New In: CORE LP Gravel Stabilising Grids for Drives & Paths
Thinking of adding a gravel driveway or garden path, but worried that the stones will shift and become uneven over time? Or perhaps you need a surface that is wheelchair or pushchair friendly and so you assumed gravel was a no-no? We’re here to tell you that there’s a simple solution! CORE LP’s discreet plastic gravel grids provide a firm base for gravel surfaces and keep your chosen aggregate in place – even on slopes! Want to learn more? Discover our newly added CORE path and driveway grid systems and why they’re worth installing below.
Introducing CORE plastic gravel grids
Designed by landscaping experts CORE LP, our brand new gravel grids are backed by over 40 years of trade experience. In fact, many of their design team started out as contractors who understand the struggles of maintaining functional and aesthetically-pleasing gravel surfaces. With that in mind, CORE’s innovative gravel stabilising grids aim to make it a more viable option for driveways and paths. Whilst also reducing the amount of upkeep required.
CORE Drive
The first product, CORE Drive 40-30, is a robust yet unobtrusive plastic gravel grid designed to hold loose stone in place on driveways. Once raked into the hexagonal cells and bordered with your preferred kerb stones, the gravel won’t shift or spread – even when driven over!
Additionally, you won’t have to worry about your tyres creating unsightly ruts in the surface. Instead, you’ll benefit from greater stability and high load bearing capacity to prevent sinking. CORE Drive can also be used on sloped driveways with a maximum 20% incline, to stop your gravel slipping. Ideal if you love the look of gravel but need a more practical solution.
What’s more, thanks to its built-in geo-textile membrane, you won’t have to worry about weeds or pooling water. This clever fabric base allows rainwater to permeate through to the ground beneath to keep surface water at bay. And to ensure your driveway drainage capabilities are SUDs compliant. Yet, it will stop weeds growing up through the gaps in the stones – genius!
CORE Drive grids cover 1.92m² and can be interlocked to form a larger driveway grid system as needed. Order yours now for just £37.99.
CORE Path Pro
Utilising a similar design, CORE Path Pro grids help to make both domestic and commercial pathways more even and accessible. In fact, by installing these durable gravel path grids, you can make your walkways wheelchair-friendly. And in the case of businesses, DDA compliant.
Plus, given the hardstanding surface created, bikes and bins can also be wheeled over the stabilised gravel with ease. And if that wasn’t enough, your path will remain neat and tidy for longer, even with heavy footfall. That means less raking and refilling for you and reduced risk the stones spilling over into your borders. However, we would recommend adding decorative path edging or a more subtle CORE Edge border to create a definitive boundary.
Individual CORE Path Pro plastic gravel grids start at £17.99 and cover up to 0.92m². They can be cut to size as needed and others can be connected to each side to create a multi-directional path. Again, you’ll also benefit from CORE’s handy weed-suppressing membrane.
Benefits of gravel stabilising grids at a glance
- Stops gravel spreading – most of the gravel used is held within the grid system’s hollow honeycomb structure to minimise shifting. This keeps paths and drives neat, level and rut-free for longer, and prevents stones spilling onto lawns and borders.
- Fully permeable – rainwater can pass freely through the gravel within the cells, then through the mesh membrane to meet drainage demands. Additionally, these eco-friendly gravel stabilising grids are made from sustainable, recycled materials.
- Hardstanding surface – CORE’s plastic gravel grids transform soft and uneven surfaces into stable walkways and driveways suitable for vehicular traffic. Yet, the low profile design is lightweight, quick to fit and virtually invisible when filled!
- Suitable for slopes – if you’d prefer gravel over unappealing asphalt or a more costly resin-bound drive, you’re in luck. CORE Drive grid systems can hold gravel in place on gradients of up to 20%. Then block paver edging can be used for extra peace of mind.
Are CORE Drive & CORE Path easy to install?
Yes, both of our new gravel stabilising grids are easy to install! Each one can be connected to others from all four sides to create the size you need. You can also trim parts off with a grinder to accommodate existing features or the curvature of your garden.
Simply lay your plastic gravel grids over a sub-base or existing driveway, topped with a 10cm layer of compacted sharp sand. This will provide a level base and protect the membrane too. From there, simply rake the gravel into the cells, spreading a layer over the surface to fully cover the grids. Better yet, you’ll use about 50% less gravel than without the system in place!
Decorative gravel for driveways and paths
At AWBS, we stock a wide range of coarse angular and semi-rounded gravel for driveways and paths. With CORE Drive, you should look to use hard stones like granite and flint up to 20mm in size. For example, classic Crushed Oxford Gravel – a hardwearing buff brown shingle, or Mortimer Flint in a contemporary dark grey-black hue.
Meanwhile, for garden paths fitted with CORE Path Pro, you can opt for smaller aggregates. Options include sleek and simple 9-12mm Arctic White chippings or colourful 8-11mm Multi-Mix black, red and white shingle. We have gravel to complement every home and garden!
Need to build out a sub-base first? We can supply all the materials you need from MOT Type 1 to weed membrane. We’ve even created a handy gravel driveway building guide to refer to for best results! Keen to get started? Place your order online or in branch to receive free delivery within 25 miles of Oxford, Yarnton and Swindon, with no order minimum value!
