VANSTONE PRECAST (PTY) LTD
BG GRASS BLOCKS: GUIDELINES FOR INSTALLATION AND PLANTING
IMPORTANT:
All BG Grass Block installations must be designed by a qualified Professional Civil Engineer.
Vanstone does not accept liability for design, stability or suitability for the application of BG Grass Blocks.
It is important that these instructions as well as those given by the design Engineer be followed carefully.Vanstone does not accept liability for BG Grass Blocks not installed according to instructions.
INTRODUCTION
The BG Grass Block was developed in Germany in order to establish a grass area which could be subjected to reasonable traffic. The block consists of a concrete grid having soil chambers and regularly spaced concrete projections for wheel contact at the surface. The chambers are filled with top soil with grass planted or sown therein. The surface area comprises approximately 75% grass and only 25% concrete, while the bearing area is 88% concrete. This ensures that vehicle weight is transmitted to the sub base by the block without compaction of the soil and destruction of the grass growth.The grass can be cut by an ordinary lawn mower moving diagonally across the blocks. The paved area forms an integral part of the surrounding grassed area, which obviates laborious trimming of edges.
The blocks have been used extensively in driveways for private garages, parking areas, roads in nature reserves and picnic resorts, as well as for protection of slopes and embankments.
Depending on the sub grade and sub base preparation the blocks will stand up to medium traffic loadings.
LAYING SUGGESTIONS
Prepare sub grade to Engineer’s specification.
Screed a layer of coarse sand to a depth of 20mm. Good quality river sand is suitable.
Bed BG Grass Blocks into the sand by moving them back and forth or wriggling left and right until they are bedded in snugly. Test by attempting to rock each block over diagonal corners
PLANTING SUGGESTIONS
Fill BG Grass Blocks with good quality fertilized topsoil to a level 20mm below the top projections of the block.
It is important not to over fill the blocks as this will hamper the ability of the grass to withstand traffic.
Plant or sow grass into cavities and water regularly. Follow grwers instructions.
Mow grass with any suitable lawnmower by cutting diagonally across the top of the BG Grass Blocks.
LAYING SUGGESTIONS FOR EMBANKMENTS
Stabilize embankment and achieve a hard and even surface.
Lay BG Grass Blocks as above, with their lengths across the expected direction of water flow.
Stake every third BG Grass Block with a wooden or metal stake for extra stability.
Fill and plant as above.