Homeowner wins over contractor with his choice of Gravelrings

Fast installation

Just a few days before the driveway of George Martin’s new home in the Cotswolds, a 17th century barn renovation, was due to be laid, he came across Gravelrings. After phone calls with the Beauxfort team and having received a sample the next day, he decided to take the plunge, ordering the Gravelrings and securing pins, which he reports were also delivered the following day.

His building contractor was less than enthusiastic, however. “They had never seen or heard of the product before and didn't think it would work and would be very labour intensive to lay,” says George.
With the sub-base already down, the contractor initially estimated that the installation would take over a week. Instead, it took the team of four people just three days to lay and pin down the 640 sq m of Gravelrings on a layer of sharp sand with Costwold stone chippings laid and compacted on top.

Impressive finish

With the driveway now in use, the Gravelrings are already proving to be robust, says George. “We're very pleased with the finished result. There is no movement of the chippings, very little noise when driving on it, and no wheel marks or ruts left,” he says. “We've even had a 28-tonne truck driving and turning on the drive without a mark left. Walking on the finished drive is not like walking on loose chippings, it's more like walking over tarmac or other hard surfaces.”

Designed for longevity, without the need to constantly top up gravel and rake out the ruts formed by vehicle wheels, Gravelrings have also been engineered to discourage the growth of weeds. While some gravel retention ring systems come with an integrated membrane which allows sediment to build up, providing a growing medium for weeds, Gravelrings is a gravel grid system which allows sediment - and water – to pass through.

Now a convert to the system, George’s contractor is bringing prospective clients to view the driveway. Passing dog walkers, too, have enquired about how the drive has been constructed.
“Without fail, anyone visiting the house now comments on the impressive finish of the driveway and many ask how we've achieved such results,” says George.