Heaven Above

So how do you replace a concrete jungle with… more concrete, well this is how. Creating a low-maintenance area with elegance and fresh easy-to-control plants.

The new porous block paves will give way to ugly outdated slabs. Giving a better flow of water away from the house and using it to feed the new planting.

The main aim was to create a modern look with an emphasis on low maintenance. A more usable and controlled planting area and a level almost smooth finish for ease of use, but not plain.

So let’s get stuck in. All the old is removed and a ground check is undertaken. Checking for pipes, wires, or concrete. In this case, it was concrete. Quite a lot of old concrete in odd areas. So it’s then all leveled as required and 5 tons of MOT type1 Stone is applied as a ground base.

The ground is leveled and MOT stone for strength and to level off

A new wall was planned between the two houses. We took the discussion to split the bricks to suit each house. One side had red bricks whilst the client’s house had grey-black to blend in with the finish.

A Stone edging was added for the ‘new’ planting area. Footings were added for the steps to the drive area. New drain covers and a new waste drain.

It was decided that the original wall was left due to ground issues and the fence posts. So a new wall and step area were built to blend in with it but in a two-tone red/grey black finish.

Careful consideration was chosen for the water flow over the blocks. The water was to be spread evenly over the block area so it never creates a slippy section. So the water was moved to the new improved drain a the top left, with the largest amount of water going into the planted area and the rest towards the wall to run along that edge and out to the kerbside. The same was achieved with the lower steps onto the drive.

A new edge was formed for the driveway area and the blocks were started to be laid. The drive, although a little small for today’s cars was left as a useful parking area if required. You maybe wouldn’t get a 4×4 into the garage and would be a struggle on the drive. But a concrete grit path was done to complete the look. All the wall tops are now finished with textured coping.

The grit concrete drive is completed and the block paving is almost finished, now for the final touches. This is when it all starts coming together.

So, let’s finish off. Even completing the job with a new made-to-measure fence on the front and anti-weed infill kiln sand. I did really enjoy this job. When it all came together it felt so right and when it looks this good that’s even better!

After a final scheme of low-maintenance planting is added to new top-grade screened composted soil, it’s all finished. All but a few small touches will be done to some little details when the weather improves, mainly painting.