Page 1 of 1
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:19 am
by 84-1093879891
So, as mentioned in the Wrong Colour Cobbles thread, let's see what people think of the various blocks on offer to us in Britain and Ireland.
As I've already stated, my vote goes for the Marshalls Ramsbottom 200x100x60mm Brindle, and that's purely on aesthetics .... whatb does it for you, or, which blocks or which manufacturer do you think is the worst? And why?
Edited By TonyMcC on 1095502829
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 3:07 pm
by gricerdave
We've just come in for another shower break, and found this. We can only comment on one brand as this is what we are using - unfortunately. Top pave, Autumn Sunset, 60mm. Having had the builders merchants visit and agree that some of the bricks are unacceptable, (and we may have been given a reject pallet) we had to completely start again from loosening the the sand. With 2 new pallets to add to the remainder of our original lot, we tried again and struggled with 45 degree herringbone for 2 days. We reluctantly gave up and restarted with 90 degree. More successful, but only because the bad bricks show up pretty much as soon as you put them in, not 3 rows on when the gaps won't close. The bricks vary in texture from smooth, almost glossy to open and crumbly. The sizes vary from 70mm to 55mm deep, and many - the ones that throw the pattern out- are too wide or too long. Some seem to measure o.k. but we are not sure if maybe they are mis-shapen in some way. The rogue ones are quite easy to spot as they are all similar in appearance. It is mainly the ones with yellow and blue clay that seem cause the problems, and the only way to keep the pattern true is to take them out, including the warm orange tones that we chose them for. Quite a lot have got holes on the surface.
Are they always like this, or have we just been unlucky.
Builders merchants will be hearing from us again on Monday!
A bit damp, very disappointed and frustrated, but at least the sun is out again so we can resume the battle.
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 7:39 pm
by Nigel Walker
Tony
What are Marshalls Ramsbottom paviors ?
I like the finished effect of Marshalls Excel either Brindle or Burnt Ochre.
I am not a lover of paving being sealed, but it looks wonderful on the Excel paviors - really brings out the colour.
Lakeland Derwentstone Paviors (a rumbled Tegula type) look good when laid - random coursed 2 sizes
I dont really want to say this, but I think Marshalls paviors are probably the best for consistent quality and colouring. The sizes and depths of the paviors are very equal - plus I like the way the Driveline 50 paviors are stacked in the packs. They can be easily moved by Cart and are easy to lift by hand due to them being stacked using the laqpping method.
Nigel
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:23 am
by 84-1093879891
Marshalls Ramsbottom blocks refers to blocks manufactured at the plant in Ramsbottom, more commonly refeerred to as "Rammy", just up the Rossendale valley from Bury (North Manchester for those of your not familiar with the area).
Years ago, when I was just a young lad traipsing behind my dad, the 'Rammy' plant used to be Wild's Flag Works and I would spend hours watching the flags being made while my dad argued prices with the plant manager and I think that memory of paving machinery triggered a lifelong interest in how things are made.
Incidentally, they still quarry "Yorkstone" flags at Rammy, even though it's not in Yorkshire. The official name for the site is 'Fletcher Bank Quarry'.
No votes for the fabled 'Beamish Cobble' from Armstrongs in the NE of Eng-er-land? None for BS Eatons from the W.Midlands? You do surprise me!
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:24 pm
by Rspaving
Alpha Three Size pavers,
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 12:52 pm
by Tony McC
Those are the Brett pavers, aren't they? We don't get them up here, but I know they are very popular in Lower Britain, and probably rival the Tegula Drivesett as most popular tumbled paver for that part of Britain.
I always liked the fact that they are available in a wider palette of colours than the Drivesett. A couple of years back they were experimenting with a green and a blue that were manufactured in Belgium or Holland, but I'm not sure how well they sold. The Autumn Gold is a truly great colour blend, harking back to the days when they used to be Greenham Paving.
The only downside to Alpha, and I have to qualify this by admitting that I only get to see it on the rare occasions I make trips to the south-east, is that the coarse aggregate often seems a bit more prominent compared to the Drivesett or Tegula blocks.
What sort of price, per square metre, are you paying for the Alpha blocks, and how does that compare to the local price for, say, Woburn or Drivesett?
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:28 pm
by Rspaving
Yes there brett i lay 50% of my drives in them autumn gold is the most popular, although there prone for efflorence. Norm takes 6 months to disappear, Resiblock is only round the corner from us so E R is a product we use a lot if the customer has a problem with the white patches, We supply and lay any colour at £60 a m2 in alpha 3 size, I pay £13.50m2 for alpha and £8m2 for the norm 50mm paver.
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:42 am
by Paverman Dan
From the US . . . . My personal favorite is Anchor's 4 pc Bergerac in brownstone . . . just a great blend, tumbled, only available in NJ-NY-PA-Ct . .
