The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:05 pm**

Hello All
Some advice please. I've been looking through the forum and have seen various bits of advice on the merits or otherwise of hoggin/self-binding gravel.
One guy said hoggin was "nasty, nasty stuff" while another poster said he couldn't get merchants to understand what self-binding gravel was in his local area (Herts, which is also mine!)
So here's my problem.
I want to create some garden paths which will have foot traffic but must also allow mowers, barrows etc to wheeled over them.
I've seen a product elsewhere called Nidaplast which appears to be a honeycomb mat which is covered by gravel. It seems to hold the gravel in place so that wheelchairs, bikes etc can be wheeled over it.
Does anyone have experience of Nidaplast?
Costs aside, could the forum venture some opinions on whether Nidaplast is a workable solution against hoggin/self-binding gravel?
Aside from flags etc, which I want to avoid, are there any other solutions?
And why is hoggin "nasty, nasty stuff"?
Thanks in advance.
CSK

Posted: **Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:14 pm**

Nidaplast, and other cell matrices, are fine for stabilising gravel for residential driveways, and given a choice of hoggin or cell matrix + gravel, the cell matrix would get my vote everytime - mind you, as the guy that said hoggin is nasty, nasty stuff, if it were a choice between hoggin and decking, it's quite possible that the bloody decking would win!

And why is it bnasty? Because the clay content sticks to the soles of yer boots and gets trodden into the house; because you can feel yourself getting taller as you walk across it and it clings to your soles; because it's so bloody variable in composition you never know how crap the next barrowful will be.

If it was any good at all, it would be used throughout the country. But it isn't, which tells you all you need to know - it's only used in the SE of England because they have buggerall else to use!

Posted: **Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:35 pm**

Thanks Tony

No hoggin for me then!

Of the cell matrices, is there one which you'd recommend more than another and for light pedestrian use what ground preparation do they need?

Thanks again and sorry to be a pain!

csk

Posted: **Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:28 am**

They're all much or a muchness, but for patio use, you can choose one of the shallow versions, such as NetPave50 or Aco GroundGuard. I think the cheapest quality product I've seen is the Burdens product Grassway, which despite the name can be used with gravel.

The Brew Cabin

Pathways - Nidaplast or....?