Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

Sandstone Setts – the design features

Posted on October 6th, 2009

Natural Sandsone Setts are an appealing and versatile element for inclusion in any garden design project. Available in a range (light, medium and indeed dark tones) of colours and sizes, they are ideal as a practical lawn edge, permanently defining the lawn profile, a robust barrier/buffer between lawn making them an ideal mowing strip (Tip: the sett level should be 25 mm/1″ below lawn level and also no need for a strimmer!).  Setts can also be used very effectively to separate lawn from planted or indeed pebbled areas, make an attractive trim to pathways as well as Patios.

Installing setts as a lawn edge is relatively straight forward, first excavate channel, place hardcore in end of channel, and carefully position setts in a sand cement bed (typically 75mm/3″ deep), ensuring that the setts are straight (linear layout) or concentric (use builders line to check each sett) if design is a radial. Each sett should be embedded securely or well haunched, and each sett should be checked with spirit level. A few photos from our current project will help to illustrate these points: 

Excavate channel

Put hardcore (foundation) in base of excavated channel

Lining up setts alongside prepared channel makes for speedy installation

Sand & cement is used to secure Sandstone Setts in situ

Utilising Sandstone Setts to profile Patio and lawn edge

Sandstone Setts make an attractive finish to Patio edge

Patio Garden

Posted on October 3rd, 2009

More photos from work in progress on Sandstone Patio works, Retaining Wall with integrated steps and excavated channel for Sandstone lawn edgings.

Garden Patios, design details in construction

Posted on October 1st, 2009

As with many aspects of life, the beauty and appeal of well designed garden Patios is not only to be found in the design detail but also within the constructional details. Natural stone paving such as Indian Sandstone can produce fantastic results. Time, care and attention are all pre-requisite, experienced and skilful cutting and installtion are essential but the results ALWAYS provide the desired results. 

The attached photos from our current project clearly illustrate many of these key points, Sandstone Paving (Ravena) in a range of sizes, several individual hand cut pieces to complete the random joint pattern, Sandstone Kerbs used as Step Risers and Sandstone Setts for Patio perimeter trims.  

Sandstone Steps

Laying Sandstone Slab on Sand & Cement Bed

Sandstone Paving featuring Random Joint Pattern

Sandstone Paving with Step Detail and Sett Trim

Sandstone Patio with consistent line profile

Sandstone Patio over split levels

Hard Garden Landscaping

Posted on September 30th, 2009

Some more photos to show progress on our Hard Landscaping works, ie, constructing Raised Sandstone Walls, Sandstone (Ravena) Garden Patios and link Sandstone Pathways. Some photos also show preliminary ground preparation including Hardcore Foundations (Sub-base)  for paved areas and also one (Vegetable garden area) of the several new  water taps installed throughout the garden.

Later this week we will commence marking out the garden for installation of lawn edging (Sandstone Sett) which will permanently define the lawn profile and separate it clearly from perimeter planted areas. As the hard landscaping works progresses, work will shortly commence on the installation of garden lighting ahead of the soft landscaping elements which include tree and shrub planting, ground grading and preparation for installation of roll turf lawn.

Building a new Garden

Posted on September 25th, 2009

The current fine weather is an ideal time to achieve good progress with site works, and this is evident with a number of project aspects, ie, fencing including painting is now completed and the ground is being slowly cleared of any residual debris from earlier excavations and trenching.  

Meanwhile the Retaining Sandstone wall for the Raised Vegetable garden area is progressing well and begining to take shape, whilst the main patio area which will be extend over a number of levels and featuring Indian Sandstone (Ravena) is begining to evolve and to take shape.

Landscape Gardening

Posted on September 23rd, 2009

As the photos will hopefully illustrate, the garden fencing is all but completed and the fence painting is advancing very well, helped in no small way by the kind weather.

