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Post by Firefox on Jan 6, 2015 13:36:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2015 14:26:51 GMT
Could you not just use some paving slabs? Even broken ones would do, just to give some traction for tyres in wet weather and to prevent churning into mud. Could probably pick up broken slabs cheap at a salvage yard. Maybe a ton or 2 of gravel around them too.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 6, 2015 14:54:12 GMT
It's a possibility for some areas but I wanted to maintain a more natural look generally than use hardcore or slabs.
Gravel or slabs may be cheaper if they can be sourced competitively but due to the weight, there will be transport costs. Grass protector mat is only 1/2 kg per m2, so a 30mx2m roll will weigh only 30kg and easily transported in the van.
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Post by outtolunch on Jan 6, 2015 15:23:36 GMT
A place I work at has had some parking area created using this style of mat this was I believe layed over woodchips and a porous membrane onto a former shrubbery, I will be back there soon and check to see how it is holding up. Also many years ago saw the concrete gridblocks installed in a lawn this looked good you only noticed it when on top of the building and was very firm but this was for fire engine access only so did not see a lot of use. On grass where the growth is being removed by mowing these mats would work also most established lawns will have a firm foundation but in a wood you will be laying on a soft leafmold surface with additional leaves trying to bury the mat every autumn so can see it might need lifting and relaying yearly.
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Post by francophile1947 on Jan 6, 2015 15:30:19 GMT
Haven seem to use it at some of their sites, so I guess it must be worth their while. It certainly helps grip when the ground is wet.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 6, 2015 15:56:32 GMT
A place I work at has had some parking area created using this style of mat this was I believe layed over woodchips and a porous membrane onto a former shrubbery, I will be back there soon and check to see how it is holding up. Also many years ago saw the concrete gridblocks installed in a lawn this looked good you only noticed it when on top of the building and was very firm but this was for fire engine access only so did not see a lot of use. On grass where the growth is being removed by mowing these mats would work also most established lawns will have a firm foundation but in a wood you will be laying on a soft leafmold surface with additional leaves trying to bury the mat every autumn so can see it might need lifting and relaying yearly. That mat style is the heavier duty one, about 1 - 1.2 kg/m2 I'm proposing to use the lighter 0.4 - 0.6 kg/m2 type mat on the grounds that usage of the track and parking will be infrequent, weekly rather than daily and also use by 1 or 2 vehicles rather then the constant grind of a multiple parking area. I do have some grass and will grow new grass and prepare/compact before I lay mats ie I'll be trying to grow grass and compact or dig out a little first and not put the mats on uncompacted surface leaf mould. But good point about accumulation of leaf mould, the mats/grass may need to be swept and cut in the autumn. Edit: I think this may be a suck it and see exercise, after you make the point about leaf mould substrate - most lawn type grass has a clay or sand base, so it may behave differently on woodland grass.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 13, 2015 21:43:11 GMT
I went with this one in the end: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LW1KYXEI don't really like buying through Amazon, but the price of £160 includes 150 u-pins 6mmx170x70, the chunky ones. These can cost up to £50-75 for 150, so effectively I am getting the mat for about £100-£110. I just couldn't match this price even on ebay. As you will know, like when the traction mats shoot out from under wheels, it is essential to pin them down. The mat needs to be pinned every 500mm to make it effective. Edit: Arrived today. Heavier and bulkier than you may think. 27 kg each roll.
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