Domestic Driveway - Wheelchair Access
Background
Loose gravel and block paving originally covered this domestic driveway in North Mymms, Hertfordshire. Whilst these surfaces provided a perfectly adequate area for car parking, the loose gravel was particularly problematic for the home-owners’ wheelchair-bound son making movement around the outside of the property extremely difficult for him.
The owners wanted independent movement for their son around the property, without his wheelchair becoming stuck in gravel. Manoeuvrability was particularly hampered after rainfall, which caused the gravel to migrate away from the driveway, forming an extremely boggy surface. This became such a problem that ply board had to be laid over the gravel surface to allow Jack to move around - clearly neither a satisfactory nor a long-term solution.
Solution
The owners were particularly impressed by the ability of SureSet to provide a smooth, highly decorative surface and by the material’s porous properties which would allow rain water simply to drain through the surface, eliminating the problems that standing water caused. The design flexibility of SureSet also meant that there was no need for steps or ramps to be constructed at the exit points of the bungalow - something the owners were keen to avoid - the driveway was simply built up to provide a completely smooth and level surface. The finish selected for the driveway was SureSet Maple; the natural blend of soft brown, white and grey aggregates, complementing the natural stone of the bungalow and garden walls.
In total 200m² of 6mm Maple was installed at an 18mm depth on this turning driveway. The Maple mix forms part of the SureSet natural aggregate range and is available in a 6mm and 10mm sized aggregate.
Result
A smooth, low maintenance and highly attractive driveway was delivered that is both durable and functional. Commenting on the project, the owners said: “We are absolutely delighted with the new surface, with the wheelchair moving across it with ease. Importantly, the resin also stays on the drive and does not get transferred onto the tyres of the wheelchair; our son is now able to move freely outside and is able to independently access all areas of our property, which was always our main aim”.