A Guide To Working With & Laying Reclaimed Stone Setts

When it comes to stone setts for paving an outdoor space , there’s one choice that stands out above other options if you’re seeking to achieve a classic British style. It’s recycled Street Setts. Also known as cobbles, this kind of paving material has been in use for practically millennia across Europe. UK as well as Europe. If you’ve walked down a street and noticed your feet moving under cobbles worn out, likelyhood is you’ve come across this historical landscaping material. It was the Romans who first began using this method in the year 250 BC. It is their most preferred technique of making roads. It also formed the foundation of their transportation network that allowed the conquerors to take over most of Europe. The Romans were fond of cobble stones due to the fact that they were durable and simple to mine. Even though there are more efficient and simpler ways to construct roads or paths, but none of them provide the same traditional look.

Utilizing Reclaimed Street Setts for Modern Day Landscaping Projects

As time passes growth and construction continues in the UK means that a few of these roads and pathways are being constructed on top of. This is where we step in. We buy these setts in order that they can be used for modern-day projects. This beautiful old stone will not go to go to This is why they are given the term “Reclaimed Street” Setts because they are made from old constructions. This is the reason when you want to achieve a genuine heritage style, you’ll quickly benefit from material that has been worn. The process of reclamation is the reason why we aren’t able to specifying the kind of stone our setts reclaimed are made of. They are, in reality, generally old granite setts, however they have been quarried many years before, possibly centuries earlier and we do not have any method of confirming the material composition of every sett. There are some that could be sandstone or limestone in place of granite. The different compositions and the different wear and strains the cobbles have been subjected to gives them a multi-coloured and texture. Reclaimed cobbles such as this are especially suitable for older homes and developments within villages that have a long history. If you own an historic building that you are working on, in certain instances these setts may be the only option legal for newly laid-out areas.

Modern day applications see that the most sought-after application for the reclaimed Setts is to design appealing driveway entrances, or Aprons. When they are used as such, they can provide a elegant entrance to your home. If the remainder of the driveway is made up of stones or gravel, they could be useful provided that the final level is about 20mm over the surface of the loose stone . The setts serve as a retention device to stop the gravel from moving away from the driveway.

They are also very appealing when used to border driveways and gravel areas, making a great fence between the drive or path, or the grass or planters.

Beautiful cobbled pathways can be made and, when paired with the appropriate planting, it’s like being in the pages of a Jane Austen novel.

How do you lay out Reclaimed Street Setts

The photos on our site look beautiful (if we can say it ourselves) However, the process of creating these stunning landscapes isn’t an easy task and requires some effort and planning. It is true that working with old setts of paving like these isn’t like using block paving or even setts made from quarried material. The majority of setts are available to purchase today are a rough gauge of the thickness, and it could not exceed 65mm, with the variance between setts being a little. Reclaimed Setts are an entirely distinct thing and you must buy them equipped with the necessary skills to use them to their fullest.

What they look like at the moment they arrive

Our clients have been surprised at the sight of our Reclaimed Setts at their location. They’re not very attractive once they’re removed from the ground. If you’ve browsed through beautiful images of clean and well-maintained street setts, you might be shocked to be able to see them in their “raw state. Remember that up until recently, these cobbles were still in the ground, and even though they’ve been scrubbed enough to allow them to be remove and ready for new installations, they’re not in perfect condition. We recommend that they be cleaned thoroughly after the installation is done. Another important thing to remember is the fact that just one side has the appeal of the Reclaimed Paving Sett The other five sides have not seen daylight. It can be sometimes a bit difficult to determine which side is worn. If you are unsure, provide them with a light scrub away or rub it on the floor the smoother side is the one that needs to be laid sunny side down.

Sizing Dimensions Thicknesses and Depths

It is crucial to go into projects using setts such as these with an open mind. If you’re not sure that your contractor hasn’t used this product before, we suggest that you make time of your schedule to visit our yard and see the cobbles yourself prior to the project begins. The one thing we cannot emphasize enough about the setts is that their size is not measured or calibrated. In the past, the time these setsts were being quarried they didn’t think about uniformity in depth and the ease of use. Sizes aren’t uniform and some can even be deep to 250mm! In the rare event that the sett is not deep enough to be used as a sub-base level, we suggest cutting the top of the sett in order to decrease its size, however, ideally you’ll have completed the groundwork in a depth that will permit the huge variation in depth.

Sub-Base of Reclaimed Setts

There are a number of things to think about when making the base ready of the base for Reclaimed Setts – not least making sure there is enough space for the setts in the process of laying the. It is important to think about the purpose for which the space is going to be used for and this will impact on the depth of the sub-base must be as well as the material it will require to be constructed of. Even though these setts are durable, but the sub-base needs to be able to provide the support. The sub-base should be that is at least 100mm in order to accommodate foot traffic, and much more if you are planning to allow vehicles to drive across the setts. Also, drainage is something to think about. If you’re not using a permeable jointing material along with a permeable base , you’ll have to install drainage to handle the surface water. Based on the land you’re working on , there could be drainage restrictions, too therefore it is recommended to research before attempting to use Reclaimed Setts.

Laying Styles and Gauging

Be aware into consideration the size of setts are compared with one another after they have been laid. A thin sett won’t work when laid in the same way as the setts that are thick. It’s the reason why setts must be “gauged”. Gauging involves the division of setts into a broad range of thicknesses , so that every row is filled with setts that are nearly identical (thickness/height relative to). This helps joins appear more consistent, which allows joins to be slimmer and appears more appealing to the eyes.

When you are planning and designing your project , you must think about whether you would like your setts to be frame or edged. It’s very appealing in the event that there are two courses and/or more setts that run parallel to the main pavement area.

Pointing

If the space you are planning to build to drain fluidly, then you’ll require some sort of permeable jointing substance that is used in conjunction with the sub-base. If this isn’t an issue to your design, it is a matter of your personal preference and budget. They can look stunning made by hand, using the pointing struck to form (this is a time-consuming process) or you could get the gaps in the jointing and shaped to give a more natural look. It’s all about the overall look you wish to create and is something you need to discuss with your construction team prior to starting.

The Final Clean

After your beautiful new setts are pointed out and construction is finished, we recommend a complete cleaning of the surface to give it a fresh look.