Bradstone one of the leading manufacturers of garden hard landscaping products

Bradstone stands out with its 3D design service
Bradstone, one of the leading manufacturers of garden hard landscaping products, has introduced a complete garden design service, professional ideas and advice on planning a new garden.

You will be sent a questionnaire asking for the size and shape of the garden, as well as what it is used for, and with the help of photographs along with a simple sketch of any significant features, Bradstone’s designers will produce a professional design for the garden, tailored to your individual needs.

The pack contains everything you will need to plan your garden, including full colour 3D views of the garden, giving a visual idea of how the finished project will look, a laminated 2D layout plan, drawn to scale, and separate laying plans for the patio areas within the design.

For those who wish to tackle the project themselves, the Bradstone Garden & Driveway Designer DVD is also provided, giving practical advice and assistance when carrying out the work. You can also load your own design into the program and amend it if there are any aspects of the garden they wish to adjust.

A list of all the Bradstone materials used in the design, and the quantities required, will also be sent, along with information on where to find a local Bradstone stockist. And if needed, a detailed planting plan can be provided on request.

Alternatively, for those who prefer to get the professionals in to do the work, Bradstone can supply the details of reputable garden landscapers in the area.

Paul Wagstaff, Marketing Manager for Bradstone says, “One of the most daunting aspects of embarking on a huge project like developing a new garden is the initial design process. With the help of the 3D Garden Design Service, whether you are planning to do the work yourself or employ a professional, achieving your dream garden couldn’t be made any easier.

“The 3D Garden Design Service means that you can go to a stockist already knowing exactly what products and what quantities they need, making the buying process a lot smoother.”

For more information on the 3D Garden Design Service, call Bradstone on 01335 372289

Bradstone springs into action for Chelsea
You’ve just bought a new home and have inherited a garden dating back over 70 years. You want to make your mark on the outdoor space but have no idea where to start.

The answer could be in Bradstone’s garden for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, ‘The Spring Garden.’ The garden hard landscaping manufacturers have teamed up with respected designer Alan Sargent for the show and have developed a garden around this theme.

The garden features planting dating back almost 100 years, and has been given a contemporary twist using modern materials and hard landscaping features.

Alan says, “As a designer I’ve been asked time and time again how to bring an old, established garden into the 21st Century, so what better theme to base our Chelsea garden around than this very problem.

“The outside edges of the garden retain the old planting. We’ve sourced Acers and Pines with an age of between 50 and 100 years old for this part of the garden, and in the centre we’ve created a useable space for a busy family.

“The central feature is a patio surrounded by walling, with a gentle stream running through the space, adding a sense of serenity and calm.”

Hard landscaping materials will include boulders quarried by Bradstone and paving and walling from the company’s Old Town range.

Marketing manager for Bradstone, Paul Wagstaff, says, “We’re really excited by this year’s design. It shows how hard landscaping can complement established planting and can create workable spaces within a very plant orientated garden.

“We’ve worked with Alan a number of times in the past and hold him in great esteem. He is a well respected designer, having won over 60 medals during the last 23 years, and we’re certainly looking forward to working with him on this garden.”

Bradstone goes into the third dimension
Bradstone, one of the leading manufacturers of garden hard landscaping products, has introduced the new Garden & Driveway Designer DVD for 2005.

The user friendly package replaces the CD ROM and Hints and Tips video and has been developed in conjunction with leading garden designers to help provide a more professional and complete design service when it comes to creating a perfect garden for your customers.

The Garden & Driveway Designer program allows you plan your entire garden or driveway project on screen using a variety of tools to calculate areas, work out quantities and select the style, size, shape and colour of product required from the full Bradstone range. Once the design is complete, it can be viewed in 3D view (a new feature of the 2005 program) as well as the 2D plan. This ensures users are completely satisfied with the design before ordering the products and beginning the work.

The DVD also includes the “Patio Planner” program which enables the production of a random laying pattern for your customer’s patio that can be used within a complete garden or as a stand-alone design.

Also available when accessed using a PC are ‘Inspirational Ideas’, also a ‘Product Guide’ with details of the complete Bradstone product range, a ‘How to’ section and a ‘Where to buy’ link to inspire and help you start your project with the minimum of hassle.

Bradstone has included a video in the DVD presented by award winning contractor Alan Sargent, who is designing Bradstone’s show garden at the 2005 Chelsea Flower Show. The video is split into easy-to-view sections covering every aspect of building the perfect garden.

For more information on the support available, call Bradstone on 01335 372289

Bradstone responds to demand with block paving
With customer research highlighting a growing trend for turning front gardens into off road parking, Bradstone, one of the leading manufacturers of garden hard landscaping products, has introduced block paving into its range for 2005.

