The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:44 pm**

Hello everyone, hope you dont mind me posting in a general area of the forum for advice but im not sure what to do with my path!

This is a long narrow broken concrete path leading from the road to my front door on the side of a house converted to flats in the eighties. There seems to be a number of access panels and theres a basement underneath once section near the front where the concrete seems to dip (dont know why).

I have had a few ideas such as laying Marshalls Heritage Yorkstone Paving at the front area of the path. Then further down the path where it narrows considerably put the paving down the centre only (where people walk) and have gravel at the sides ( to save on the otherwise huge cost).

The other idea is just to choose a grey block and have it paved or to have it PIC'd (expensive). Of course I could just have it repaired with more concrete! Cost is a big factor and I would like it to look respectable but not cost a lot if possible, if not i would have to save up but i do intend to sell the flat soon and in this condition its going to put people off. I spent a lot on the inside and have the path and garden left to finish.

Ive been reading the site but found it difficult to decide what to do and would appreciate knowing what people on here think. Any ideas, advice, tips, or jokes about the condition of it right now gratefully appreciated!!

PS I extended the bottom step myself just for the mat to fit on temporarily before i decide what to do before anyone points out what a bad job it is!

Posted: **Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:06 pm**

It depends on how much you want to spend. For me, a quick and cheap fix would be a grano overlay, creating, in effect, a brand new concrete look. Failing that, your only other option would be to rip out all that concrete and start again with flags or even block paving.

Posted: **Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:24 am**

Tony McC wrote:It depends on how much you want to spend. For me, a quick and cheap fix would be a grano overlay, creating, in effect, a brand new concrete look. Failing that, your only other option would be to rip out all that concrete and start again with flags or even block paving.

Hi Tony, thanks for your reply. I am inclined to follow your advice to the letter!

I found out what grano is from your site http://www.pavingexpert.com/mortars.htm#grano and it sounds like it will work and be a neat, cheap fix especially sinceto do otherwise invloved ripping up the concrete which would be too large a job.

I am like someone else you recommended grano too, also in the south (crouch end, north london) and so getting this grano mix is going to be a challenge! We have Jewsons, Travis Perkins etc but they are small branches with limited products.

Can I ask a few questions about the application of the grano mortar. Would some of the exisiting concrete need to be broken away or would this just repair the deeper cracks and holes and add a new 6mm layer of grano all over? There are some access panels and I wondered how to work round them as they would become a bit lower (i assume thats okay?).

As for colouring, I guess it would be best to match the existing concrete colour?

If I went for a different colour are there any conservative colourings that you have seen that you can recommend and please tell me how easy it is to achieve them.

Posted: **Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:58 pm**

I know Crouch End! A good friend of mine lives on Park Road. I'm not overly familiar with the local BMs, though, which doesn't help you much, but I was told a couple of months ago that CED in West Thurrock have grano in stock, and also that Long & Somerville (somewhere in N. London) also stock it.

There's no great amount of prep work required, other than ensuring all dust, weeds and loose material is removed from the existing surface. For the best possible bond, the surface should be 'primed' using SBR or Ronafix, and in all instances, it should be wetted before placing the grano, to prevent it parching the new material and buggering-up the hydration process.

When working around the access covers, the correct methodology is to break them out, lift them by the proposed thickness of the new surfacing, and then allow the grano to flow around them. A less-preferred alternative is to break out what we call a "key" around the access covers, roughly 150mm wide and 10-25mm deep, and then allow the grano to flow into this, finishing flush with the cover. This can result in water draining into whatever lies beneath the cover, which may not be desirable, so think carefully about what would be best.

As for colour, you simply add a cement dye to the mix and you can have almost any colour you wish, within the usual limitations of concrete colouring. Reds (well, pinks) and Buffs are easy to achieve. Dark greys, browns and tans are also possible, but blues and green are bloody expensive and not worth the cost, in my opinion.

Posted: **Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:56 pm**

Thanks for your advice Tony! Yes I know Park Rd well, its just around the corner! If your friend might be interested in doing the work please let me have his details

I found http://www.longandsomerville.co.uk so will get in touch with them and order it from there [Â£3.23 per 25kilo bag]. Selco do grano dust but not in their london stores! I know a general lithuanian builder who can do it. He's very busy nowadays but last time he charged me Â£10 per hour for his time which I thought was reasonable.

I think a dark grey slate colour or a buff sandstone colour will look good. I wll probably go with a dark grey colour!

In terms of the access panels, there are three and I have no idea whats in them or even what could be! I noticed though that the previous concreters have laid the concrete thinly to the panels and its worn out round there. Is it hard to raise the level of the panels (what is involved in doing this), if its not so complicated I think that would be best.

Got to finish off the garden in the next few weeks and then turn to this path (best to do path last i think to avoid damaging it). Thanks I know what needs doing now and should have it all figured out thanks to your guidance.

Great website by the way and I have found myself reading about things which I thought would be boring but found it all interesting and very well written!:D

Posted: **Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:01 am**

Strange as it might seem, I do have friends that are not contractors - somne of them are not even in the building trade! My friend on Park Rd is one of these - he's in the meejah, and wouldn't know which end of a shovel to hold!

The Brew Cabin

Narrow pathway - side of converted house - picture - Cant figure out what to do with my path!