Poured kerbs

[Donkmeister]

I'm planning to put in a gravel grid driveway. I will need to retain the edges with a kerb, so am thinking about how to do that.

Precast kerb stones and paving blocks are the usual materials in the UK, however I have seen in other countries it is common to assemble formwork and pour a concrete kerb. This approach appeals to me as I have much more experience of building concrete forms than I do laying paving. I also like that I could get the forms all laid out and order one delivery of mix on-site instead of needing to keep feeding the minimix all day to give me concrete to bed and haunch pre-cast stones.

Has anyone tried this in the UK? Any issues with frost?

 

[aveatry]

Apart from frost will a car be running over it as depending of on the form shape I can imagine the edge breaking down.

 

[Donkmeister]

No, I'll use blocks or setts bedded into mortar for that edge. The poured kerb would just be around the sides.

 

[aveatry]

No, I'll use blocks or setts bedded into mortar for that edge. The poured kerb would just be around the sides.

I see - seems like a lot of work and then it wouldn’t match the block kerb in shape or colour - if that matters.

 

[Donkmeister]

Either way there's a lot of work to single-handedly lay 30-odd metres of kerb (much of it curved). This approach shifts the bulk of the work to the bit dealing with lighter materials that don't have a limited working time. When you have a dodgy old back like mine that's an attractive trade-off!