LANDSCAPING
For gravel that means much less raking, topping up, or sweeping stray stones back into place. Once filled and settled, it’s virtually invisible, leaving only a neat and natural surface.
When filling gravel into the geopaving, one top tip is to overfill by about 10 to 20mm. This hides the grid beneath and compensates for the natural settling that occurs with footfall or tyre pressure.
BELOW THE SURFACE
This Summer’s dry spell created the perfect conditions for the hardscaping season, but many professionals have not yet realised the benefits of focusing on what’s underneath. David Fisher, geosynthetics expert at Geoworks, looks at geopaving.
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e Brits came out of the Covid-19 pandemic having rediscovered our gardens. Sales soared and interest
spiked in outdoor living. Patios, pergolas and fire pits have all had their moment, with attention since shifting to making outdoor spaces both functional and sustainable. Pessimists are likely thinking that an extremely hot and dry summer will inevitably be followed by a cold and wet winter, but whatever your prediction, British weather remains unpredictable. Considering the unknowns ahead, how can we make sure that outdoor areas surrounding homes remain in a healthy state?
The answer is geosynthetics. These are tough plastic sheets, grids, or fabrics that sit under soil or gravel, helping to keep the ground stable and stop surfaces from moving or sinking. Many also let rainwater drain through, which helps reduce puddles and runoff.
Until recently they’ve mainly been used in heavy-duty construction and infrastructure applications, but they are being increasingly adopted by landscapers and garden professionals.
A solution that is ideally suited to a variety of light to medium-duty applications for domestic and commercial purposes exists in geopaving.
Gravel that stays put Gravel can make for an everlasting battle. One of the frustrations with gravel drives or paths is making sure everything stays in place – without a stable base gravel tends to scatter, forming ruts and bare spots, as well headaches for anyone who values a neat appearance. Geopaving is built to help – it’s a modular plastic grid designed to stabilise gravel or soil. When it’s locked together in a square structure, it provides strength and structure without being an eyesore.
Strength below the surface You might not expect recycled plastic panels to get your heart racing, but under the surface, geopaving performs several quiet miracles. It can act to divide soil from gravel – to prevent sinking or rutting, or to help weak ground support heavy loads. While it does this it allows water to drain naturally, filtering out fine particles that could otherwise cause clogs. Geopaving panels also act as a protective layer, shielding investment in outdoor spaces from erosion, wear, and compaction. For gardens on a slope, they can even help prevent soil from washing away in heavy rain. Think of it as a structural insurance policy for homeowners that’ll set outdoor space up for the future.
Geopaving has also been designed for easy installation, through panels that interlock simply and securely.
Braced for the British weather If there’s one thing that gardens can bank on in the future, it’s the rain. As it merrily pours down, we might remember that much of the UK’s urban landscape is sealed under tarmac and concrete. These materials can block natural drainage, placing a strain on our largely-Victorian sewage system. Thankfully, geopaving provides SuDS compliant permeable surfaces and compliance with the Flood & Water Management Act of 2010. Allowing rainwater to naturally soak back into the ground, rather than running off into sewers, is tremendous for the long-term health of garden soil and reduces the risk of flash flooding in the surrounding area. Different applications of geosynthetics have different needs. Driveways need the structural integrity to support repeated loads. Patios and paths can be tricky unless the installation process is simple. Shed bases need serious load distribution and ground protection. Geopaving panels can handle all of the above and more.
As our climate shifts and we adapt our outdoor spaces to be ready for this change, geopaving can make the route forwards more reliable. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2026
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