Stamped Concrete Driveways, Thornton

More commonly known as pattern imprinted concrete, Northern Cobblestone have installed numerous stamped concrete garden paths, steps, patios and driveways in Thornton and the wider area.

With over 30 years experience in the paving industry, we operate throughout Lancashire and the North West, offering a long lasting quality product that will be the envy of your neighbours.

Driveway Installers, Thornton

Take a look below at some examples of our work:

If your driveway, paths or patio could do with a little TLC, why not give Northern Cobblestone a call?

Further Information

Visit the 'Driveways' page on our main website for more details.

Patterned Concrete Driveways, Fleetwood

Northern Cobblestone install patterned concrete driveways in Fleetwood and surrounding towns including Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton-Cleveleys, Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes.

With over 30 years experience in the paving industry, we specialise in the creation of long lasting stamped concrete driveways, patios, paths and more, all finished to a high standard.

Quality Service

Throughout the installation, we will treat your property as though it were our own, removing all leftover materials and debris to leave you with a gleaming end result that will be the envy of your neighbours.

We use high quality materials and genuinely believe in a job well done.

Driveway Examples

Please take a look at a few examples of driveways we've installed in the area.

More photos are available on our website.

Pattern Imprinted Concrete vs Block Paving

Finally, if you've also been considering block paving for your project, first take a look at our website to find out why pattern imprinted concrete is a good alternative to block paving and indian stone.

Driveways Installers, Lytham St Annes

Northern Cobblestone are specialists in the installation of professional quality pattern imprinted concrete garden paths, patios and driveways in the Lytham St Annes area, including Ansdell and Fairhaven, Freckleton, Inskip, Moss Side, Warton, Weeton and Wrea Green.

Driveways, Paths and Patios, Lytham St Annes

Take a look below for some examples of our driveways, paths and patios:

 

When comparing pattern imprinted concrete and block paving, the former offers a number of benefits such as easy maintenance and durability over time.

So, why not give your home that wow factor with the kind of curb appeal that would make any neighbour green with envy?

Blackpool, Lancashire and the North West 

Based in Poulton-le-Fylde, Northern Cobblestone have many satisfied clients throughout Blackpool, Preston, Lancashire and the wider North West.

Imprinted Concrete Resealing / Refurbishment - Blackpool, Lancashire

Sometimes, even we at Northern Cobblestone are surprised at how good pattern imprinted concrete can look and how durable it can be when installed correctly.

The photos below show a driveway installed by us over 12 years ago and recently resealed.

Satisfied Customer

Both our Blackpool customer and ourselves were amazed at how good it looked. Like new after 12 years of use and the weather of the Lancashire coast!

You could easily be forgiven for thinking the above driveway in ashlar slate style was laid yesterday.

And all after a quick resealing.

Imprinted Concrete Resealing

As with the initial cost of an imprinted driveway, the cost of resealing is a fraction of the cost of resanding and / or resetting block paving or indian stone.

And barring excessively heavy impact damage or extreme localised subsidence, resealing should be the only maintenance a properly laid pattern imprinted driveway, path or patio should need.

Aside from occasionally sweeping and washing it obviously!

Third Party Repair and Resealing

If you have a stamped concrete driveway installed by a third party that you're not happy with or that is starting to look tired or worn, we may be able to help.

Call us for a quote in the Blackpool, Preston and Lancaster area for pattern imprinted concrete resealing, restoration and repair.

Imprinted Concrete Driveways, Lytham St Annes

Northern Cobblestone are specialists in the installation of pattern imprinted concrete driveways, paths, steps, patios, ramps and more.

With dozens of styles and colours to choose from, we offer a high quality finish that will be the envy of your neighbours.

Easy Maintenance

Pattern imprinted concrete is a hard wearing, long lasting alternative to block paving and indian stone, with the added benefit that it requires far less maintenance.

Unlike paving, it is not prone to sinking, doesn't require regular re-sanding and offers very little opportunity for weeds to gain a foothold.

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire

Why not visit our website for examples of our installations of pattern imprinted concrete paths, patios and driveways in Lytham St Annes and surrounding towns, including Kirkham, Garstang, Preston and Chorley.
We're based on the Fylde Coast and have satisfied customers throughout Lancashire!

Concrete Driveways, Blackpool

The seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire is famous for many things, including Blackpool Tower, the Illuminations, Pleasure Beach and three piers overlooking it's expansive sandy beaches.

Perhaps lesser known, is that it is also right next door to Northern Cobblestone, specialists in pattern imprinted concrete based in neighbouring Poulton-le-Fylde.

Driveway Installers, Blackpool

With over 30 years paving experience, Northern Cobblestone have installed hundreds of miles of driveways, paths, patios and more in Blackpool and the wider North West.

