CD Designs Blog
Case Study – March Drive, Brandlesholme
Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway
Installed in November 2012, this particular customer asked for our details from a former customer of ours after being impressed by our work. They wanted a transformation to both the back and front of their property with a new pattern imprinted driveway and patio.
On preparation a large planter was removed from the front of the property, which opened the driveway up significantly, providing much needed space. Steps were built to the rear of the property within a new wall that we built to provide stepped access to the raised area, and a half moon step was installed to the front of the property providing access to the front door. Both sets of steps were formed using charcoal KL blocks.
Another wall was built between our customer’s property and their neighbour using Marshallite buff block, the same block used to the rear of the property. The walls were then topped with coping stones. When deciding on the pattern and colour of the pattern imprinted concrete, the customer chose russet and the Ashlar slate pattern.
To view the complete case study complete with photos, click here
Post Date: | 7th January 2013 |
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Tags: | concrete case studies, Driveway Design, Patio, pattern imprinted concrete driveway, pattern imprinted concrete installation |
Top 5 Patio Games
One of the many reasons that families invest in pattern imprinted concrete driveways and patios, is to maximise their usable outdoor space and give the kids more room to play.
Our top patio game - Giant Jenga!
Patio games are a great way to enjoy time together outdoors, so we’ve pulled together our list of top five favourites.
1. Giant Jenga! Using large blocks, ‘children’ of all ages can have fun recreating this classic game on large scale. The game’s tower can be built up to 5 feet high and it’s ideal for parties or BBQs. Either buy an outdoor set, or craft your own!
2. The archetypal bizarre British classic, outdoor Twister offers hours of twisting fun for up to 40 people! ‘Get Knotted’ is based on the original game and is 3m x 3m in size – ideal for a large party after a few rounds of punch!
3. Perfect for smaller children, giant Snakes and Ladders is great fun for the family – including a giant inflatable dice that you toss in the air.
4. A favourite with pub beer gardens, Big 4 Connect 4 is always a best seller, and also perfect for smaller spaces, thanks to its vertical build.
5. Finally, an old classic re-mastered for the outdoors – chess is perfect for getting grandparents involved in family fames, and teaching kids this ancient game of strategy whilst enjoying the sunshine.
Photo by Jam343
Post Date: | 16th May 2012 |
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Tags: | Chess, Connect 4, Jenga, Patio, Patio Furniture, Pattern Imprinted Concrete Patios, Snakes and Ladders, Twister |
Maintaining And Caring For Your Pattern Imprinted Concrete Patio
So, you’ve decided to get a nice new pattern imprinted concrete patio installed, to make your back garden look great and cut down on upkeep time. But you want to keep it looking nice in the distant future, as well as just after installation, don’t you? You should therefore start thinking about maintenance and upkeep now, and follow our simple advice.
Make sure it is sealed properly, with a suitable sealant for your specific surface. This is necessary to protect both colour and the structural integrity. You should also ask your contractor about crack control joints before work starts. With these properly positioned – especially around weak points such as manholes and drains – you can minimise cracking and other structural problems.
You also need to reseal your driveway at regular intervals – exactly how often will depend on your particular situation, but it should be in the region of every 2 to 5 years. Talk to us to get exact advice on what you need! We even offer a complete resealing service, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Amongst other things, regular sealing can stop unwanted plant growth – pattern imprinted concrete suffers from this a lot less than other types of ground coverage like paving, as there are no natural joints. There is still a chance however, as moss likes to grow into pores, and other plants can exploit weak points, leading to cracks. Reseal regularly to avoid such problems.
Be careful also to avoid prolonged exposure of your driveway to any corrosive substances that might cause damage. Problem substances that you’ll be likely to find near your driveway include oil, chemical de-icers and cleaners, and grit/salt. It’s better to use sand to provide traction in winter, and to wash away any such spills.
Post Date: | 6th September 2011 |
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Tags: | concrete driveway care, concrete driveway reseal, Patio, pattern imprinted concrete patio, Reseal |
Water Features To Complement Your Concrete Patio
There is something really magical about water – it embodies life and purity, exudes natural beauty and – placed correctly – draws attention from onlookers as a central feature of any scene. A water feature is therefore ideal for inclusion in your home exterior, and will nicely complement a pattern imprinted concrete patio.
But what works best? There is of course the option of building an integrated water feature along the lines of a pond or waterfall. This works great if you have a lot of time and money to spend for remoulding your exterior look, and your desired water feature and patio work well alongside one another. If you do go down this route, we can help you make choices for both the patio and water feature that will come together as a single great design.
If you don’t have the money and time for such major work, then there are still a lot of options you can consider. How about a self-contained unit? You can get something relatively inexpensive in stone, wood, terracotta, bamboo or metal – or a combination of these. The options are endless – fountains, statues, birdbaths, ponds, bubble features, vases, spheres and more can all be employed along with water to enhance your patio! If a constant flow is required, you can use a pump to keep the water running through the system. Light and water can also be a great combination too – how about some solar lamps to add some shine?
To get inspiration and ideas, get in touch with us, and look at some sites such as www.1000waterfeatures.co.uk.
Post Date: | 4th September 2011 |
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Tags: | garden design ideas, Patio, patio design, Patio Furniture, Pattern Imprinted Concrete Patios, Water Features |