16 minute read
Landscape
Landscape BESPOKE BEACH GARDEN USING SURESET RESIN BOUND MATERIALS
The vision
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In August 2020 SureSet was contacted with a unique request to achieve the clients concept of a tropical themed outdoor dining area. Whereby using SureSet resin bound paving materials to create a bespoke and striking beach effect paving feature.
Preparation
The idea was to surround and already striking custom tiki hut with a beach. The wooden Polynesian inspired garden hut was the centre of the dining area that had all the outdoor cooking essentials needed to entertain whilst grilling for guests.
The resin bound paving materials had to create the appearance of a bespoke desert island, a spectacular ‘resin desert island’, which was extremely exciting to install!
SureSet Resin Systems have plenty of experience when installing personalised and imaginative paving, and beach projects are amongst many of our online case studies…
Garden with beach theme resin
Beach inspired theme park paving
A resin bound beach driveway
Our colour samples, technical advice and brochure was posted to the client before arranging a location visit to discuss the complexity of the beach design, checking the existing base condition, and plan the method of installation before measuring the areas needed for resin bound. After our visit we supplied a full quotation and specification data needed for the base preparations.
The installation
We had an existing surface of concrete to install the resin bound materials over, and to ensure strength and durability from the ground up a primer was applied to the concrete and a 44m² CRM (crack reduction membrane) was rolled on top. By adding the CRM to the concrete base will offer extra resistance to potential concrete cracking that could affect the resin bound paving.
The colours used to produce the beach effect paving were differing percentages of 3mm Butterscotch from our Natural Aggregate range and Winter Frost from our luxury crushed marbles to give the appearance of sand and the water bubbles that splash against a shoreline.
Chosen from our Spectrum range was a 3mm recycled glass in colours Aqua and Sky Blue, they were used to create the blue wave depths against the golden sand in an natural ripple pattern.
Colour grading like this is very popular for unique projects and
Key Features
• Application: Bespoke resin bound colour grading • Base: Concrete • Area: 44m² • Colour: 3mm Butterscotch, Winter Frost, Aqua and Sky Blue • Depth: 16mm resin bound • Edges: Straight and flexible aluminium • Installed: SureSet Resin Systems
A CONCRETE BASE SHOULD BE LAID LEVEL AND WHILST THE TOP RESIN BOUND SURFACE WILL ACCOMMODATE ANY MINOR IRREGULARITIES, THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANY SIGNIFICANT ‘CRACKS OR UNDULATIONS’. NEW CONCRETE BASES NEED TO HAVE CURED FOR A MINIMUM OF 14 DAYS WITH A PVA PRIMER APPLIED PRIOR TO RESIN BOUND BEING APPLIED. IF EXPANSION JOINTS ARE NEEDED IN THE CONCRETE THEN THEY TOO WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REFLECTED INTO THE RESIN BOUND SURFACE.
design ideas and SureSet would always install this style of project using a hand float to ensure the level of intricacy is maintained throughout the installation process. The resin bound colours were evenly spread with a spazzle and hand floated to a compact and uniform level, a part from the wave effect areas, we did our upmost to make the water flow look as natural as possible. A good quality resin bound system, like SureSet, will be suitable for use after 4-6 hours for foot traffic and 12-16 hours for vehicular traffic. Where possible, we feel 24 hours is the ideal time to wait especially for a surface that will be heavily used - just to ensure that it is fully cured.
After our installation we barricade the freshly laid areas to avoid any traffic type from stepping through it.
To complete the surrounding edges of the beach, a 12mm linear edge was installed to continue the natural stone colour from the beach down the side of the garden wall. The existing edging stones in place were masked to protect them from any resin staining.
The result
A stunning resin bound beach effect garden! This beautiful and hard wearing patio surface will the property owners many years of use and on the plus side will require virtually no maintenance.
