|
Post by revcounter on May 1, 2007 9:08:44 GMT
Hi all
Does anyone know of, or have a design for a quarter circle, radial pattern, brick patio?
We're going to develop a corner of the garden beneath adjoining Victorian brick walls, and have decided that a hard standing in brick is the answer. The problem is to have a design to maximise the look whilst not ending up filling huge gaps with mortar and using reclaimed brick.
I've seen a couple of designs online that are almost, but not quite, the very thing, so I'm hoping for some tog genius and inspiration!
Rev
|
|
|
Post by carlott on May 1, 2007 12:09:37 GMT
Hi all Does anyone know of, or have a design for a quarter circle, radial pattern, brick patio? We're going to develop a corner of the garden beneath adjoining Victorian brick walls, and have decided that a hard standing in brick is the answer. The problem is to have a design to maximise the look whilst not ending up filling huge gaps with mortar and using reclaimed brick. I've seen a couple of designs online that are almost, but not quite, the very thing, so I'm hoping for some tog genius and inspiration! Rev You could always use tiles on edge to assist in getting the circle without the need for excess mortar. If I spot something in one of our books I will post it here but it might be helpful if you take a look at some of the NT gardens for inspiration. One note of caution many S/H bricks do not stand up well when used for paving - they get slippery or break up; so go for engineering or semi engineering bricks and be prepared to clear them of moss and algae on a regular basis.
|
|
|
Post by revmichael on May 1, 2007 12:48:38 GMT
We found our local 'Build Centre'* very helpful. My wife went in with a whole lot of questions when she designed and built a patio last summer. She thought they would treat her as 'a mere women' but she came home so excited because these men were extremely helpful. They couldn't do enough to explain how she could achieve what she wanted to do.
* This is the correct spelling.
|
|
|
Post by Fi on May 1, 2007 13:08:24 GMT
To minimise the concrete you can do several things - one is obviouly to plant sweet smelling herbs like some of the smaller thymes or marjoram in some of the gaps, which will release their scent when trodden on. If anything is growing in crevices in the surrounding walls, transfer some of it for continuity. Another is not to fill the gaps with concrete right to the top, but disguise it with a top layer of sand, pebbles, chips of broken bricks, even some of the surrounding soil - anything you fancy really, pressed in while the concrete is still wet. A very simple thing to do is get dyed, or dye the concrete, a dark colour - it won't stand out so much then.
|
|
|
Post by revcounter on May 1, 2007 13:48:19 GMT
All useful so far, many thanks.
This patio probablty wont be walked on too much as it will be a corner feature with some pots and a piece of sculpture on it so it can be quite rough on the surface.
I like the idea of planting in the gaps. I've also just discovered a bumble bee nest in the corner, so I wont be disturbing that and will have to build around it and leave a gap for them to come and go!
|
|
|
Post by Fi on May 1, 2007 22:15:18 GMT
Rev, you've probably already considered this, but just in case .............. if you do go for planting in the gaps and you won't be walking on it much, that opens the possibility for all sorts of things such as alpines for example - but make sure the soil below the bricks is suitable for whatever you choose - if you went the alpine route it would need to be very free draining for instance. Also you would need to use concrete or some other method, strategically placed treated wooden pegs for instance, to keep the whole structure in place - make sure whatever you use is compatible with the plants you want.
|
|
|
Post by Shuggie on May 4, 2007 17:55:45 GMT
Remeber to avoid acid-loving alpines - like gentiana septemfida et al - concrete/mortar is highly alkaline.
|
|