The process
Formwork is set over a compacted sub-base and reinforced concrete is laid. Colour hardener is broadcast onto the wet surface, a release agent applied, and pattern mats pressed in. Once cured, it's washed, cut with control joints and sealed.
Grip on a slope
A smooth sealed surface can be slippery on a gradient. On sloping Durham drives we use a pattern with deeper texture and can add an anti-slip additive to the sealer.
Joints
Concrete moves with temperature. Control joints, cut at the right spacing and following the pattern where possible, keep cracking where it's meant to be. Expansion joints go against walls and existing structures.
Drainage
The slab is impermeable, so it's laid to falls with a channel drain or run-off to a soakaway or lawn within your boundary.
Upkeep
Clean and reseal every few years to keep the colour bright and the surface protected.
