Here you are to the stage of exterior design or searching for Edinburgh paving solutions and driveways planning. Or, you might need just a cozy terrace and driveways access.
Paving the access alleys, driveways and terraces can be a great asset to your property and might increase its value up to 15%.
The choice of paving your courtyard is an important decision and is significantly increasing its appearance and usefulness.
Even if the yard is small, a smart design can transform it into your family heaven corner.
Paving is also recommended for your family safety. Building professionals often explaining that arranging your courtyard and driveways are good options for a non slippery layout flooring.
Discover the art of transforming your yard with our in-depth guide to Edinburgh paving solutions and driveways. Unlock practical tips, expert insights, and design inspiration for a seamless and successful landscaping transformation.
Most likely, you are wondering what the existing solutions are for making garden paths, driveways, alleys or terraces.
Which paving model would suit (shape, color) and how to choose it – depending on the destination of the work (garage access, pedestrian alley, car access driveway)?! These, are questions that arise naturally.
We provide you with the necessary information you need. With Alpha Business Contractors Ltd., your project of paving and driveways arranging becomes a much simplified mission. You will know the main aspects to take into account and you will get a good overview of the available solutions.
What types of Edinburgh pavements are there?
You definitely want the result of the landscaping to be exceptional. The courtyard is the place of relaxation and refuge for the whole family, but also the meeting point with friends. A space where you can feel good, with a beautiful aesthetic appearance, is what you proposed.
Here are the types of pavements you can opt for:
A. Vibro - pressed paving
The semi-dry concrete, prepared with a minimum water content, is poured into molds. A hydraulic vibro press machine has the role of compressing the content.
The resulting (dense) concrete offers very good resistance to wear and tear, freeze-thaw cycles and allows the soil to breathe. In addition, there are a variety of models of Edinburgh paving and concrete edgings available for you to choose from.
B. Natural stone pavers
It presents a luxurious, elegant appearance, in addition, it is characterized by a long life and a good resistance to the freeze-thaw cycle. You have different decoration options at your disposal, thanks to the different types of stone: granite, travertine, marble, slates. Thus, there is a diversity of shapes, colors and textures from which you can choose (glossy surfaces will be avoided, given the risk of slipping).
The thickness of the stone also varies, so the intensity of traffic in the landscaped area will be taken into account.
You should know that this type of paving has a much higher purchase and installation cost, but the stone patio paving is durable and presents a special choice from an aesthetic point of view.
Note: A popular choice is cubic stone, which can be granite, marble, slates, limestone, andesite. Different sizes and colors are available.
C. Brick Edinburgh paving solutions and driveways
They are made of natural clay, dried at high temperatures, in special ovens. They have a slip-resistant texture, are durable, easy to maintain and affordable. Installation of brick Edinburgh paving in the yard can also be done on concrete, and the obtained models can be multiple.
If you had the idea that there is only one color, the brick one, you are wrong. The color palette is wide, you can choose from different tones of yellow, brown, gray, red.
D. Rubber pavers
They have the role of reducing the risk of accidents, being ideal for the children’s play area or for surrounding the pool.
They are non-slip, resistant to ultraviolet radiation and temperature variations. It supports sufficiently large weights and there are various colors that you can opt for, such as red, green, yellow, etc. In addition, they are easy and cheap to install and maintain.
Good to know: 3D pavers are those that, when combined, manage to reproduce a three-dimensional effect. This is due to the model and assembly;
E. The ecological SOLUTIONS for Edinburgh paving and driveways
These type of pavers are the perforated ones, which allow the grass to grow through them.
What shapes and colors are available for pavers?
Regardless of the type of Edinburgh paving and driveways you opt for, the color palette is generous.
Surely, even the most demanding requirements can be satisfied.
The design options with the help of pavers are fully imaginative. Due to the various shapes and colors (including combinations that you can make), you can implement your paving ideas for the yard.
Pavers shapes: square, rectangle, rhombus, hexagon, triangle, round, crescent, double T, butterfly, flower, domino, Ld3, Venetia, etc.
Pavers colors: grey, red, beige, brown, anthracite, mustard, terracotta, orange, yellow, white, green, blue etc.
Having so many options, you can create countless paving patterns in the yard.
Practical tips for a successful Edinburgh paving and driveways.
A practical tip for your Edinburgh paving and driveway project is how to choose the pavers size.
The size of the pavers will be in accordance with that of the space you are arranging.
Thus, narrow alleys will be configured for small yards, where small pavers will be installed.
For a large yard, large pavers will be used, which will create even more the feeling of space;
Choose the color of the pavers, taking into account the colors shades present in the house, roof and fence.
Another practical aspect in your Edinburgh paving and driveway project is the price and quality of the pavements.
A superior quality of Edinburgh paving and driveway will guarantee resistance to
– Wear : heavy traffic, load bearing
– Weather: freeze-thaw cycles, dampness, mold, UV rays, de-icing salt.
