Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:55 am
Hello there-
Amazing site, I have to tell you, so thorough, so understandable! An absolute gem. You must publish a book. Garden Designers (many of whom go into it from a horticultural background) desperately need this kind of straightforward information.
I am designing a contemporary garden which has parallel bars(like stripes, 250mm wide) of darker paving running through planting beds and then flush with an Indian Sandstone terrace. Ideally, these bars are continuous -- it's part of the 'look' -- so any unit paving would not provide the same effect. The client cannot afford long, bespoke-cut granite slabs.
I am hoping to construct most of the bars from concrete, which would then be coloured dark. I am using the Roadforms suggested on this site. The hardcore, etc, for the sandstone will be then be placed around the cured 'bars'. Getting the falls right might be difficult, but not impossible, I hope.
However, three of these bars extend from the terrace over a sunken water feature. Since the water feature has it's own reinforced concrete shell, I was planning to support the bars, as they cross the pond, with concrete blocks (some of which are hollow to allow the water to pass from one section to another). Still with me?
SO...the question is: to make these three bars (max. length 2 metres), can I create my own bars, long and skinny as they are, using forms, then simply lift them and mortar them on top of the concrete block supports (as they cross the pond), and mortar them onto the hardcore (as they cross the terrace).
And how thick should they be? It is like I am creating my own concrete pavers, but a very unusual size (2000 x 250).
YOu may just tell me to go and simplify my design. The design looks simple, actually; elegant, I hope! it is the execution that is complicated.
I am open to your advice.
Thanks-- ladysmantle
Amazing site, I have to tell you, so thorough, so understandable! An absolute gem. You must publish a book. Garden Designers (many of whom go into it from a horticultural background) desperately need this kind of straightforward information.
I am designing a contemporary garden which has parallel bars(like stripes, 250mm wide) of darker paving running through planting beds and then flush with an Indian Sandstone terrace. Ideally, these bars are continuous -- it's part of the 'look' -- so any unit paving would not provide the same effect. The client cannot afford long, bespoke-cut granite slabs.
I am hoping to construct most of the bars from concrete, which would then be coloured dark. I am using the Roadforms suggested on this site. The hardcore, etc, for the sandstone will be then be placed around the cured 'bars'. Getting the falls right might be difficult, but not impossible, I hope.
However, three of these bars extend from the terrace over a sunken water feature. Since the water feature has it's own reinforced concrete shell, I was planning to support the bars, as they cross the pond, with concrete blocks (some of which are hollow to allow the water to pass from one section to another). Still with me?
SO...the question is: to make these three bars (max. length 2 metres), can I create my own bars, long and skinny as they are, using forms, then simply lift them and mortar them on top of the concrete block supports (as they cross the pond), and mortar them onto the hardcore (as they cross the terrace).
And how thick should they be? It is like I am creating my own concrete pavers, but a very unusual size (2000 x 250).
YOu may just tell me to go and simplify my design. The design looks simple, actually; elegant, I hope! it is the execution that is complicated.
I am open to your advice.
Thanks-- ladysmantle
