- Making Contact
We will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time for your free site survey and quotation. At this meeting we can discuss in detail your requirements, survey the area in question and discuss all of the relevant details and specifications. At this stage you will be able to look at our extensive portfolio of completed works to help you decide on your preferred finish. At this point we will also be able to furnish you with a full quotation for the works required. This can be followed up with a full written quotation if required.
- Start Date
Once we have had the go-ahead from you we can schedule a suitable start date for your new Approachways installation.
- Preparing the Site
Our fully trained installation crew will meet you on the first day of work at your property and discuss any fine detail with you before commencing the groundwork stage of your project. We typically excavate 200-250 mm and clear all debris from the site using grab lorries. We use mechanical diggers where possible or dig by hand in restricted areas. At this stage any changes to shape, size or layout will be carried out. Once the site is clear of all debris, the correct levels and falls can be set. Drainage will be installed at all relevant points and connected to new soakaways as required. Any manhole covers will be replaced with new recessed manhole covers. New concrete edgings will be also installed as required. Finally 100-125 mm of MOT Type 1 (not crushed concrete) will be installed and compacted to form a good solid sub-base.
- Creating the Shape
Formwork (shuttering) is installed in advance of laying concrete to create a framework on any exposed edges to create the finished shape of your new installation. This will consist of timber for straight lines and flexible PVC to form any curves. At this point, we would like you to sign-off the final shape of your new driveway or patio.
- Laying and Printing the Concrete
We then lay 100-125 mm specified concrete slab in sections. This is then trowelled and floated to set the correct levels and falls to enable proper drainage of the total area. A colour surface hardener in powder form is cast onto the concrete and trowelled into the surface. This will be done using a combination of large floats and also hand trowels to ensure a good evenness of colour and a flat, smooth surface. Once the concrete has had the opportunity to firm up, a coloured release agent is then applied to the surface. This performs two functions. Firstly it enables us to introduce a secondary colour to the concrete, but more importantly it stops the rubber imprinting mats, that we use to print in the chosen design, from sticking to what is effectively soft concrete. We also print a border detail around any exposed edges at this stage.
- Cleaning and Cutting the Concrete
After a minimum of 24 hours we will return to cut crack control joints into the concrete, remove any shuttering and power wash the total installation. Any manholes will be lifted and the site will be generally cleaned.
- Sealing the Concrete
Once the new area is fully dry, a coloured mastic will be installed in all of the expansion joints. There will be a final clean up of the site. Any vertical faces of steps will also be colour rendered, and finally two to three coats of a high solids Acrylic sealer will be brushed into the surface. This will include a non-slip additive. After 3 hours you will be able to walk on this surface, and after 48 hours you will be able to park vehicles on it.
- Completion
Your Approachways installation is now complete and should give you many years of service.