All SureSet resin systems are UV stable and strong to be able to protect itself from frost damage during colder months. The reliability of a SureSet resin bound surfacing system means the stones remain intact, preventing stones from becoming loose offering longevity as well as no weeds growing through.
All installations by SureSet or an Approved Installer will be covered by a 21 Year Guarantee.
ST ARTHUR HOMES ACQUIRES PRIVATE UNITS FOR SHARED OWNERSHIP
Affordable housing provider St Arthur Homes has acquired its largest number of private units on one site to date, for Shared Ownership between Southampton and Portsmouth in a deal in excess of £25M with The Vistry Group.
The purchase of 95 affordable homes at the Whiteley Meadows development in Winchester, comes as part of St Arthur Homes’ focused expansion programme, as it aims to deliver at least 2,000 new homes over five years.
The first phase of 45 Shared Ownership homes at Whiteley Meadows will be launched for sale soon, including a range of two and three-bedroom houses and twobedroom apartments, providing affordable opportunities for buyers to get onto the property ladder for as little as a 5% deposit on the share they buy.
Buyers will initially be able to purchase a share of the property, with the opportunity to buy further shares up to outright ownership in the future. •44•
“We are delighted to have acquired the site at Whiteley Meadows, which is our largest Shared Ownership development to date. Working alongside Vistry, we are pleased to play our part in delivering this fantastic new community in an outstanding countryside location while helping make homes more affordable for our buyers. The increasing awareness and demand for Shared Ownership homes puts us in a strong position to continue to grow our business,” said Chief Executive
Officer for St Arthur Homes.
St Arthur Homes specialises in delivering premium shared ownership housing, without compromise on specification and is taking its place in the market as the aspirational RP. St Arthur works with a range of partners to acquire affordable housing across London and the South of England through S106 and grant-led schemes, with plans to expand into The Midlands. The deal with Vistry Group is the latest in a series of partnership deals with leading housebuilders as St Arthur increases its portfolio.
Whiteley Meadows is a multiphase development where the overall masterplan will deliver more than 3,000 new homes from a group of leading developers led by The Vistry Group. The plans also include new schools, a care home, community centre, green spaces and shops, along with associated infrastructure. The new neighbourhood is well situated between Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester, and surrounded by countryside, making it an attractive and sustainable place to live.
Landscape HIGH DEMAND FOR MASTIC ASPHALT RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS IN LONDON
Mastic asphalt is most commonly used for flat roofing applications but due to its waterproofing properties and durability, mastic asphalt is increasingly being specified for residential applications to protect balconies, terraces or exterior steps.
Member contractors of the Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) are reporting huge demand for the waterproofing of balconies or steps on townhouses in London.
It is essential to keep balconies, steps and walkways completely waterproof in order to preserve the materials they are constructed from, to prevent structural defects, to prevent them from becoming a safety hazard and to enhance their overall appearance.
Mastic asphalt is particularly popular on stone and concrete surfaces which are susceptible to cracking and deterioration over time, allowing water through into properties and becoming dangerously slippery in the rain.
Waterproofing is carried out by highly skilled mastic asphalt operatives, applying the product to provide effective long-term waterproof protection, a smooth finish, non-slip properties and durability to withstand constant foot traffic. Water ingress can prove to be extremely costly and disruptive and mastic asphalt has proved to be a highly effective solution for keeping residential properties dry and free from water penetration.
In one recent project, MAC contractor member Sussex Asphalte carried out a refurbishment project on a residential property in Sloane Gardens, London. With a highly desirable location on the boundaries of Belgravia and Chelsea, mastic asphalt was used to waterproof a terrace area at the property.
Mastic asphalt had previously been used to waterproof the terrace so the work involved stripping the existing asphalt back to the original screed, laying new mastic asphalt, painting with a solar reflective coating and finishing with GRC promenade tiles of the customer’s choice in terracotta. Mastic asphalt will comfortably accept foot traffic, but as the balconies are likely to have tables and chairs on them, it was decided to overlay the mastic asphalt with tiles for additional protection.
