I've recently had a block drive laid (of the brick type blocks, such as brindles etc).
The blocks are laid on a bed of sand, and the the gaps between each block are in-filled with kiln dried sand.
Unfortunatly, ants are now continually burrowing through the kiln dried sand, leaving mounds of sand on the surface and creating gaps between the paving blocks.
Are there any tips or products I can use to remedy the ant infestation problem?
Thanks very much
Paul
Ant Infestation - Ants burrowing sand
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84-1093879891
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112-1093880646
Thanks for your advice Tony; I’ll have a look around some builder’s yards this week.
I’ve a little niggling concern about Keybond because Marshalls website states that its suitable for concrete paving but not for clay paving.
To show my ignorance on this subject, I’m unsure what material the pavers are made of, but looking at a section of a cut block it looks just like a normal building brick, so I’d have assumed they are clay.
Is there a simple way to tell the difference between clay & concrete blocks ?
Just one more question, but does Marshalls Keybond cause the blocks to become shiny or have a sheen once dried ?
Thanks once again.
Paul
I’ve a little niggling concern about Keybond because Marshalls website states that its suitable for concrete paving but not for clay paving.
To show my ignorance on this subject, I’m unsure what material the pavers are made of, but looking at a section of a cut block it looks just like a normal building brick, so I’d have assumed they are clay.
Is there a simple way to tell the difference between clay & concrete blocks ?
Just one more question, but does Marshalls Keybond cause the blocks to become shiny or have a sheen once dried ?
Thanks once again.
Paul
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84-1093879891
Aaah! You didn't mention these pavers might be clay, in which case, Keybond might not be the answer, and you might be better using something like WJC from Resiblock Ltd.
How to tell if a paver is concrete or clay:
Surface texture - a concrete block tends to have a flat, pressed surfaces, with regular chamfered edges to the top face, and some evidence of colour 'smearing' on the sides, which are all dead straight and regular. A clay paver has a 'drag-wire' texture to its upper surface, with smooth, almost shiny sides. It's less regular, with obvious deviation in the surface and/or the arrises.
Broken-
A British concrete paving block, when snapped open, exhibits a blend of differently coloured concretes, with obvious 'matrix' and 'coarse aggregate'. This is not the case with European and Irish pavers which typically use a 'face mix' process, making it much easier to identify concrete products, as well as making best use of valuable resources. A clay paver is often much harder to break than a concrete, and the inside displays a homogenous material with graduated colour differences where the effects of firing have altered the clay to varying degrees.
Finished effect -
A pavement of concrete pavers normally has dead straight, regular joints, whereas a clay paved area will have joints of varying width, the alignment within the paved area is less accurate and the whole has a more organic, naturalistic look to it than the 'perfection' available with concrete blocks.
If you have a close-up photo showing a few of the pavers in detail, it's pretty easy for any paving contractor to identify which is clay and which is concrete.
How to tell if a paver is concrete or clay:
Surface texture - a concrete block tends to have a flat, pressed surfaces, with regular chamfered edges to the top face, and some evidence of colour 'smearing' on the sides, which are all dead straight and regular. A clay paver has a 'drag-wire' texture to its upper surface, with smooth, almost shiny sides. It's less regular, with obvious deviation in the surface and/or the arrises.
Broken-
A British concrete paving block, when snapped open, exhibits a blend of differently coloured concretes, with obvious 'matrix' and 'coarse aggregate'. This is not the case with European and Irish pavers which typically use a 'face mix' process, making it much easier to identify concrete products, as well as making best use of valuable resources. A clay paver is often much harder to break than a concrete, and the inside displays a homogenous material with graduated colour differences where the effects of firing have altered the clay to varying degrees.
Finished effect -
A pavement of concrete pavers normally has dead straight, regular joints, whereas a clay paved area will have joints of varying width, the alignment within the paved area is less accurate and the whole has a more organic, naturalistic look to it than the 'perfection' available with concrete blocks.
If you have a close-up photo showing a few of the pavers in detail, it's pretty easy for any paving contractor to identify which is clay and which is concrete.
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112-1093880646
To demonstrate my level of ignorance, I didn't mention they might be clay because I didn't even know there were different material paving blocks around !!
Anyhow, thanks to your description of the difference between concrete & clay blocks, I can now easily recognise them as being concrete.
If I apply the Marshalls Keybond you first suggested, what affect will it have on the appearance of the concrete blocks once it's dried out, ie, no difference, gloss, matt, sheen finish etc, etc ?
Thanks for your help Tony, I really do appreciate it.
Paul
Anyhow, thanks to your description of the difference between concrete & clay blocks, I can now easily recognise them as being concrete.
If I apply the Marshalls Keybond you first suggested, what affect will it have on the appearance of the concrete blocks once it's dried out, ie, no difference, gloss, matt, sheen finish etc, etc ?
Thanks for your help Tony, I really do appreciate it.
Paul
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84-1093879891
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112-1093880646
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115-1093880813
Ronacrete have a product for this job; we have tested it off and on over several years but never actually got around to promoting it. In fact it's so unmarketed we call it "Ronabond SR79" which is quite meaningless but - importantly - we believe it's effective.
Water based, dilute, brush on, let it soak into the sand, job done!
For any contractors wishing to try it we have several 5 litre containers available. Email me at simeon at ronacrete.co.uk with the message header "SR79 Sample". All I ask is that you email some reasonable quality digital pictures and your thoughts.
Thanks
Simeon
Water based, dilute, brush on, let it soak into the sand, job done!
For any contractors wishing to try it we have several 5 litre containers available. Email me at simeon at ronacrete.co.uk with the message header "SR79 Sample". All I ask is that you email some reasonable quality digital pictures and your thoughts.
Thanks
Simeon
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84-1089053830
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115-1093880813
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84-1089053830
Oh yes - I'm popping in on the Saturday to see how a couple of stands are being put together, and then I'll be there for the three days that the show is open, although I'm not working for anyone in particular, just doing bits of meet'n'greets with a number of people and showing a couple of European chappies around the place.
I'll be over at your stand for a brew at some point, for sure!
I'll be over at your stand for a brew at some point, for sure!