Ramps are for wheelchair access but most people don’t consider them attractive. They are a practical choice: they are easy to walk on, especially for elderly people or children. It is easier to bring the shopping in or to go into the house with a pram. On the other hand, steps are attractive and give houses a distinctive look, but you need a sufficient slope (125mm-175mm) to build steps.

We can buy them for you, as we get trade prices which are then passed on to customers. But you can also buy them yourself. We suggest you visit the display centres, to gain firsthand experience on the choice of products. We recommend Tobermore, Roadstone, Kilsaran, & O’Connell Stone.

It is a good idea to try to tie the bricks or slabs in with the house, both in colour and style. Keep in mind that a very light colour will require more maintenance, as stains (such as tyre marks and oil spills) will be more visible. A contemporary look will be achieved with a smooth and/or contrasted product. In a more traditional house, a rumbled aged slab or brick will be more suited. Often a different colour border helps to define the driveway and adds detail.

A slope is a difference in height between your house/road (high point) and the drainage area (low point). The slope allows the water to drain from the paving to the garden areas or storm sewer. The fall on the patio is essential to get right as when using your patio furniture you do not want it to rock or lean to one side.

A good drainage system is crucial in Ireland. Puddles will form in the driveway or patio if drainage is not correct. The driveway or patio should have a slope to drain the water to gullies or other outlets. Underground pipes will then direct water from the gullies to the sewer. Soakaways can be used as a last resort. The soakaway should be wrapped with pourous membrane, filled with 2″ drainage stone and be of sufficiant size.

It depends on the type of products used for the patio or driveway. Natural stone, bricks and slabs and concrete are very durable: they will last you many years. Tarmacadam driveways (asphalt/tar) are more affordable but less durable.

It depends on the product chosen. A natural stone (granite, sandstone, Liscannor) will maintain its colour over time. The colour of bricks, slabs and concrete products is susceptible to weather conditions and it will slowly fade over time, giving a more aged look. This is usually not a problem, unless a new section of paving is added resulting in a patched effect. In those cases, a better option is to choose a different brick or colour, or store some of the original paving.

To keep the original colour of your concrete paving we recommend that you seal with Dry-Treat, which has a 15 year warranty.

You can power hose a natural stone driveway or patio. For any other paving product, power-washing is too aggressive and could damage the finish of the brick or slab. If power hosing a brick paving area, it is essential that you re-sand it immediately after drying.

 

The price varies greatly. That is why we call and see the job, before giving a free quotation. Some of the main factors are:
– scale
– details
– steps, capping walls, circles, flowerbeds, borders & kerbing. All those require additional work, which will need to be factored into the price
– no access to the patio, as the ground will be excavated by hand and materials barrowed through the house
– materials chosen, wide range of prices
– time required to lay the chosen material. Some are labour intensive eg. natural stone. Some other products can be machine-laid, therefore substantially reducing the cost.

The first phase is the preparation of the sub-base. This starts with excavating the ground to the required depth, depending on the necessity for drainage in the area. Appropriate drainage and pipes will have to be put in place, including gullies. Then the excavated area will be filled with hardcore. This sub-base needs then to be compacted and graded out to the required level (for drainage purposes). A 20-40mm layer of sand is placed on top of thehardcore and screeded. Second phase: the paving is laid on top of the compacted sand to the required pattern. It is important to mix the products from different packets to avoid difference in colours. The border brick will be cut with a brick cutter and consaw to the required length and width. The driveway is then sanded and compacted with a whackerplate.

It depends on the product chosen. A natural stone (granite, sandstone, Liscannor) will maintain its colour over time. The colour of bricks, slabs and concrete products is susceptible to weather conditions and it will slowly fade over time, giving a more aged look. This is usually not a problem, unless a new section of paving is added resulting in a patched effect. In those cases, a better option is to choose a different brick or colour, or store some of the original paving.

 

If the moss is not thick, brush the patio with hot water and washing up detergent, rinse with water, or seal with Dry-Treat. Top up the jointing sand: it will avoid moss getting a hold. If there is lots of moss, first remove thick moss by scraping. On a dry day treat the area with a moss killer. After two days, the moss will have died and the area can be easily brushed off. You might need to repeat the treatment for paved areas in constant shade eg under a tree.

First remove large weeds by hand, small weeds can be sprayed directly with a weed killer and they will die off within days. On a sunny day, treat with a weed killer, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Top up the jointing sand: it will avoid weeds getting a hold. Alternativelly seal with Dry-Treat, this will reduce weeds dramatically.

On a newly paved area, allow a few weeks to settle. Sweep the area regularly to remove dirt. Hose lightly with water. For stain removal, you can scrub it with a stiff yard brush and washing-up liquid. After cleaning, top up the jointing sand: it will avoid weeds getting hold. You can treat it with a weed killer 2 times per year. Do not powerwash, (unless your patio is in natural stone), as it will damage the bricks/slabs surface. If you seal your paving with Dry-Treat it will make your paving a lot easier to clean.

Sealing your paving is very important as the sealant repels stains, graffiti and food products making cleaning easier. It’s able to work without changing the appearance of the surface so keeps the original look and it reduces moss growth. It’s able to breathe so there is no build-up of subsurface moisture, allowing it to dry out. As it penetrates deeply it protects your paving against weathering and wearing. O’Malley paving are one of the few accreddited applicators of the Dry-treat sealer in Ireland. Recognised worldwide as the leading paving sealant, when applied using an accreddited applicator Dry-treat comes with a 15 year written warranty.

The area between bricks is filled with paving sand to give stability and prevent weeds from growing. A top up with paving sand is recommended once a year to avoid problems with weeds. Where ever possible flood grout as this adds strength and reduces weeds.

There are different possibilities. Here are some popular choices:
Full Bond

Half Bond

Irregular Bond

Half Bond

Irregular Bond

Grouting will seal off the paving. There will then be no need for weeding or to top-up with sand. This is only suitable for certain products like natural stone products or coble. Perfect for a patio. Not ideal for a brick paved area as it might become less flexible.

Cobble – refers to the shape, traditionally round and permeable

Cobblesetts – usually round but also square

Setts – square brick in concrete or granite

Flags – square or rectangular, another name for slab