Paving is first and foremost a road surface that may be one of the elements of landscaping. Various durable materials are available that provide the required effect you may be seeking. In the era before motor vehicles, paving was usually achieved with cobblestones, granite and other natural surfacing materials. Most European city centres that still have their traditional town squares with fountains still preserve the original quaint cobblestone or stone paving dating back centuries at their town squares. Nowadays modern cities use concrete for surfacing as it is cheaper and more convenient to lay down in situ. Brick is another material often used for paving and offers a wider range in colours and textures. Brickwork can be made of hard brick, shale and burnt clay. The chemical content of the brick attributes different colours to the brickwork. Bricks also come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. The skilled builder can make the most intricate patterns with brickwork giving the pathway an exclusive look.
The pathway is required when landscaping your garden, to allow people passage throughout the landscaped grounds. Patterns and designs in the pathway also help in beautifying the area and achieving the aesthetic effect that is pleasing to the eye while remaining functional. The material used for the pathway can be man-made or artificial. Stone is one of the most ancient forms of paving. It is durable, attractive and hard-wearing and requires very little maintenance. Two types of stone used frequently in masonry work include rubble and Ashlar masonry. Rough stone quarried and trimmed into convenient shapes comprises rubble. More commonly used the material for surfacing of walls is Ashlar masonry. This stone is cleaved from a stone quarry and used for building purposes.
Brick is very common for pathways. The different shapes and colours enable the builder to achieve different patterns while laying the bricks. Common patterns that are popular all over the British Isles are running bond, basket weave and herringbone. Specially treated bricks are weather resistant and very durable. They provide the required hard surface, resistance to cracks, wear and tear etc. and so are excellent for outdoor paving and pathways. Brickwork can be laid down on stone or on top of concrete slabs.
Concrete and Asphalt are also popular man-made materials used for pathways, road surfaces etc. Concrete is durable and may be smooth in texture or roughFeature Articles, or can have a number of variations when it comes to finishing. Asphalt cannot offer the same textural variety but provides softer paving. Bristol residents can consult their local builders to achieve the look they are seeking for their garden pathway.
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