When we look at a finished residential Porphyry paving project, we are taken with the beauty and symmetry of the finished project. Back up for a moment and think of the design process, the selection of material, the estimating, the grading, the drainage decisions, the layers of material we no longer see, and you will be taking a walk through this very well done book. Take a look at the same project in 5 years or 10 years and you will appreciate all the parts of the process that are done correctly. The book, Driveways, Paths and Patios – A Complete Guide to Design, Management and Construction by AJ McCormack Jr. is a comprehensive guide to residential paving for doing the work yourself or having a credible discussion with your contractor.
Written by an expert with over 30 years’ experience in hardscaping, illustrated with 230 clear color photos and drawings, and packed with ideas, tips, and practical information, this book is aimed at all those looking to enhance their home with paved features that will last for years. Among the topics covered are design with reference to planned use, style, size, gradients, and special features; available materials; drainage; the mathematics of paving and leveling; tools and equipment; and curbs and edging. All of the methods of laying variable thickness stones apply to Porphyry projects.
From the Author:
“It is NOT a book-version of the website, but is all new material, examining the design process in as much detail as the actual construction process, which is something I’ve never actually covered on the website. It’s primarily aimed at those looking to have a new driveway or patio, whether it’s to be a DIY job or installed by a contractor. However, it should be a useful read for student types, as it goes into quite some detail regarding the design process and how we set out paving projects. Contractors, too, will find it to be a handy collection of construction drawings, quantity calculations and design ideas. In fact, there’s summat for everyone!”
The company AJ McCormack & Son was started in 1957 by Tony’s father. It served commercial and residential clients across England including historic restoration and town center road and street construction until the late 1990’s when Tony Junior was injured and the firm switched to consulting. Prior to being disabled, Tony McCormack was the senior contracts manager and proprietor of A.J. McCormack & Son, a contracting company specializing in all forms of paving and groundwork. He brings over 30 years of practical experience to the subject. He is also the webmaster of Pavingexpert.com, consisting of 400 plus pages of information on paving.
If you are looking for insight into paving design and job layout as well as best practice for base, sub-base and jointing, this book will be important to you. Measurements in this book are metric and cost estimates are in Pounds 192 pages, 230 photos and drawings. Book image courtesy of Tony McCormack
This link will provide more information about purchasing this book. https://www.pavingexpert.com/book01.htm
Porphyry’s composition determines its high compression strength, resistance to stains, slip resistance, and high freeze/thaw ratings. The stone is the most popular paver in Europe, and is favored for its flexibility in design, beauty, durability and low maintenance requirements. ADA Compliant Porphyry pavers are also adaptable to a permeable paving set. The stone is by far one of the most durable pavers in the world. These beautiful materials are available from Milestone Imports. Milestone supports the creativity of architects, planners and designers. Porphyry offers surfaces of various finishes and mixed colorings, tending towards tones of grey, gold, violet and red, depending on where it is extracted. The products are available in North America from Milestone Imports. – www.milestoneimports.com
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