Meanwhile we also commenced excavating for the patio and pathway areas as well trenching for the new water main supply (black pipe- heavy duty hydrodare) to the house. Once pipe has been secured in position two additional supplies (one to Vegetable Garden area and one also to Front Garden) will also be installed.  

The commencement of paving (natural stone) works will represent a significant step and as the project progresses from this point, significant visual clues will become apparent and glimpses of the new garden layout will begin to emerge.

Landscaping with Ravena Sandstone paving

Posted on August 6th, 2009

A recent garden landscaping project completed in Blackrock, Dublin incorporated an interesting combination of features including Extended Patio areas, sweeping Sandstone Garden pathway, Sandstone Raised Bed which amongst other items included a Mill Wheel water feature, some very attractive Olive Standards, a new  fence constructed from pressure treated Timber cladding and discreet lighting using the latest high output low energy LED lighting.

The photos were taken during wet conditions which perhaps is useful to see how beautifully vivid and varied the colours of natural Sandstone can be. In this project the Sandstone paving (and wall capping) is Ravena, an increasingly popular alternative choice to the more widely used Sandstone Mint. Ravena appeals to those who prefer to have a more muted tones in dry conditions to the ubiquitous yellow tones typical of Sandstone Mint. Another feature of Ravena is the pink/wine colourways which are much more evident during wet conditions. On closer examination some hints of the yellow tones are also visible.

The Raised Planted Bed was constructed using White Sandstone and the wall capping is of course Ravena sandstone. The layout was designed to be essentially one level thus maximising the use of the various areas and also  providing some additional flexibility to the use of the recessed paved area. This approach also influenced the layout of the Raised bed which was essentially linear but incorporated a full circle to circumvent the Mill Wheel water feature which the clients were keen to incorporate in the new scheme. Looking at the photos the colour of the Mill Wheel is remarkably similar to the Ravena Sandstone.

I would also like to point out the results of the skill and workmanship in several aspects of the paved areas including the linear and curve cutting and installation. Grass margins were re-defined to conform with the new levels set by the paving hence the extended soil areas adjoining the old lawn and new paved sections.

Frequently we receive feedback on how useful and informative our SUNBLOG is to readers seeking design and layout ideas.  I also receive requests from readers to show more ‘Before’ as well as ‘After’ photos from our project portfolio. So here are a few ‘Before’ photos from this particular project.  

A DAY IN THE LIFE …of a landscaper (Day 7)

Posted on September 17th, 2008

With the weather on our side and a smile on our faces, Day 7 began the paving of the top level patio. As is standard practice by us, we always lay our natural stone paving (sandstone, limestone and granite) on a 30-50mm (Patio areas) wet bed of sand and cement, with a mix ratio of 4-5:1 (sand: cement). We do not use dabs, paving grits or dry mixes. Our technique which also involves brushing the underside of the slab with a wet brush (to give good adhesion and a very strong bond) may cost a little more, and require a little more time to install, but we know very well, once laid the paving is perfect.

For a beautiful and consistent finish we only use solid sandstone kerbs/risers for the steps. Once the levels have been determined between Acco drains at Patio doors and the nearest step, we calculate finish heights for the sandstone risers (the vertical part of the steps). Calculations must take account of our typical falls of 1mm in 100mm (i.e. 1%). Normally but sometimes it may not always be possible, we would set the falls (surface or rain water run-off) away from buildings. It is important to note that Sandstone paving will also vary considerably in thickness from 25-50mm. So in order to achieve a uniform fall/level as well as a consistent appearance to the threads (i.e. top of steps), we would set aside slabs that would be of reasonable comparable thickness. Any marginal variance in slab thickness can be made up by adjustments to the depth of the bedding mortar.

Sandstone Risers.

Sandstone Risers.

Sandstone Paving.

AJ Recess Frame in-situ.

Detail showing mitres at Risers.

Patio at Top level beginning to take shape.

Detail showing block bases for lower thread + risers.

By the close of Day 7, the top level patio was slowly but surely beginning to emerge and take shape. Much done but a lot more to do, so to speak.