Take a look below at a few recent examples:

If you live in the Blackpool area and would like an attractive low maintenance replacement for your tired old driveway, why not contact Northern Cobblestone for a quote?

More Photos

Take a look at the Driveways Blackpool page on our website for more examples of our stamped concrete installations.

Driveway Installers, Preston

Operating in Preston, Lancashire and the wider North West area, Northern Cobblestone are driveway installers specialising in pattern imprinted concrete.

We believe in a quality finished product designed to suit your individual tastes and give your property a wow factor that will be the envy of your neighbours.

In addition to driveways, paths, patios, steps and other paving features, we also offer comprehensive drainage and hard landscaping services, meaning you'll only deal with one person from start to finish. No need to juggle several different contractors at once.

Please take a look at the installation below for a customer in the Chorley area, just south of Preston:

If you like what you see, please visit the Driveways Preston page on our main website for more information and to request a quote.

Meaning of Cracking the Flags

The sun is "cracking the flags" in the UK at the moment or more colloquially as we might say here in the North of England "it's crackin' t' flags out there". *

More commonly used in the North, the British phrase "cracking the flags" is used to refer to hot weather. The flags in questions are not the flapping variety, but rather flagstones i.e. paving slabs or stones.

The implication is that the heat from the sun is hot enough to crack stone. Indeed, in some locations, "cracking the stones" is also heard.

Searching on-line, some sites imply that the phrase is also used to refer to really heavy rainfall, although that isn't something we've ever come across.

Origins

As an everday phrase, it's origins are not clear and obvious appearances in popular culture are few, although you would be likely to hear it from a BBC North West Tonight weather presenter.

It does appear in a different context in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure as "if you be remembered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes", but we're fairly sure the two are totally unrelated.

A quick trawl of the internet though and we turned up the following song by a London based singer / songwriter named James Henry:

Although the song might lead you to conclude that the phrase is also common in the South of England, note that his Facebook page says he originates from Liverpool.

Flagstones vs Pattern Imprinted Concrete

As driveway installers with over 30 years experience, we can tell you that the weather in Britain is very unlikely to be hot enough to crack flagstones.

Indian stone, block paving, bricks and other driveway and path materials are susceptible to our cold weather extremes though and cracking from ice is commonplace following a harsh winter.

For this reason, we recommend and install pattern imprinted concrete, as it is fibre enmeshed and up to 25% harder than standard concrete.

When laid properly with the required expansion joints, it will last for many years and you can be assured that it won't be cracking from the sun, rain or frost.

* Note, for those not from the North of England, that the t' is more implied, than pronounced.

An Imposing Preston Driveway

© Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse
under this Creative Commons Licence

Following on from our previous Lancashire Driveway post, here's another imposing entrance, this time between Preston and Blackburn.

Like Stoneyhurst College, the length of Hoghton Tower's driveway is an impressive half a mile, although records indicate it used to be longer!

The Red Carpet Treatment

Having such a long driveway isn't always a good thing though. In 1617 king James I visited Hoghton Tower, at that time under the care of Baronet Richard Hoghton.

Although already burdened with financial difficulties, Richard was eager to impress the King and keep favour at court, so during the celebration the entire length of this vast driveway was carpeted in a luxurious red velvet.

It is reported that the extravagance of the royal visit nearly bankrupted the family, and indeed within a short space of time Richard Hoghton was jailed at Fleet Prison in relation to his debts.

The family prevailed however and went on to entertain many famous guests including The Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Mary and George V, William III, James I, Shakespeare, Dickens and Turner.

Pattern Imprinted Concrete Carpet

To get a feel for just how long half a mile is, take a look at this YouTube clip from the annual Hoghton Tower Bike Sprint, in which competitors race up the hill against the clock.

Now imagine that covered in red velvet. It'd probably have been cheaper to get red pattern imprinted concrete installed and certainly much longer lasting and easier to clean!

Perhaps if Wills and Kate visit, we'll call them with a price.

More Preston Driveways

If you live in the area and would like your more modest driveway, garden path or patio finished with stamped concrete, why not take a look at the Northern Cobblestone website for examples of our driveways in Preston and the surrounding area.

Mews cobblestone is more popular, but if you want us to try red velvet, just let us know!

The Ultimate Spring Clean

Yes folks, it looks like it may finally have happened. The great British weather is showing signs of improvement and a long overdue spring may be upon us.

In Lancashire as with many other parts of the country, the bitterly cold and long winter has left us trapped indoors, watching snow cover our gardens and driveways, all the time itching to get out and do all the things we promised we'd do in the New Year!

Better Late Than Never

Cleaning out garages, weeding, planting, painting fences and hanging out washing for the first time are normally more associated with March than May, but at long last homeowners up and down the country are getting to grips with those essential outdoor maintenance tasks.

As people strive to get their garden ready for the hoped for summer, sales of patio furniture, new hoses and lawn feed will rise, along with creosote, fence panels and more.