The Woburn range features four distinct products – Woburn Original, Woburn Rumbled, Woburn Riven and Woburn Textured.

Stylish Woburn Original has been designed with a smooth finish, meaning it’s ideal for any type of vehicle. The product comes in four shades, Autumn, Brindle, Rustic and Graphite, and in three block sizes, 200 x 134 x 50, 134 x 134 x 50 and 100 x 134 x 50.

Woburn Rumbled is a cobble type block paving with a rumbled finish to complement any style of home. It’s ideal for driveways, paths and patios. The five shades, Autumn, Brindle, Rustic, Graphite and Maple come in three sizes, 200 x 134 x 50, 134 x 134 x 50 and 100 x 134 x 50. As well as the standard block paving, this collection also includes a circle and kerb, offering the consumer choice and versatility.

The distinctive Woburn Textured is a textured block incorporating decorative aggregates to create a stylish and practical finish. Available in two shades, Rustic and Silver Grey, the product is slip resistant, making it the ideal choice for sloping driveways and paths plus stable yards. Woburn Textured is available in sizes 200 x 134 x 50, 134 x 134 x 50 and 100 x 134 x 50 and in mixed packs, offering versatility and choice.

The final product in the Woburn range is Woburn Riven. The product comes in three colours, Autumn, Rustic and Graphite and in the three standard sizes, 200 x 134 x 50, 134 x 134 x 50 and 100 x 134 x 50.

The versatile Driveway range has also been introduced for 2005. The paving block is a firm favourite with customers, offering a flexible product suitable for most styles of property and location. Available in eight colours, Autumn, Burnt Oker, Red, Buff, Brindle, Charcoal, Marigold and Grey, the product comes in size 200 x 100 x 50 with block kerb in Brindle, Charcoal, Red and Grey included in the range to add the final finishing touch.

The Block Kerb range is the final new addition, introduced to create a distinctive edge and good finish to the driveway and planted areas. The kerbs offer practical barriers to vehicles and are recommended where driveways are laid next to lawned or planted areas. They have been designed to complement the block paving products designed by Bradstone.

Marketing Manager for Bradstone, Paul Wagstaff, says, “Over the last couple of years we have noticed a consumer demand for driveway products. Off road parking is seen as a ‘must have’ for most home owners, and ensuring that outside space is in good condition is a top priority.

“The demand has led to the introduction of the block paving range for 2005, offering the merchant and garden centre choice that they can pass on to the customer.”

For more information on Bradstone call 0800 0287 200

Bradstone moves with the times
Bradstone, one of the leading manufacturers of garden hard landscaping products, has launched a number of new products for 2005 to meet changing customer demands.

Over the past 12 months, company research has indicated a consumer desire for more natural styles, low maintenance gardens and a growing trend for turning front gardens into off-road parking. With this in mind, Bradstone has introduced more natural paving, labour saving additions to the Old Town range and block paving.

Keeping It Natural
The natural look has been in vogue for years and shows no sign of slowing down. The only change is the desire for the real thing, which Bradstone can supply at an affordable price.

Natural Travertine is a new addition a creating a classical look with its natural veining and warm limestone shade ideal for indoors as well as the garden. The paving comes in four sizes allowing for random paving patterns.

Natural Slate gives a truly rustic feel when laid in a traditional random pattern, using all three available sizes. However, accessorise with chrome planters and you can achieve a contemporary feel in the garden.

The Natural Granite Setts offer a prestigious finish to any property, giving a real glint of grandeur. Available in a choice of three shades with a split finish, the setts are perfect for pathways, patios and paving.

Low Maintenance
With research highlighting the demand for low maintenance, easy to install products, Bradstone has added to the popular Old Town range.

A new shade has been added to the collection, Weathered Limestone, to appeal to those drawn to the natural look in the garden. The clever three-colour mix creates an established look and gives the paving depth and interest. It is available in six different paving sizes, two circles and stepping stones.

Labour saving double sided Old Town Walling is new for 2005. The product is profiled on both sides so there is no need to build a double skin wall. This makes it the ideal choice for low walls and decorative features. The blocks are available in Grey Green and Weathered Limestone. Coping and edging is also being introduced to complement the walling.

Off Road Parking
With the housing market static, homeowners need to add real value and kerb appeal to their homes to make sure they stand out from the crowd. The latest trend is to create an area of off road parking by turning the front garden into a drive. For 2005, Bradstone has introduced a new block paving range.

Woburn Rumbled is a distinctive cobble-type paving with a rumbled finish offering a natural time-worn appearance. Available in a wide range of sizes with matching kerbs, the product comes in five shades making it the ideal choice for most homes.

