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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:11 pm
by TarmacLady
Here's a new idea for you lot --
One of our neighbours recently splashed out to have their enormous concrete drive torn out and paved with brick -- the blokes did a lovely job, and it looked fantastic, even though they've basically paved the entire front garden. Edging done nicely, nicely herringboned, the whole job.
Last week, I saw several bits of equipment parked in front of the house, and as I drove by, I figured out what they were on about -- they were laying machine-formed concrete kerbing along the drive, tinted and formed to look like brick. It's the dog's breakfast to be sure -- after the poor dog has been violently ill.
Never thought I would describe a brick drive as looking chav, but this one has taken the cake.
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:43 pm
by lutonlagerlout
photos please TL
LLL 
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:44 pm
by TarmacLady
As soon as I can -- the bloke who lives there was working outside this morning, so it was awkward to stop and take a pic of the mess!
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:10 pm
by Ted
http://www.scot-kerb.co.uk/14357.html
http://www.curb-king.com/samples.html
Similar to this?
Like PIC it is an off the shelf business... "start a new business today" type thing...
No one is trying to flog it here yet AFAIK...
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:51 pm
by lutonlagerlout
looks pretty good to me ,i notice the franchises are a lot cheaper than in the uk
they love a bit of crete though the yanks dont they?
i would love to see one in action
LLL
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:38 am
by matt h
lutonlagerlout wrote:looks pretty good to me ,i notice the franchises are a lot cheaper than in the uk
they love a bit of crete though the yanks dont they?
i would love to see one in action
LLL
Whats that, a yank or a concrete pic. Yankjs are too tire to do it themselves
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:24 pm
by TarmacLady
Okay let's try this:
These are formed with small machines that are made to be towed behind a standard (US-size = HUGE) pickup -- they straddle the area to be kerbed, and creep forward as the concrete flows. While they're interesting to watch, I don't care at all for the look, and everyone uses it to border all their flower beds, walkways, and drives. Pleh.
Since the image doesn't seem to want to work, try this:
http://profile.imageshack.us/user....oo8.jpg
Edited By TarmacLady on 1187879116
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:43 pm
by georgel
Tarmac lady i think that's nice but different strokes for different folks! :laugh:
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:05 am
by lutonlagerlout
i like the technology more than the finish,it amazes me that someone thought up a machine like that
LLL
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:57 am
by TarmacLady
Ted -- spot on -- that's the company that makes machines both for drives and for the big commercial work.
Almost all of the kerbing in the US is done by machine forming. Even the gutters (you can see them at the foot of the drive) are all machine formed. The only difference is the machines are much larger.
It's quite amazing to watch, really -- they actually go into a new housing estate and lay the kerbing as soon as the lot lines are drawn out -- the endless kerbs then stay in place as the tarmac is poured for streets, and even the cement mixers pull into the gaps left for driveways to pour the foundations for new housing. There's loads of construction going on round us (we're even getting a new bridge into our side of town) -- next time I see a kerb crew working, I'll try to snap piccies.
Edited By TarmacLady on 1187924355
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:24 pm
by Tony McC
Britain is one of the few countries where slip-forming of kerbs (as it is called) has never really taken off. It's been popular in Ireland and Oz and North America for years, but in Britain, modular kerbs are the firm favourite.
Small "decorative" slip-form kerb machines are available, and there's half-a-dozen lads out there that take on private/residential work, but the cost per linear metre is always way more expensive than modular kerb - I've seen jobs where there's a 300% price diff, and if the work requires only a simple edge course rather than a kerb, then the slip-forming just cannot compete at current prices.
I have some piccies somewhere, of both commercial and residential slip-form kerb installation - I'll see if I can find them.