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Garden paving: Garden Design ideas for Dublin Gardens

Garden paving: Garden Design ideas for Dublin Gardens

Have you thought about garden paving, or garden patios to brighten up your life this summer?

The days are getting longer and the weather is starting to get warmer. As you begin to dream about your plans for the summer of 2021, what do you think about?


Unfortunately it appears as if it will be another summer with movement restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. This means that you will likely be spending a lot of time in your back garden during the next months.

We are going to speak about things to consider for the best garden paving, and garden patios designs in Dublin this year. Get garden design ideas and then contact Kilcroney paving contractors Dublin to get a free quote and consultation about your new back garden design.

  1. Thinking about a garden paving deisgn
  2. Consider the size in proportion to the house and garden
  3. Think about the function for your garden patio
  4. How will your back garden design flow
  5. Select the best materials for your back garden paving

1. Thinking about a garden paving design

There is a lot of things that you should consider when designing your new garden patio. When it comes to garden patios design there are unlimited ways to design your garden whether it is a small back garden or a large garden.


There are lots of different styles and options available, so it is important to speak to an expert landscaping and paving contractor. Before you go out buying paving slabs, here are some things to consider when setting out your patio area.

2. Consider the size in proportion to the house and garden

The patio is a very important part of the garden. It often forms the link between the house and the garden, and it provides a flat, clean, and comfortable area to relax in the garden. You will want to select the size of the patio to be in proportion to the house and garden.

By considering the size of the garden patio relative to the size of the house and remainder of the garden, it will ensure a great looking garden for years to come.

3. Think about the function for your garden patio

What functions will your new garden patio need to perform? Do you want to host barbeques? Do you want to have an area in your back garden to relax under a heater? Will you require a safe area for your children to play in the garden?

Think about what you want to do in your garden and let that dictate your back garden design. It is also important to consider the size of your garden furniture such as tables, chairs and loungers. After factoring all of this information, make sure that there is enough room to walk around the furniture comfortably.

If you are considering a snug area, it must be big enough to accommodate people but also small enough to feel enclosed and intimate. It is very important to consider all of this before proceeding with your garden paving design.

4. How will your back garden design flow

The flow of you’re your back garden design refers to the way that different elements of your home are connected.

We recommend to have the level of the garden patio the same, or slightly below, the level of the floor of the house. This design will allow seemless movement from one area to the other with a reduced risk of tripping when moving about. This will also help with water drainage in your back garden.


Design your area so that your furniture does not create an obstacle in your route to the shed or the bins.


Consider the sunshine that your garden patio will attract throughout the day. As the sun will be located in different areas of the sky depending on the time of year or time of day, select a garden paving area that is optimized for sunshine at a time that you are likely to be enjoying your patio.

This may mean having some garden paving directly outside the garden patio door which will link to a main patio area in a better position to receive more sunlight.

If there is no choice only to have steps from the patio door down, try to use wide steps with a small “landing pad” directly outside the door. This will make it easier and safer for users.

A step down, or a change of paving material can also be another great tool to use to create a feeling of a different space within a patio area.

5. Select the best materials for your back garden paving

There are so many choices of paving material, including Cobble lock (manufactured, reclaimed or natural), manufactured paving stones (some look really good others a bit tacky), timber decking, composite decking, outdoor tiling, and various imported paving slabs.

Go to the local paving centre and have a good look around and see what you like. Everybody has a different preference for paving materials so make sure that you go and find out what you like.

Try to complement the existing features of the house when choosing a paving material. An existing limestone wall can be complemented by choosing a silver or grey paving slab.

A good choice is always a slab that is subtle and functional but yet stylish. This is key to creating a good patio. You can add plants to provide extra colour and vibrancy to your back garden design.

The 4 best driveway paving trends in Dublin for 2021 – Tarmac Driveways

The 4 best driveway paving trends in Dublin for 2021 – Tarmac Driveways

As the weeks pass by and the National lockdown continues due to the pandemic, there’s a bright covering of snow covering most of the country this February, It has been a welcome distraction for many, and an opportunity to relax and plan for the rest of 2021. If you are somebody considering some home improvements such as a new driveway or patio later this year – keep reading The Kilcroney Paving Blog for the garden design inspiration that you need.

Throughout February we’re going to talk a bit about driveways paving trends in Dublin to give you some new ideas and help guide your decision for what is the best driveway design for your home and garden. Your driveway is an important aspect of your house as it is the front facing and often the first thing many people will see as they pass by. As the driveway is so prominent in the aesthetic of a house, you don’t want it to deteriorate and look disheveled or overgrown. With this in mind, it is important to consider the ongoing maintenance that will be involved in a new garden project, as well as the overall design for your driveway.

There are plenty of different types of driveway available in 2021 and they all have pros and cons. We will try to break down the best driveway designs in this blog over the next few weeks, but if you would like to discuss your specific driveway, contact Kilcroney Paving for a free, no obligaton consutation. Kilcroney Paving contractors are experts in driveways paving and garden patios, having completed over 15,000 jobs to date, we will be sure to find the driveway paving ideas that are perfect for you.

The 5 best driveway paving trends for 2021:

1) Resin Bound Driveways

2) Tarmac

3) Gravel

4) Paving

1

Resin Bound Diveway

2

Tarmac Driveway

3

Gravel Driveway

4

Paving Driveway

2. Tarmac Driveways

Tarmac Driveways are a very popular choice for many looking to upgrade their driveways in Dublin & Wicklow. Tarmac is a tried and tested method for laying a driveway and produces great results that blend with any home or garden.