Some good paving materials also come with a warranty certificate and you can choose something that is guaranteed for 15-20 years.
Ask yourself what the installation prices are (craftsmen price work) and whether they require periodic maintenance. These are also practical issues.
Practical tip:
The format matters. For example, for heavy traffic, those in the puzzle self-locking category are recommended. Their puzzle model is increasing their resistance and loads bearing
UK in force standards for pavers
You cannot expect high strength and long life from something bought cheaply and having questionable manufacturers
You have to check that the pavers has been manufactured properly according to the in force British Standards and they are not cast by someone with a mold in a garage.
Their quality label or certificate must state that they are manufactured and checked in accordance with BS 7533-101:2021.
BS 7533-101:2021 provides guidance and recommendations on the design of pavements surfaced with concrete paving blocks manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1338; Concrete paving flags are being manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1339;
Natural stone slabs are being manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1341;
Natural stone setts are being manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1342;
Clay pavers are being manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1344 and constructed in accordance with BS 7533-3, BS 7533-4, BS 7533-7 and BS 7533-9.
How do I choose Edinburgh paving depending on the destination of the work: pedestrian alley, driveways or terrace?
In addition to the aesthetic and safety aspect, it is important that the choice of Edinburgh paving is being done correctly.
Take into main account the area to be landscaped:
- pedestrian traffic or
- car traffic driveways
- terrace
Thus, the thickness of the pavers varies according to the aimed traffic and you will have to take this criteria into account.
Pedestrian traffic:
- paths from the garden,
- terrace,
- inner courtyard
There are no restrictions, pavers starting from a minimum thickness of 20 mm (2 cm) can be installed. At the same time, take into account the borders (edgings), which can be simple, like an arch or a planter;
– for paving intended for light, pedestrian traffic (alleys, garden paths, terraces, areas in the yard where people walk or where light furniture and decorations – barbeques- are installed) – the pavement must be between 20-50 mm thick;
Driveways for car traffic (light to medium car traffic)
- access road to the garage,
- residential parking space
- the space in front of the house
The minimum thickness recommended for pavers is 60 mm (6 cm).
– for driveways with light car traffic (car access or car parking lanes) – the pavement must have a thickness of at least 50 mm (5 cm);
– for driveways with heavy car traffic (a road on which several cars, agricultural or industrial machinery, cars with trailers, vans, caravans, etc. frequently pass) – the pavement must have a thickness of at least 80 mm (8 cm)
How do I calculate the required pavers for the yard of my house?
In order to know the required pavers, you must calculate the total surface in square meters (area) for the area you are going to arrange.
The total area of the paved area in square meters = Length x width
Recommendation:
Add a surplus of 5% – 10%, to the obtained result, which represents possible material losses (from the cuts of the pavers that are made for the extremities – with the help of the guillotine or the diamond disc).
Good to know:
The panels are sold per cubic meter, packed in pallets. The manufacturer specifies for each model how many pieces of pavers are needed to cover a cubic meter and how many square meters a pallet measures.
Keep in mind that the best pavers are those that match the project and your expectations.
How much does cost a square meter of pavers? How much does it cost to install a paving and driveway per m2?
The price of pavers (material) varies depending on:
- Model : Thickness (the square meter of 80 mm pavers is more expensive than 60 mm or 50 mm);
- Color: gray pavers are cheaper than those in colors such as yellow, orange, green
- Pavers shapes: the puzzle effect ones are a little more expensive
Paving and arranging your yard and driveway is one of the go-for-it choices for many Scotland’s homeowners.
Having a wide variety of models, shapes and colors to choose from, you can pick the right paving to match your yard.
The average cost, in 2023, to pave an alley or driveway with brick pavers is around £110 per m² (materials costs upon your choice).
If you are aiming for block paving for your Edinburgh paving and driveway, the cost of paving 50m² would be about £5,500 (materials costs upon your choice).
In order to use concrete blocks, the cost of paving a driveway would be expected around £40 per m² (materials costs upon your choice).
Using natural stone blocks, the expected costs would be about £80 per m².
If you want to use clay blocks, the Edinburgh paving and driveway cost to be expected about £85 per m².
Practical tip : Pay attention whenever you get quotes for your Edinburgh paving driveway project. It is important to know and understand exactly what is included in the price and what is not. The easier approach is to base the costs on the square meters size of the driveway to be paved.
What might affect the cost of your Edinburgh paving and driveway project?
The total price you expect to pay for paving your driveway will depend on several factors, including:
- Area of the alley or driveway
- Shape, curbs or complexity of the project,
- Design of the landscaping and driveway
- Model and quality of the used materials
- If needing any preparing work or extra digging
- Location of your property
- Craftsmen price work according to their professional skills
Edinburgh paving and driveways, from planning to installation, steps and mistakes to avoid
The installation of pavers involves some well-established steps, first of all, it is necessary to draw the area to be landscaped. The land is measured and the paving surface is marked with wooden stakes and string. The pavers are mounted with the help of a rubber mallet and a level. Also at this stage, the vertical elevations are established – the height to which the pavement will rise.
