Designing attractive driveways and footpaths that are affordable and low maintenance is everybody’s desire.
After preparation of the substrate the choice needs to be made what the visible surface will be. Preparing the driveway and footpath for paving is usually an easy process in Thailand, with the exception of Bangkok where subsidence is a major issue. Those who can afford it will also pile the driveway to prevent it from sinking. This is an expensive solution.
The common choice:
Concrete,
if used in Bangkok and without piling the surface will surely crack with a few years. Add to this the growth of fungus and lichen which will start to appear on and in the surface and you will have an old dirty looking driveway.
The alternative choices:
1. Gravel, in combination with the Nidagravel® system is so simple and easy to install you can do it yourself, saving you the cost of a contractor. The Nidagravel® mats are porous pro
viding drainage and have a geotextile base preventing grass and weeds from growing on the area it is laid down. T
he gravel itself contains no moisture unlike cement and it is not possible for fungus or lichen to grow on and in it. The additional benefit of using the Nidagravel® system instead of just pure gravel is that it becomes possible for pedestrian to walk on the surface without sinking into it. Bicyclists, wheelchairs, golf carts and even cars can all drive on the surface without sinking and disturbing the gravel.
If subsidence occurs the mats can be lifted and additional sand added to the base after which it can be re-installed. You cannot get a better maintenance and pollution free solution for your driveway or footpaths.
2. Cobblestones/Pavers, can be laid down in either sand or cement, the joints can then be filled with coloured micro split or grout. Obviously using split is more aesthetically pleasing and it provides natural drainage through the joints.
Only when using sand as your subsurface is it possible to take out the 
cobblestones after a few years to level and maintain/raise your base. If you have used cement you must break up the entire surface with heavy machinery. Installing cobblestones is slightly more expensive than using the gravel in combination with the Nidagravel® mats system.
3. Natural stone, such as Bluestone, Basalt, Lavastone and granites can be installed on a concrete foundation providing a high class driveway. Remember it is important to discuss with your stone supplier the optimal thickness you need for your driveway. If you would like to use natural stone for your footpath it may be possible to forgo using a cement foundation and install the materials directly on sand and fill the joints with coloured micro-split. This depends on many factors and should be discussed with your stone supplier so that they can advise you which materials best suit your needs.
| Installation Type |
Cost |
| Cement with piling: |
Expensive |
| Split with Nidagravel® mats: |
Close to zero |
| Cobblestone/Pavers on sand: |
A few hundred baht per m2 |
| Cobblestone/Pavers in cement: |
Expensive |
| Natural stone on concrete: |
Expensive |
With our new packing facility in the Showstone production area of Thailand we are now packing and shipping 6 containers per month worldwide.
Our current stock of Showstones is listed online and is updated weekly.
The high quality sculpted Showstones are often used in combination with our Bali style stone, cobblestones, imported Italian gravel and Nidagravel mats.
Please look at our products page to see these items used in our projects.
