The Slab Effect

The Slab Effect

Love them or loathe them, chances are you have some slabs – paviours to us garden designers – somewhere in your garden. Incredibly versatile and varied paving slabs offer all sorts of opportunities through colour, function and form for garden owners and designers, but not all paviours are created equally. So, how do you decide what’s the ‘best’ paviour for your garden project? Here are some performance related things to consider as a starting point….

Most people tend to go for the look of a paving effect first but it’s worth knowing what you’re going to do with your newly paved area before you invest, so that the paviours themselves are fit for the purpose you intend. So, for instance, are you going to walk over them, drive over them, sit on them, park on them, etc? Will the area be high or low ‘traffic’? What are the prevailing weather conditions that it will be in, will it be in sunshine or shade, hot or cold, etc?

All of these things require varying performance capabilities from a paviour. In our UK climate for instance we need paviours that won’t crack in repeated freezing temperatures or go green with algae and lichen growth when sited in a shady spot, so in this regard when considering a paviour look for water absorption figures/guarantees from suppliers. Reputable suppliers will provide them but unfortunately that’s not the case with many stones available. The lower the water absorption figure, the better the chance of an algae-free shady spot or a cracking paviour in freezing conditions. The suppliers we use typically offer paviours with water absorption level of 1.7%.

Driving over paviours demands strength and flexibility, something that is usually best accommodated with smaller, albeit thicker, paviours. That’s why so many driveways use block paving or setts, the smaller shapes allow for ‘flex’ as the car wheels drive over them, but larger paviours can be used with some careful thought and a suitable base. Never opt for anything less than a 32mm thickness for driveway paviours and preferably choose 40mm, 50mm or more. Flexural strength is sometimes mentioned by suppliers and this refers to the strength of a material in response to flexing stress and force applications – generally the stronger a stone is the less chance there is of it failing or being attacked by frost once it’s laid.

If you’re going to use paviours on pathways and patios choose slip resistant finishes; this used to mean that it’s usually best to avoid highly polished paviours and lean instead to a more textured or rivened finish but many stone suppliers today promise slip resistance on the vast majority of their paving if it is maintained properly, so it is possible to get that smooth, contemporary look with a functional slip free surface with a little more effort. Sandstone or Yorkstone are popular natural stone choices here but we’re seeing many clients opting for vitrified paving now.

Vitrified Paving

The word vitrified technically refers to a conversion/glazing process that turns things into a glass like substance – so ceramic and porcelain are words sometimes used to mean very similar, if not the same, thing – but vitrified paving can look far more natural than you’d usually associate with ceramic or porcelain paviours. The benefits of vitrified paving include exceptional strength, high anti-slip properties and little, to no, water absorption which in turn means high performance and less maintenance requirements.

Of course I’ve only managed to touch upon a few things about paviours within this article – it’s a massive area but other things like colour, shapes, ethical sourcing, bases and the main deal breaker for most of us, price, will have to wait for another day…

Planning your Patio – the 2 F’s to Success

The Problem with Patios

Patios are often the most expensive part of a garden and because of that are often the most long lived part too so it’s worth trying to get your patio ideas ‘right’ before any build commences. The majority of the times we’re called out to consider a patio redesign it’s because the existing patio isn’t, or is no longer, fit for purpose. But there’s an architectural design saying: ‘form ever follows function’; and if you can keep it in mind when you’re thinking about your new patio the odds are improved that your resulting patio will work for you.

So, what does the phrase mean? Today’s garden design interpretation and application is probably much more relaxed than its pure functionalist creator intended but it generally means thinking about what you want a space for (function) before you start thinking about what it will look like (form). Sounds pretty obvious right? You’d probably be surprised at how many patios we come across that didn’t apply the idea!

Take the ‘usual’ positioning of a patio as an example. 9.9 times out of 10 it’s right outside the back (aptly named!) patio doors. Accepting the fact that many people inherit a patio with the house they buy you’d still probably be surprised at how many people, when in control of one do just ‘put’ their patio outside the back doors of their house because that’s where they’ve traditionally been placed, rather than actively making the decision because it’s the best place to suit their own needs. But if, for example, my client is a sun lover who wants to sit in the sun as much as possible and the house casts the patio in shade all day her functional requirements aren’t being met by this particular space.

In this shady, back of house scenario; my sun loving client would be best served by positioning her patio in the place that gets the most sun in her garden with the space being big enough to allow plenty of sunbathing opportunities while offering enough privacy and seclusion from neighbours, for instance, so the planting and things adjacent to the patio may end up being just as important as the patio itself, in terms of meeting its functional goals. My large dinner party hosting clients on the other hand, living in the adjoining house, would appreciate a patio big enough to accommodate a large table and chairs, as near to their kitchen as can be. And for my sun loving clients who also love to throw al fresco dinner parties? For them it’s probably a two patio design because a single patio wouldn’t be able to quite accommodate their dual functional requirements adequately.

The ‘form’ of the patio areas would then begin to fall out of their proposed functions and in these very simplified examples their position has already fallen out of them so now it’s time to consider size, shape, materials, aesthetics, incorporation into the wider garden, lesser functional requirements, etc.

For the dinner party couple, for instance flat, slip free surfaces accommodate tables and chairs best so paviors are the obvious choice here. The size of the patio needs to accommodate their overly large dining table and chairs with enough space to get around them comfortably when they are in use. The position of their patio next to the house requires careful drainage solutions and a robust build. The transitions from the house to the patio, and then from the patio to beyond, need careful consideration both in terms of their look and their usability; the materials and use of them need to aesthetically tick the boxes from viewpoints both outside and inside the house, in all seasons and all of these things, and more, need to be considered with budget very firmly in mind.

