Paving contractors glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a paving contractor provider in Cheltenham.
- What are calibrated paving slabs?
- Calibrated paving slabs are natural or engineered stone pieces cut to a uniform thickness on the underside, enabling consistent, level laying with minimal adjustment compared to uncalibrated stock.
- What is a damp proof course (DPC)?
- A damp proof course is a moisture-resistant layer, typically installed horizontally in a wall near ground level, that prevents water from rising up through the masonry into the property.
- What is a fall or gradient in paving?
- A fall (or gradient) is the intentional slope built into a paved surface to direct rainwater and standing water away from buildings and toward designated drainage areas.
- What is a plate compactor?
- A plate compactor is a self-propelled or walk-behind vibrating machine that compacts loose materials like soil, sand, and gravel into dense, stable layers for construction work.
- What is a soakaway?
- An underground pit or trench filled with rubble or permeable material that absorbs and disperses surface water, such as rainfall runoff from driveways, into the surrounding soil.
- What is a sub-base?
- A sub-base is a compacted layer of aggregate material, typically MOT Type 1, laid directly onto prepared ground beneath paving to distribute weight and prevent movement.
- What is a whacker plate?
- A whacker plate is a powered vibratory compacting tool used to consolidate aggregate, bedding sand, and other materials during paving installations. It is the standard equipment for densifying sub-base and foundation layers in block paving projects.
- What is an edging course?
- An edging course is the row of blocks, kerbs, or concrete haunching installed around the perimeter of a paved area to contain the surface and prevent lateral movement of blocks.
- What is block paving?
- Block paving is a surfacing technique where individual concrete or clay blocks are laid in patterns over a prepared base layer, creating a flexible, permeable, or visually distinctive surface.
- What is flexible pavement construction?
- Flexible pavement is a road or surface made of multiple layers (sub-base, base course, binder, and wearing course) that flex and move under traffic load, typically constructed using asphalt or tarmac.
- What is haunching?
- Haunching is a concrete backing layer applied behind kerbs or edge courses to brace them firmly in position and prevent lateral movement.
- What is Indian sandstone?
- Indian sandstone is a natural stone quarried in India and used for outdoor paving, available in riven or sawn finishes and graded for thickness consistency.
- What is kiln dried sand?
- Kiln dried sand is fine, dried sand brushed into the joints between block paving to lock blocks in place and prevent weeds from growing through the gaps.
- What is MOT Type 1?
- MOT Type 1 is a graded crushed aggregate material commonly used as a sub-base layer in paving and construction, typically made from recycled asphalt and stone waste.
- What is permeable paving?
- Permeable paving is a surface material or installation method that allows water to drain through the paving itself or through gaps between units, reducing surface runoff.
- What is planning permission for driveways?
- Planning permission for driveways refers to the regulations governing whether you need formal council approval before laying an impermeable surface like asphalt or concrete on your front garden.
- What is porcelain paving?
- Porcelain paving is a dense ceramic tile manufactured by firing kaolin clay and other materials at very high temperatures, resulting in a non-porous surface suitable for outdoor use.
- What is resin bonded paving?
- Resin bonded paving is a surface finish created by pressing decorative stone or gravel into a sticky resin layer laid over an existing substrate, forming a semi-rigid top coat.
- What is resin bound paving?
- Resin bound paving is a permeable surfacing material made by mixing decorative aggregate with clear polyurethane or epoxy resin and trowelling it to a smooth finish.
- What is rigid pavement construction?
- Rigid pavement is a concrete slab surface that distributes vehicle loads through the slab's structural stiffness rather than by flexing, unlike asphalt or other flexible pavements.
- What is riven paving?
- Riven paving is a natural stone surface finish produced by splitting stone along its natural grain lines rather than cutting or sawing it smooth, creating a textured appearance.
- What is sharp sand?
- Sharp sand is a coarse-grained sand with angular particles, used as a bedding material under paving and in mortar mixes, distinct from fine soft sand or kiln-dried alternatives.
- What is SUDS (sustainable drainage systems)?
- Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) are surface water management techniques that use permeable surfaces, soakaways, and attenuation to reduce runoff from hard-standing areas instead of relying on traditional piped drainage alone.
- What is tarmac?
- Tarmac (tarmacadam) is a bound aggregate surface material made by mixing crushed stone with hot bitumen to create a durable wearing course for driveways and roads.