Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Something that you’ll need to carefully consider if you’re thinking of having a driveway put down is drainage, especially if you’re having a large area of front garden covered.

The flooding problems we’ve seen in recent years might be attributed to global warming and environmental changes, but we also have a part to play in causing the problems with urbanisation. Where there might once have been fields, woods and vegetation, we often have housing estates, and the lack of available ground for rain to soak into naturally has led to serious flash flooding after sudden rain. During storms and torrential rain events, high volumes of rain are directed into existing surface water drainage systems, which can lead to overloading and cause even more flooding.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are designed to replicate natural drainage with systems that make as little impact on the environment as possible, draining away dirty and surface water run-off which helps to counteract the effects of conventional drainage.

SUDS need to be easy to manage, use as little energy as possible to run (except natural energy like sunlight) be as resilient as possible, and also manage to be attractive to look at as well as nice to the environment.
If that sounds like a tall order, don’t worry. At Cloburn, we offer a range of quality granite aggregates which have been tailor made for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) These help to provide a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties, and work by slowing and holding back water that runs off, giving natural processes the chance to break down pollutants.

Since 2008 home owners have needed  to obtain planning permission for any project that involves paving an area of more than five square metres - unless permeable blocks and an approved drainage system is used. This is where Cloburn SUDS aggregates come in – nobody wants to go through the rigmarole of a planning application if they don’t have to!

Our drainage design is straightforward and reflects a natural system with low environmental impact which effectively drains away dirty and surface water and allows it to soak back into the ground. By doing this, the SUDS counters any negative effects of conventional drainage solutions, some of which may even make flooding and environmental pollution worse.

Cloburn aggregates for SUDS are available for all projects ranging from 1-3mm to 40mm single size.

You could be walking on a Cloburn walkway!

Are you heading off to Europe for a romantic city break this spring? Perhaps you’ve booked a weekend in Amsterdam, and you’re anticipating lots of leisurely walking along the canals, over the bridges, stopping off in a café or two and taking in the scenery?

Well, it’s highly likely if you go sightseeing in some of Europe’s biggest and most popular cities that you could well be walking on a pavement that’s been created with Cloburn red aggregate.

Our products have been proving very popular with our European clients in recent years, and indeed Cloburn red aggregates have been used extensively in Holland and Germany, where they are favoured because they offer an attractive alternative, the distinctive textured red surface that looks fabulous on concrete paving blocks and also provides a long lasting and comfortable walking surface.

Cities like Amsterdam need to make sure that their walkways are durable as well as good looking – the amount of tourism necessitates attention to quality and detail. Planners have found out that exposed aggregate block paving has many advantages over standard  paving blocks which have been unnaturally pigmented to provide a good colour; Cloburn red aggregates are actually guaranteed to keep their strong red shade for life, and in fact over time, as the colour intensifies rather than fades, it will look better.

Practicalities such as an increased surface area for people to walk (and cycle) on also mean that the blocks stay clean for much longer, even without the famed cleanliness of some European cities. No chewing gum on their pavement, thank you very much!

Cloburn red aggregate also provides a safer, non-slip walkway that’s pleasant and comfortable to walk on, which makes them even more popular with tourism-friendly local authorities who are always keen to encourage more people into their towns and cities.

So, as you walk the streets of your favourite European city this summer, look down at the pavement and you might well find a little piece of Scotland on the ground beneath you!

For more information on Cloburn’s range of aggregates, please feel free to contact us.

Spruce up your garden for spring

The Easter bank holiday is traditionally the time of year when people start to think about upgrading their home and garden – and it’s the perfect time to consider the exterior of your property, whether you’re thinking about a nice landscaped garden or perhaps an attractive new driveway to impress the neighbours with!

Cloburn’s range of decorative red aggregates are the perfect choice for a completely new look – and the distinctive red hue will stay looking good for many years to come, too. If you just feel like adding a little bit of colour to existing pathways in your garden, just imagine how good it will look with bright red crushed granite chippings to really make those paths stand out. With a neatly trimmed lawn, a few well-placed garden ornaments and the spring flowers and shrubs starting to peek through, the garden will be an area you’ll be proud of and want to spend as much time in as you can over the spring and summer months. Just think of all the barbecues you can have to show off your newly spruced up garden!

For a new driveway, Cloburn’s attractive red aggregate will give you a fresh, modern look along with the strength you need in a functional driveway. Once it has been laid, it’s virtually maintenance free, and there are no worries about colours fading as the natural shade actually intensifies over time, unlike dyed aggregates which tend to fade and look tired after a while. So you can enjoy a pristine looking driveway for many years to come – well, as long as you take good care of it of course.

For domestic landscaping we recommend our 20mm driveway chippings, which you can even order online, or our 14mm chippings which have proved to be very popular with gardeners and landscapers for use in garden design – particularly for areas like rockeries where good drainage is essential.

You can make designs on a fabulous new look garden or the classy driveway you’ve always wanted with the help of some great quality (and very good value) Cloburn Quarry red aggregate. We’ll deliver straight to your door, too! Just give us a call at Cloburn Quarry and we’ll be happy to help and advise you on the best solution for you.

Have a wonderful Easter break!