Woburn Riven provides a weathered appearance and complements most paving. In three shades and sizes, it allows for an optimum laying.

Woburn Original achieves a traditional random appearance allowing a layout to your customers’ liking. The product is available in three colours with the smooth surface making it ideal for all vehicles.

Woburn Textured is a distinctive paving block incorporating decorative aggregates to create a practical yet stylish finish. In two shades and three sizes, the slip resistance surface makes it the obvious choice for sloping driveways or paths.

Driveway is a versatile paving block in eight shades offering unlimited scope to create impressive drives to complement most homes.

Marketing Manager for Bradstone, Paul Wagstaff, says, “Each year we undertake extensive market research to ensure we meet and exceed customer needs and expectations. As a result, the new and extended ranges have been introduced to meet the needs of the consumer.

“Particular trends have been identified as continually growing over the past year. Interestingly the natural look is still high in demand, as is the need for low maintenance gardens that are used for recreational use as opposed to ‘gardening’. We have introduced a new blocked paving range to meet the changing attitudes with customers viewing their driveway as an asset to their home and its eventual selling price. Essentially we have increased our product range availability to better serve customers at affordable prices.”
Create the Perfect Patio in Four Steps
With summer on the way and lazy days relaxing in the garden to look forward to, now’s the time to be thinking about adding a few design features of your own to make your outdoor space perfect for you.
If you’re looking for somewhere to unwind, somewhere to entertain and a place to dine, how about creating a stunning patio?
Bradstone, one of the UK’s leading brands of hard landscaping products, has an extensive collection of eye-catching paving ranging from the traditional Old Town, to the Mediterranean looking Gironde and the Roman inspired Travertine.
In addition, the company has put together its guide to help you create your patio in four easy steps.

Step 1
Allow at least 150mm below the damp proof course and dig down another 150mm for the paving/foundations. This applies to the whole area to be paved. It is important to ensure that water cannot collect beside a building, so allow a slight fall away to a convenient place.

Step 2
Cover the dug out area with a semi-dry foundation mix of 6 parts all in ballast : 1 part cement to a minimum depth of 75mm. Firm this down with a piece of timber. Remember to allow for the thickness of the paving stones on the mortar bed.

Step 3
Lay the first paving stone in the corner of the area to be paved on a bed of mortar – 3 / 4 parts building sand : 1 part cement. Tap down the centre of the stone with a wooden or rubber mallet to the desired height, Repeat over the whole area making sure the paving is level using a spirit level, and the joints are evenly spaced.

Step 4
Once the paving is laid, point the joints using a semi-dry mortar mix of 3 parts building sand : 1 part cement. The mix should not be too wet or dry.

If your patio is an unusual shape, it’s a good idea to choose a paving range which comes in a variety of different sized stone to minimise cutting, for example Old Town or Wetherdale.

And then, once your patio is complete and the cement dry, toast your hard work with a nice glass of wine!

Blooming Beautiful!
Creating a design feature in your garden sounds like a lot of hard work. After all, you have to come up with the design, decide which products will be most suitable and then work out how to put it all together.
Bradstone, one of the UK’s leading brands of hard landscaping products, has taken the pain out of creating a feature, and put together its guide on creating a raised planter in your garden.

Before you get started, select the products you need. To create a planter sized 1200mm x 1200mm x 470mm, Bradstone recommends you buy 21 Madoc blocks, 6 Madoc snecks and 11 Premium coping.

Now you have your materials, it’s time to get your hands dirty and get building.

Step 1
Strip the topsoil and dig to sub-soil / firm ground.

Step 2
Set four corner pegs to form an oblong for the planter 1250 x 640 mm. Check the accuracy by measuring corner to corner. Both measurements should be the same. To make the lower ‘T’ shape of the planter, mark out a smaller square 640 x 640 mm centrally from the front edge of the rectangle.

Step 3
Lay level concrete foundations using 6 parts all in ballast : 1 part cement at a minimum depth of 150mm.

Step 4
Start at this stage if you’re building onto a concrete base. Course 1 – begin laying the blocks working from left to right ensuring the blocks are level and upright using a spirit level and string line.

Step 5
Use Bradstone Walling Adhesive on all the joints – full instructions are included with the adhesive. Alternatively use mortar 3 / 4 parts building sand : 1 part cement. Choose depending on the look you want for your wall.

Step 6
Complete by laying courses 2 – 4, cutting the coping as necessary.
And once your planter is built, choose some beautiful bloom and enjoy all summer!

For more information on Bradstone call 0800 0287 200