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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:54 pm
by bertone136
Hi Guys,
Has anyone any views on using Bretts Alpha blocks as against Marshalls Tegula.
Also Bretts do a Beta block which is similar to Marshall Excel I believe.
Any comments will be greatly apprieciated.
Regards
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:35 pm
by Tony McC
It's an aesthetic choice for me. They are both quality products, so if you can get them for a similar price, the only basis on which to choose is which one looks best to you.
Beta is not similar to Excel. Beta is a straightforward, untumbled larger-format block, while Excel is an embossed block with a distinctive surface relief.
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:21 am
by very simple simon
Bretts alpha is a bit more "Tumbledy" than tegula from what I've seen of it i.e. tegula retains straight edges at top of chamfer, but alphas can have chunks missing.
not sure what others think, but for me Bretts regatta seems best tegula copy for the money, perhaps colours not as strong as marshalls
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:26 pm
by bertone136
Thanks Gents for your comments.
I am thinking of using blocks for a patio as it seems quite a nice change from slabs.
Any disadvantages do you reckon?
PS Great site Tony
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:11 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i have done block paving on patios,using the lollipop shaped blocks (cant remember the name)
and TBh i dont think blocks look right on a patio
bit too busy
blocks and slabs together look nice
but its just my opinion 
LLL
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:56 am
by Tony McC
Lollipop-shape blocks? Them'll be the Uni-decor that Marshalls had about 10 years ago. It never really sold in volume in Britain (probably summat to do with the silly price being charged) but that block is one of the biggest sellers in the US of A.
I have block paving (albeit clay pavers) on my patio, and it looks luvverly! It all depends on the look you're trying to achieve. I wanted "Country Cottage" so traditional clay pavers fitted the bill. Standard concrete pavers wouldn't have been right and using flags would have been awkward due to the small size of the patio. There are also a good number of relatively fast arcs around flower beds and several changes in levels that create complex twists and cross-falls that were a doddle to pave with blocks, but would have involved all sorts of nasty mitre cuts if flags had been used.
Horse for courses, as they say.
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:36 pm
by lutonlagerlout
uni-decor thats it
i agree clay pavers look really bucolic especially on small areas with trailing and spreading plants etc etc
its when you have your 7 m by 5 m patio all one level it looks like a car park!
as i sit typing this i see the neighbour's drive which was done in clays and it looks as good now as the day it was laid
apart from the raised beds where he had to use concrete kerbs 
they have faded to grey
wasnt that an old 80's hit??
"fade to grey" visage
heh
LLL