combinations of two or more pattern styles.
  • The use of such variations for functional zoning
    (e.g. to denote designated walkways) as well as decorative effect.

Edge details
Edge detailing requirements are largely dependent on the adopted laying style. Certain patterns resulting in irregular edges can be completed by cutting units to fit. In some cases, however, this is difficult or unsatisfactory because only very small cut pieces would be required to abut kerbs or other edge restraints.

Stretcher courses
Such cases can be resolved by planning perimeter stretcher courses (either single or double) to ‘frame’ or part-border the main paved area in question. Stretcher courses may also be planned for other laying patterns for purely aesthetic reasons.

Colour contrasts

Differing shades of the same, or a complementary, paving product may be used for zoning purposes or simply to add to the aesthetic appeal of the end result.

Edge restraints/detailing

All paved areas require strong and stable edge restraints. Wherever selected patterning results in an irregular perimeter, edge detailing for the paved area needs to be pre-planned to ensure neat finishing against kerbing, walling or other adjoining areas.

Key to trafficking:

  • A: Pedestrian and occasional vehicle overrun (maximum 5 commercial vehicles per day)
  • B: Regular/heavy vehicular traffic and heavier vehicles (over 5 commercial vehicles per day)