The Mastic Asphalt Council is the trade association for the mastic asphalt industry in the UK. Web: www.masticasphaltcouncil.co.uk, e-mail: info@masticasphaltcouncil.co.uk, Tel: 01273 242778.
A decking subframe is the structure that sits beneath your deck, keeping it supported and providing the base that your decking boards are attached to.
The subframe is one of the most important parts of having a deck installed as, whilst the subframe is generally hidden, it is crucial for the deck’s longevity.
A poor subframe choice or install can lead to the decking being damaged or can even lead to the decking becoming structurally dangerous and eventually failure. With so many different subframes to choose from, which one is best and what should you look out for?
We review in-depth three popular subframe choices: timber, recycled plastic (Plas-Pro) & aluminium (DuoSpan). Each subframe material has different attributes and – being familiar with the benefits of each and knowing what to use and when – can add years to the deck’s longevity.
Softwood timber is the most common material used for decking subframes, and Millboard decking has been fitted on these types of subframes for over ten years. However, there have been many examples of timber subframes that have failed within 6 years of being installed, with the failings being identified to be attributed to a lack of understanding of the requirements of timber, incorrect timber being used in the wrong location and bad workmanship. Millboard Plas-Pro recycled subframe is an excellent alternative to timber for constructing the framework for decks, seating, planters and more. Constructed from recycled plastic, Plas-Pro is strong, versatile and easy to work with. The benefits of Plas-Pro over timber are that Plas-Pro can be used in contact with the ground and in water without the need for any airflow ventilation gaps; it can be sunk into the ground and surrounded fully with moisture without adverse effect.
Finally, DuoSpan is a unique landscape construction frame made with a combination of aluminium joists and beams, aluminium brackets and plastic support profiles. This combination enables distinctive design opportunities for decking and outdoor structures that would be impossible with timber subframes, due to the superior strength of aluminium and flexibility of plastic. Find out more! Download the comprehensive Decking Subframe Guide for in-depth performance comparisons, lifetime cost projections and expert knowledge on factors to consider when selecting a subframe for your decking project.
BESPOKE CAMPER VAN OFFICE, PRIVATE BOOTH OR LUXURY WORK FROM HOME SHED?
Quintain Living offers homeworkers all this and more!
Achieving the perfect work/ life balance is easier than ever before, thanks to the increased focus on working from home over the past 18 months. The UK’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout has been overwhelmingly hailed as a success yet despite this, not everyone wants to return to the office and pick up where they left off. A taste of a better balance between the office and working at home has inspired many workers to opt for hybrid or fully home-based arrangements out of choice, rather than necessity.
“The lines between living and working from home have become inextricably interwoven for many since the first lockdown began. It’s raised questions about the continuing relevance of commuting to the office every day; for many, spending a few days a week working from home is here to stay. Thankfully, we delight in delivering spaces that will surprise and excite our residents so we’ve had great fun designing a range of new work from home amenities.” - Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
At Quintain Living – the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of more than 2,500 apartments in Wembley Park – the team has focused on providing a variety of innovative work from home solutions, to meet the differing needs of its residents.
Canada Gardens, for example, has heated designer work from home sheds that residents can hire, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. Many residents also like to pop into the clubhouse to enjoy a coffee and a bit of company while they work. There’s WiFi across the whole Wembley Park estate, as there is for all of Quintain Living’s Wembley Park buildings.
At The Robinson, Quintain has built private office space and work/ phone booths into the residents’ lounge. The versatile space can be used for both working and socialising, in recognition of the blurring of
the lines between the two. And for those who want a really inspiring work from home space, Quintain Living has provided a dedicated rooftop that’s home to three bespoke, custom-built work from home camper vans. Complete with power, heating and lighting (and WiFi, naturally), they sit on their own rooftop area with the sky wideopen above and stunning views of London. Quintain Living has added picnic tables and deckchairs too, to give the space a real community vibe.
