Rotherham Primary School Entrance Path in Soft Gravel

In this case study, we discover a recent success story featuring a PERMABOUND Soft Gravel pathway installation by Greener Places. A local primary school approached the Greener Places team as they were struggling with a pathway which led to the school's main entrance and was a safety issue. The school requested an attractive, low-maintenance and non-slip yet strong surfacing solution which would provide staff, pupils and parents with safe access to the school all year round.

PROJECT DETAILS

Area

20m²

Location

Rotherham, England

Installers

Greener Places

Products

Gold/Black Soft Gravel

PermaBound SG Rubber Binder

"The Soft Gravel installation has certainly smartened up a very tired and degraded tarmac path. The addition of the ramp has made it wheelchair accessible, which is a huge bonus for the school!"

Greener Places

CHALLENGE

The primary school in question faced a significant issue with its entrance pathway. The old tarmac surface had become worn out and degraded over time, now posing a safety risk to students and staff due to its uneven surface and potential for slips and trips. The existing path was also not suitable for wheelchairs, creating accessibility challenges for those with mobility issues.

Greener Places were tasked with resolving this issue. To address these problems, the team opted for PERMABOUND’s Gold/Black Soft Gravel, a unique blend of recycled SBR rubber chips, washed and dried gravel and a high-performance resin binder. Our innovative solution produces attractive, strong, seamless, permeable, low-maintenance and non-slip surfaces which are ideal for school environments where safety is paramount.

INSTALLATION

The Greener Places team began the project with the excavation of the old tarmac pathway. With a blank canvas, the team began preparing for the installation of Soft Gravel by ensuring the sub-base was strong, installing new edging for the full length of the path and building a ramp to ensure full wheelchair accessibility. With the preparation work completed, the team could commence laying the Soft Gravel pathway.

Using a forced action mixer, one team member combined PERMABOUND SG resin binder, two bags of specialist stone and two bags of SBR rubber. The mixed material was then transferred to the installation area using a wheelbarrow before being hand-trowelled into place using specialist resin bound trowels. Hand trowelling is vital in ensuring you achieve a compact and smooth finish to any Soft Gravel surface.

CONCLUSION

The primary school are delighted with the outcome of their new pathway, there are no longer concerns of safety or accessibility thanks to their brand new Soft Gravel path. This outstanding project by Greener Places perfectly showcases the superb benefits of using Soft Gravel; improving the aesthetics of the area, providing a safer surface, providing accessibility to all and choosing an environmentally responsible solution.

We would like to extend our thanks to Greener Places and PERMABOUND stockist for sharing this wonderful project with us.

To learn more about PERMABOUND surfacing, please do not hesitate to contact us.