Large Scale Random Rectangular York-Stone Paving
The whole area of this site had been graded and sculpted from a bank of heavy clay, a reclaimed barn constructed to house a swimming pool and gymnasium, sauna and covered dining area, with a large area of reclaimed York-stone linking the complex with a different section of the large garden.
The main photographs show the paving under construction, and on completion, using York only, whilst the third image shows brick being introduced to slightly change the ambience and reflect the amount of brick buildings in the raised levels overlooking the pool building.
As the heavy clay is prone to shrinkage when dry, or capped off as in this instance, I believe it is important to maintain a certain level of moisture in the ground to prevent ground movement. MOT Type 1 was laid 100mm deep over non-woven geotextile membrane, with a series of 100mm flexible perforated drainage pipes, protected with membrane and shingle, criss-crossing the whole area @ 200cm apart to provide a means for rainwater to penetrate the clay ground under the capped off paved area.
These were linked to the planting bed areas, and also the downpipes from the building, acting as a feeder to a virtual soakaway – except the water was not intended to soak into the ground, but to maintain the moisture content.
Reinforcing mesh was laid over the base, and the paving laid using one part cement to three parts builder’s sand to a depth to suit the paving slab being laid. The slab thicknesses varied between 75mm and 150mm, with the overall depth of paving/bed @ 200mm. (Plus 100mm MOT Type 1.)
This large area of natural York stone was laid over solid clay ground using reinforced concrete with drainage under the foundations to allow water to penetrate the soil and maintain moisture levels and prevent shrinkage.
The main area was not segmented with expansion joints – rightly or wrongly – although the pathways leading away from the site were installed with a fibre joint, in the belief that the water control system i.e. prevent ground movement, would be sufficient. This proved to be the case even after twenty years.
