Thanks to numerous modern processing methods, concrete blocks can be integrated naturally into the garden and laid to create attractive paths, steps or floors. We will show you what makes concrete blocks so valuable for garden design.
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| Stone by stone to garden happiness |
For a long time, concrete blocks were considered the epitome of ugly, grey monotony. But now they can hold their own against natural stones such as clinker, sandstone or granite and are ideal for designing garden paths and the like. However, they are much cheaper to buy. The great variety is due to the way they are manufactured: concrete blocks are made of cement, sand, gravel, water – and a wide variety of additives. Hard stone chippings imitate the look of natural stone, and colour pigments give the stone every imaginable shade. We will introduce you to some types of surface treatment and show you why concrete blocks are so easy to lay in the garden.
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| Stone by stone to garden happiness |
Betonstein variants
Completely untreated, the surface of concrete blocks is called concrete-smooth. Numerous paving stones and slabs are offered in this look. With additional processing with brushes, concrete blocks become softer and also dirt-repellent. The smoothest surface is achieved with an extra grinding process that uses rotating disks. These concrete blocks really shine and are often found in driveways or in front of garages.
Concrete blocks with a structured surface are the most commonly used in gardens. This is no wonder, as they look almost deceptively similar to natural stone. This is because a process has been developed in which an impression of the original is taken and transferred to the concrete block using a press stamp. If the surfaces are then sandblasted, the effect is enhanced. This is the main method used for wall stones, paving stones and slabs, and curbstones.
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| Stone by stone to garden happiness |
Splitting
Splitting can also be used to create a very natural-looking surface on concrete blocks. This involves splitting individual slices off a large block. The same applies to working with a bossing hammer or setting iron. In what is known as bossing, the surfaces and edges of concrete blocks are worked to a depth of around five millimetres. Edges that appear uneven and look as if they were broken off by hand can also be achieved by rolling or rumbling. In this process, the concrete blocks hit each other in a rotating drum so that the edges break off. This creates the impression of a slowly aged, rustic natural stone.
When concrete blocks are washed out, the fine mortar is washed out of the surface. Different types of gravel can be used to achieve different colour effects. The exposed aggregate concrete produced in this way is suitable for slabs that are particularly non-slip – but on which dirt also sticks more easily. A high-pressure cleaner is recommended for cleaning .
A stable base for the concrete blocks
To ensure that you can enjoy your concrete blocks in the garden for a long time, they must be installed professionally: A base layer under the surface ensures a stable base. It prevents capillary flows (rising water) from the ground and allows surface water to seep away. For footpaths, a layer of 15 to 25 centimeters is usually sufficient. If an area is used as a parking space for a car, 30 to 40 centimeters are required. The best option is a mineral mixture with different grain sizes, such as gravel sand (grain size 0/32 millimeters) or gravel (0/45 millimeters). Simply ask your local gravel or gravel works for a suitable mixture.
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Concrete blocks are easy to work with
The high dimensional accuracy of concrete blocks means that laying them is very quick. Often, spacer studs are cast in, which allow even inexperienced people to install them without any problems and with even joints. The range also includes water-permeable drainage and grass joint blocks, which means you don’t even need to prepare the subsurface.
Garden design with concrete stones
Concrete blocks can be used to implement a wide range of design ideas for the garden. Whether it’s seating areas, garden paths, steps or entire terraces : let your creativity run wild! To achieve a beautiful overall look, however, we recommend that you make sure that materials and paving patterns are repeated in the garden. Too many different variants can quickly look unruly. Large slabs are ideal for square or rectangular areas, and curves can be easily created using paving.