– Stripping
The mounting surface is cleaned to the depth required to achieve the height of the pavement.
From this level, practically the entire resistance structure that will support the pavement will be poured.
Even from the project phase, you must ensure the drainage of rainwater either in gutters or directly on the ground (for example, in the case of a paved alley surrounded by lawn).
You must take into account the fact that the pavement will have to have a slope for drainage of 1% in the transverse plane and 0.01% in the longitudinal plane.
– Making the base layer
Usually, the base layer of a pavement is made of gravel or concrete. Gravel is a more “flexible” material and is especially recommended for pavements that will not be subject to heavy traffic and that will not have to bear heavy loads. Instead, for greater stability, it is recommended to install pavers on concrete.
– Installing the boarders (edgings)
After the base layer is completed, you can mount the borders, if they are provided in the project. They are placed on a wet hoe, and for fixation they are beaten lightly with a rubber hammer. Pay special attention to the perfect alignment of the border elements.
– Laying the sand bed
Pavers can be installed on the ground. The pavers tiles are mounted directly on a layer of sand, having a thickness of 3-6 cm. The sand must be free of impurities and perfectly compacted, with the help of a compactor plate. Make sure you respect the slope already established by the base layer.
Once the sand has been compacted, under no circumstances should you step on it before installing the pavers.
– Installation of pavers
The PAVERS pieces are placed directly on the sand and hammered slowly with the rubber mallet, for fixation.
It is recommended to start the installation from a corner. Continue respecting the line of the curbs (if any). Check with the help of the level whether the boards are straight.
It is highly recommended to leave a joint of 2-3 mm between each elements of the pavement (pavers)
– Joint filling
After the last paver has been mounted, sand is added for the pavement joints. Sand it’s placed directly over the pavers. After this, it will be swept so that it enters the joints between the elements.
Edinburgh paving installation: Mistakes to avoid
Try to work carefully while carrying out your Edinburgh paving project. During assembly, many mistakes can be made, which will lead to an unsatisfactory work, both in terms of appearance and functionality.
Avoid the following mistakes:
- Installation of pavers on a sand that has not been well smoothed;
- Improper cutting of pavers at the joints between pavement and curbs;
- Failure to respect the height of the curbs and the installation of pavers below its level;
- Crooked mounting and/or faulty alignment of pavers;
- Clogging the joints with improper amount of sand.
A correctly installed pavement will have a uniform appearance, without unevenness.
At the same time, the slope of 1% must be observed for drainage.
If the surface to be paved is on a slope, then it is not recommended to use a bed of sand, because the pavers can slide due to raining. In this case, the pavers must be mounted on a layer of mortar, and the joints must be filled with sand mixed with cement.
To create a pavement according to your project, take into account the level of traffic, the slope of the land and the model you choose.
If you avoid mistakes and carefully follow all the assembly steps, you will get a quality Edinburgh paving project.
What are the advantages of pavers in Edinburgh paving and driveways?
The popularity of paving stones is not only related to their appearance. Unlike other materials, pavers have an increased resistance to environmental factors, but also to the traffic, which they are aimed to. If the pavers are installed properly, cracks, pits or unevenness should not appear on a road or paved surface.
Working with Alpha Business Contractors, your Edinburgh paving project should be a success.
Obviously, we cannot ignore the pleasant appearance and usefulness they give to any place where they are used. Colors, shapes and the possibility to choose between them will give an outdoor space an extra personality. This is a selection criteria as important as their resistance over time.
A less known advantage concerns the joints between the pavers. They allow a better ventilation of the soil below, but also a better drainage of rainwater, which drains directly into the ground and re-enters its natural circuit more easily.
Also, concrete pavers are much more “malleable” in case of the need for repairs from the various building networks (water, gas, electricity, etc.). They can be easily removed and quickly put back together with a minimum of effort.
Regarding maintenance costs and possible repairs, they are low compared to other materials.
Last but not least, other important elements are as borders (edgings) and gutters.
Ideas and inspiration for your Edinburgh paving and driveway project. Aesthetic criteria for selecting courtyard paving
The aesthetic aspect is the overall style of the house and court yard and the architecture of the house.
A. For the classic style, we recommend pavements with simple, rectangular or square lines. The model how they are placed can be diverse respecting the colors and architectural lines of the house.
B. For the rustic style, you can use pavements of irregular shapes, antiqued, with the appearance of natural stone or brick. Of course, pieces of solid wood and natural stone can also be used. In the rustic style the pavements can be interspersed with areas of greenery or gravel. And the grill-type pavers are suitable for the rustic style.
C. Modern design styles are dominated by larger format pavers, rectangular, square and other curving interesting shapes. They are usually more finished models and the materials can be diverse, including marble and granite.