“Working from home shouldn’t mean you have to feel lonely. We’re looking at this as a long-term occurrence now, incorporating more quirky work from home spaces in our future buildings, as well as thinking through how individual apartments can be designed to suit increased home working. That means including more space for desks, providing furniture that’s designed to be comfortable when used for longer periods at a time, that kind of thing. We’re also exploring ways that we can support residents to tailor their apartments to suit their individual working requirements; not every home worker needs an identikit desk/office chair setup.” - Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
Quintain Living is also reassessing its current residents’ lounges to see how it can reshape them to suit increased home working without compromising their use for social gathering. This company is looking at both rentable workspaces and coworking-influenced environments for flexible use as part of this. The plans have at their core an understanding that working from home takes many different forms. As such, Quintain Living is looking at how it can support residents by providing the physical space they need, along with creative, inspirational environments that also provide scope for social interaction and emotional support.
“The pandemic has changed so many aspects of life that were previously taken for granted – how we feel about our homes, places of work, rest and sanctuary. We’re fully embracing the hybrid working trend here at Quintain and for our residents and can’t wait to reveal our latest offerings with each new building.” - Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
For more information on Quintain Living or to book a viewing, visit www.quintainliving.com, @quintainliving on Instagram or call 020 3151 1927.
sustainability BIOTECTURE’S LIVING WALL FEATURES IN RHS CHELSEA GOLD MEDAL AND ‘BEST SHOW GARDEN’
Biotecture, a UK leader in living walls, is celebrating the news that its PlantBox living wall system featured in this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal and coveted ‘Best Show Garden’.
Guangzhou Garden received the awards for its Chinese-inspired garden, which shows how cities of the future must be considered as landscape cities.
Designed by director Peter Chmiel and senior associate Chin-Jung Chen from Grant Associates, ‘The Guangzhou Garden’ took inspiration from Guangzhou, a port city northwest of Hong Kong on China’s Pearl River.
The pair’s Chinese-inspired garden paid homage to Guangzhou’s philosophy of giving equal consideration to the needs of people and wildlife through sustainable city planning strategies, reconnecting people and nature in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Biotecture’s installed a three metre high by 10 metre long living wall within the woodland dell section, supporting one of the garden’s core environmental strategies; improving air quality by using technology and nature working in harmony, a concept of the ‘green lung’.
As part of the living wall installation, Biotecture’s prototype Active Air technology, developed in collaboration with engineers from ‘We Design For’, was installed to pipe clean air created from the modular PlantBox living wall into the garden’s ‘social heart’ central structure for people to enjoy.
The Guangzhou Garden living wall Active Airflow system created air pressure that drew in polluted air through the leaf and root zones of the plants where harmful particulate matter and gas pollutants are removed and allowing the system to output clean air.
Along with tackling pollution from cars - traffic on the UK’s roads accounts for 32% of nitrogen oxides •50•
in the atmosphere - Biotecture’s Active Air technology has the potential for improving indoor air quality in areas of buildings with limited natural airflow.
Biotecture’s living wall system also aids biodiversity, providing valuable forage for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The foliage also provides further benefits in terms of removing airborne pollutants such as particulate matter, reducing urban temperatures and attenuating rainwater. At the same time, living walls contribute to a sense of well-being for those living and working close by.
The Guangzhou Garden was created in collaboration with garden design consultancy The Outdoor Room, with prominent bamboo structures developed in partnership with Xylotek, living walls from Biotecture and water features supplied by Bamber Wallis.
“Congratulations to Grant Associates for their thoroughly well-deserved Gold Medal and ‘Best Show Garden’ at RHS Chelsea,” said Richard Sabin,
Managing Director at Biotecture.
“The Guangzhou Garden encapsulated the benefits of reconnecting people and nature, while highlighting the benefits of responsible city planning. We are delighted our living wall played an important part in the overall design.”
Biotecture’s PlantBox living wall product was used in six separate installations at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
For more information on Biotecture, visit: www.biotecture.uk.com
