Block Paving Layer in Bantham

Block Paving Layers in Bantham — what to expect

In Bantham, where the South Hams meets the Atlantic, driveways and garden paths take a steady battering from salt air and winter downpours, so the local block paving installers based around the TQ7 district know a thing or two about laying a surface that will actually hold its line. Whether it is a sweeping herringbone bond across a new carriageway or the more straightforward stretcher bond for a side path, the typical approach begins with digging out the old ground, putting in a proper sub-base, then a screeded grit sand bed that has been levelled with a long straightedge before any tegula blocks are tapped into place. Edge courses are always concrete-haunched to give the whole construction a solid frame, and plate compaction is carried out in two passes—once before the kiln-dried jointing sand is brushed in, and again after, to lock every stone tight so moss and weeds have a hard time finding a foothold. For older surfaces that have begun to dip or rock, a lift and relay is the honest solution: the blocks come up, the bedding is re-screeded and levelled, and the same units are put back down, which often saves the cost of a full supply. Then comes the sealing stage, where a good quality sealer is rolled on to keep the colour rich and stop the jointing sand from washing out during the heavy squalls that roll in across the estuary. Polymeric jointing, where a resin-bound sand is brushed into the joints and then wetted to set hard, is increasingly popular in Bantham, particularly for larger areas or the driveways of holiday lets that see constant traffic. It is all careful, methodical work, and the honest installers will tell you exactly what they are doing and why, so for anyone in the village looking at a new block paving installation, a relay, or just a clean re-seal, the sensible move is to compare a few quotes from the local people who know the ground around Bantham and the county well.