It is all a tricky balancing act but if you can remember the phrase you’ll stand a better chance of success with your patio.

Top Tips for Choosing Surfaces in your Garden Design

Surface, surface everywhere

In and of their own right, for many of us, surfaces don’t often take precedence when thinking about our gardens but they are a key element of any garden design.

It is the surfaces of the hard landscaping that usually dominate a garden through the winter and set off beautiful planting schemes in the growing and flowering seasons but surfaces are much more than that because the materials used to create that perfect patio or winding pathway carry with them not only functionality but scene-setting, mood enhancing, aesthetic impact that does much of the legwork in hanging a whole garden design together.

Surfaces help define the mood and look of a garden, for instance, if you want a contemporary feel to your garden then smooth, sleek surfaces with sharp edges add that touch of ‘precision’ that many contemporary spaces exhibit. Conversely if you’re longing for a more relaxed cottage garden style then reclaimed brick, cobbles or rivened finishes lend themselves well here.

It’s not just patios and pathway surfaces that we have to think about either; surfaces are everywhere in our garden whether it’s the finish on built in seating or the tops of raised beds, the materials we mulch our borders with or the fillers we use between elements of a garden design, they all add to the whole and thus need to work harmoniously in order to complement the finished product.

Key elements of surfaces to consider

As we've already seen the look and finish of surfaces play key roles in surface decisions but they also have to perform well too, so function is another important part of thinking about surfaces too – whatever we choose it has to be fit for purpose otherwise what’s the point?

Another major factor and key influencer in surface decisions is price so knowing your budget definitely helps here! As much as we sometimes wish it wasn’t so, we do generally get what we pay for and a quality surface often brings with it a substantial price tag. That’s not to say that less pricey substitutions can’t work in a garden design because they definitely can but being aware of the implications of choosing one product over another is something well worth giving careful consideration to before making that final decision.

Each surface material will bring its own characteristics to the garden so as garden designers we'll help our clients weigh them all up - taking the above things into consideration (amongst other things!) - before making recommendations about which surface products to include in our clients’ garden designs.

Key surface areas in a garden design:

Patios & seating areas

Often the most expensive material purchase in a domestic garden design, pavers are the overwhelming material of choice for patios for Blue Daisy clients because of their level laying capabilities and stability. They are durable and come in all materials, shapes, sizes and finishes. There will be a paver that will suit any style of garden, functional requirement and budget.

Paver laying patterns can also make a difference to the feel of your patio - stretcher bond laying patterns (like brickwork) often dominate but random patterns and stacked bond (grid style) can also look good as can angular laying styles. Mixing materials - pavers and bricks for instance can look great - and sometimes can also help reduce costs.

Alternative options might include, for example: bricks, setts, tiles, polished concrete or crushed granite which will also give a stable, level, durable surface suitable for a patio; and decking is also still popular for raised or floating seating areas.

Pathways & fillers

Pathways are less demanding than patios so loose aggregates are viable and popular surface materials here - they are usually cheaper than paving the whole pathway too.

Gravel, chippings and pebbles are popular choices and again they come in all sizes and colours so keeping the harmony of your garden design remains possible.

Bark chippings can also look great in woodland gardens and productive areas - they're cheap and sustainable although they'll also need topping up as they'll naturally decompose over time.

Loose aggregates require good edgings so they don't spill messily into other areas of your garden (see edging, below).

If we've used aggregates on pathways we'll tend to use the same surface materials for fillers too to keep the cohesion of the garden design - coverings for drainaway areas or sometimes utility areas, if they're visible, etc.

Alternative options for pathway surfaces might include bricks, sets, cobbles, tiles, concrete, crushed granite, hoggin, mixed materials, the list can go on….

Edges

Good edges can make a big difference to a garden design's finish. Not only do they look good, they serve a functional purpose too - they might be mowing edges for lawns or keeping loose chippings in pathways or mulches in borders - they can also help knit a design together.

We've used sett edging in the Coventry garden design shown in our main image. The setts add extra detail across a small impromptu seating area next to a children's play area. The edging works as a mowing strip for the lawn, it keeps the rubber play grade bark in check, edges the patio and looks good to boot!

Visible edging surfaces are often decorative and are frequently brick or sets, haunched in for stability. Timber edges are less obvious but can still look aesthetically pleasing and there are plenty of other edging materials out there to explore and experiment with too!

Structures & other vertical surfaces

Structures usually include vertical as well as horizontal surfaces, examples might include pergolas, screens, raised beds, retaining walls, fixed seating, arbours, arches and others.

Boundaries are vertical surfaces not to be ignored either since they provide, in most instances, a backdrop to the rest of the garden and as such become an integral part of the whole.

For things like seating the tactile qualities of a surface come to the fore too. Beautifully honed, silky-smooth wood feels warm and sleek to the touch, for instance, adding extra layers of textural qualities to the overall garden design.

Soft landscape surfaces

People rarely think about their lawns and borders as 'surfaces' but they can be just as important as any other surface in a garden design. Mirror smooth, striped lawns carry with them a certain style and statement that less manicured grass areas fail to and when it comes to functionality different grasses lend themselves to different requirements, for instance, hard wearing grass suits child and dog traffic more than others.

Border mulches can also add aesthetic qualities to a garden design as well as soil improving and weed-surpressing functionality.

Just like every other surface decision the soft landscape surfaces also need to be in keeping with the overall garden design.

We've tried to give you a flavour of some of the key surface elements of a garden design here - we've barely managed to scratch the surface (see what we did there??) of this subject - but we hope that we've sparked your enthusiasm to learn more!