Tarmac is extremely versatile and can be laid at any time throughout the year and under most weather conditions which means the unpredictable Irish weather is not an issue. Tarmac driveways are by far the quickest and cleanest surfaces to lay with very little, if any disruption to the householder.

What is Tarmac?
Tarmac, short for tarmacadam, is a material that’s made when a layer of crushed stone or aggregate is coated and mixed with tar. This mixture is laid and then compacted with a vibrating roller to form a smooth surface for your driveway. Tarmac surfaces are very quick to install and laying on a driveway is very clean.

Tarmac is a versatile driveway paving material that can be shaped and layed to suit any garden or area. When utilizing former garden space it is required to remove all surface materials and excavate to a suitable sub-soil depth. After the excavation, it is possible to cover the area with a quality hardcore fill with minimum of 100-150 mm; This hardcore fill is rolled and compacted solid. To improve the aesthetic of the surface, edging kerbs are fitted around the perimeter of the drive or path area. The surface is covered with a Tarmac Base Coat which is rolled and compacted into position. A further Tarmac Asphalt is laid and rolled over the surface to complete the job.

Most areas/drives are suitable for a tarmac resurface, and the results look fantastic. As well as this, tarmac is very durable and weather resistant, making it a perfect surface for the unpredictable weather in Ireland. It is no wonder why tarmac driveways are very popular in Dublin & Wicklow.

Benefits of Tarmac driveways
–          Tarmac is an extremely hard wearing surface which require very little maintenance
–          Tarmac driveways are long lasting and durable
–          Quick drying with very little inconvenience to the householder during installation
–          Tarmac is a versatile driveway design that can blend well with any type of property. 
–          It is possible to shape & colour tarmac to match any property and driveway design.
–          Tarmac driveways are weather resistant – Perfect for the unpredictable Irish weather.

Check back to the Kilcroney Paving Blog next week where we will talk about Gravel driveways which are another very trendy driveway choice in Dublin for 2021. If you live in Dublin or Wicklow and would like to enquire about your driveway, Contact Thomas on 087 797 8815 for a free consultation.

The 4 best driveway paving trends in Dublin for 2021 – Resin Bound Driveways

The 4 best driveway paving trends in Dublin for 2021 – Resin Bound Driveways

We are well and truly into the new year after a tough January, and while it has been an unusual start there is a lot to look forward to in the rest of 2021. While some people may be fantasising about foreign holidays in the sun to get through the gloomy winter days, others are considering some home improvements for later this year.

Throughout February we’re going to talk a bit about driveways paving trends in Dublin to give you some new ideas and help guide your decision for what is the best driveway design for your home and garden. Your driveway is an important aspect of your house as it is the front facing and often the first thing many people will see as they pass by. As the driveway is so prominent in the aesthetic of a house, you don’t want it to deteriorate and look dishevelled or overgrown. With this in mind, it is important to consider the ongoing maintenance that will be involved in a new garden project, as well as the over all design for your driveway.

There are plenty of different types of driveway available in 2021 and they all have pros and cons. We will try to break down the best driveway designs in this blog over the next few weeks, but if you would like to discuss your specific driveway, contact Kilcroney Paving for a free, no obligaton consutation. Kilcroney Paving contractors are experts in driveways paving and garden patios, having completed over 15,000 jobs to date, we will be sure to find the driveway paving ideas that are perfect for you.

The 5 best driveway paving trends for 2021:

1) Resin Bound Driveways

2) Tarmac

3) Gravel

4) Paving

1

Resin Bound Diveway

2

Tarmac Driveway

3

Gravel Driveway

4

Paving Driveway

1. Resin Bound Driveways

Resin Bound driveways are the most popular driveways design in Dublin for 2021. There are many benefits to resin bound driveways, not least that they look absolutely fantastic and will bring a smile to your face every time you see it on the way in or out of your home.

There are 2 types of Resin driveways, so it is important to know what type you are getting.

1) Resin Bound Driveways
Resin Bound Driveways are a combination of aggregate stones and resin which are used to pave driveways, pathways, patios, footpaths and more. This material is permeable, and comes in multiple colours which can really make your driveway unique. Resin bound is a flexible surfacing material which is highly resistant to cracking. Resin bound driveways are permeable and ensure SUDs (sustainable urban drainage system), compliance removing the needs for linear drains and soakaways.

2) Resin Bonded Driveways
The Resin Bonded method is a non porous install method that is sometimes referred to as scatter system. With resin bonded driveway, a layer of resin is first applied to the install base and then the aggregate is scattered on top. After the resin has been fully cured the remaining loose stones are removed to complete the driveway.

The Bottom Line
At Kilcroney Paving we believe that the Resin Bound method is better because the entire stone aggregate is covered in Resin as opposed to the Bonded method where only the bottom of the stone is in contact with the resin. With the resin bonded installation there is potential for the stone to become loose over time.

The Pros of a Resin Bound Driveway:
• Resin Bound Driveways look fantastic
• There’s low maintenance
• There’s a wide variety of colours to choose from
• There is a quick set time – you can use your driveway as normal 24 hours after installation
• No Weeds will grow
• It is frost resistant
• It is Eco Friendly compared with other materials
• It is suitable to lay over an existing base
• There’s no excavation required
• You won’t need planning permission
• Resin Bound driveways are very durable

Resin Bound Driveways by Kilcroney Paving in Dublin:

Check back to the Kilcroney Paving Blog next week where we will talk about Tarmac driveways which are another extremely popular driveway choice in Dublin in 2021. If you would like to enquire about your driveway, Contact Thomas on 087 797 8815.