driveway
Considerations Timber sleeper driveways can be cost-effective. They enable the driveway to be permeable from an aesthetic and environmentally sustainable point of view. Stormwater run-off is slowed with permeable ‘soft’ surfaces in comparison to hard surfaces. Permeable driveways can help to retain significant trees on a site that might otherwise have to be removed. The natural surface of timber sleepers may suit more rural surroundings than a concrete driveway.
Mackenzie Pronk Architects SaveEmail 5. Timber sleepers Timber is also an eco-friendly option. New or recycled sleepers can be embedded into soil, mulch and rough concrete pads, and combined with gravel for a rugged, casual look. They create a pervious yet robust driveway. At this Sydney home, Neil Mackenzie of Mackenzie Pronk Architects used 100-year-old timber sleepers on the driveway and as a ‘stepping stone’ detail on the side access path. “What we like about them,” says Neil, “is the texture, colour, low (zero) maintenance, good stormwater solution (no run-off), and, with the stones, they never look messy, even when covered in leaves.”
4. Clay brick pavers Clay brick pavers have been used as a surfacing material for centuries. Made from clay that’s formed into shape and baked in a kiln (like pottery), brick pavers are set into a sand or mortar base on the driveway. They are rich in colour, texture and character, and can be laid in different colour combinations and patterns.
Considerations Clay brick pavers come in a variety of shapes and colours and can be laid in different patterns, for example, basket weave, running bond or herringbone, to achieve different visual effects. Somewhat more fragile than other materials, brick pavers can chip or crack over time. However, with a good base and regular maintenance, they can easily stand up to normal driveway usage. Brick pavers should be washed once or twice a year. They are an eco-friendly option, as they are made from all natural materials, and can be salvaged, cleaned and reused.
Considerations Bluestone is durable and can be cut and shaped to suit almost any need. It is has a beautiful colour that begins as a deep blue but fades over time, and with constant sun exposure, to a light shade of grey. Bluestone can be combined with other paving materials. For example, here bluestone has been laid around the edges of the exposed aggregate driveway for a smart and stylish look.
3. Bluestone pavers Bluestone is a form of sandstone used to create extremely elegant looking driveways. It comes in various shapes and sizes and offers a variety of looks, due to the fact that it can be crushed into gravel, cut into tiles for intricate patterns or left in larger slabs. Here, the main paving of the driveway is bluestone, while the ramp area has an exposed aggregate (coloured) concrete finish, which, according to James Couper of JJC Design “provides some slip resistance, for safety.”
YOUR TURN Have you used pavers to spruce up your driveway at home? Upload photos to the Comments section below to show off your design and material choices.
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