Paving / Driveway Damage

The cold winter has had a pretty devastating effect on our gardens and yards though. Freezing temperatures over long periods have wreaked havoc on plants, garden buildings and the ground beneath our feet.

Tarmac and flagged paths, patios and driveways are usually susceptible to cracking and sinking as the ground beneath them repeatedly freezes and thaws, but this winter has been worse than many.

Time For Change

If this has been the fate of your paving, perhaps it is time to consider pattern imprinted concrete? Imprinted concrete is fibre enmeshed to give it greater strength, making it up to 25% harder than even standard concrete.

Not only will it improve your property aesthetically, but will last for years to come and provide a safe outdoor surface for the whole family to enjoy.

So if you're tired of looking at a worn out driveway or want somewhere nice for your summer BBQs, give your garden the ultimate spring clean and call Northern Cobblestone about a pattern imprinted concrete patio, driveway and / or path.

Pattern Imprinted Concrete, Preston

Based on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, Northern Cobblestone have many satisfied customers in the nearby town of Preston and throughout the wider North West area.

Preston Driveways, Patios and More...

Take a look below at a few examples of our pattern imprinted concrete installation within the Preston area:

Concrete patio area with a satin finish installed to a garden in Chorley, near Preston

 

Pattern imprinted concrete driveway in silver grey finish for a property in Penwortham, Preston

 

 

Ashlar slate style driveway with mews cobble edging for a bungalow in Leyland, near Preston

Impressed?

If you live in or near the area, consider Northern Cobblestone for stamped concrete patios, paths, forecourts, steps and driveways in Preston and all surrounding areas, including Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Fulwood, Higher Walton, Hutton, Ingol, Lea, Leyland, Longridge, Longton, Lostock Hall, Penwortham, Ribbleton, Walton-le-Dale and more.

Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways, Poulton-le-Fylde

Based near to the picturesque market town of Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, Northern Cobblestone install stamped concrete driveways, patios and more throughout Blackpool, Lancashire and the North West.

Poulton-le-Fylde Driveways

The following are a small selection of our pattern imprinted concrete installations within our home town of Poulton-le-Fylde. Please visit our website for more.

 

 Basalt grey ashlar slate stone style driveway with darker grey cobble edging

 

 Burnt orange mews cobblestone style driveway in matt finish

 Ashar slate style driveway in country sandstone effect for a customer in Poulton-le-Fylde

 Call for a Quote

If you live in the area or perhaps nearby in Great Eccleston, Knott End, Normoss, Pilling, Preesall, Singleton, Skippool or Staining and you're looking for a local installer of pattern imprinted concrete driveways in Poulton-le-Fylde, why not give Northern Cobblestone a call.

Merry Christmas!

As we approach that time of year when things start to get quiet for outdoor tradesmen and we go off in search of warmer weather overseas, Northern Cobblestone would just like to wish all our customers past and present a "Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year".

Say It With Concrete...

And if you haven't sorted a present for your nearest and dearest yet, rather than traipsing round the shops, have you thought about a new driveway or garden patio?

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

Predictions for a white Christmas are favourable though, so you might not see our vans down your street too much over the coming festive period.

We'll be back in force in 2013 though, so get your orders in early.

Northern Cobblestone install pattern imprinted concrete driveways, paths, patios and more throughout Blackpool, the Fylde Coast, Lancashire and the wider North West.

Ashlar Slate Stamped Concrete Paths and Patio, Kirkham

Some nice photographs of a path, patio and doorstep in ashlar slate style with mews cobble edging and a satin finish for a customer in Kirkham:

 

 

For pattern imprinted concrete in Kirkham or elsewhere on the Fylde Coast, give Northern Cobblestone a call.

Concrete Driveways in Blackpool and Beyond

Northern Cobblestone are based in Poulton-le-Fylde on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire.

From there we offer pattern imprinted concrete driveways, forecourts, paths, patios, pool decks and more to homes and businesses in Blackpool, Preston and surrounding areas.

The towns we serve include:

• Blackpool
• Chorley
• Fleetwood
• Garstang
• Kirkham 
• Knott End
• Leyland
• Lytham
• Poulton-le-Fylde
• Preston
• St Annes
• Thornton Cleveleys  

So if you're looking for driveways in Blackpool, Preston and beyond, give Northern Cobblestone a call.

How Is Pattern Imprinted Concrete Created?

Also known as stamped concrete, Pattern Imprinted Concrete is concrete that has been textured and coloured to imitate other materials such as brick paving, cobblestones, slate, granite, flagstones or even wood.

But how is it created?

The quick answer is "by adding colours and stamping moulds into freshly laid concrete". For more detailed information, read on...

Preparing The Ground

As with any paving project, the ground area needs to be properly prepared before any concrete can be poured. The existing surface is excavated to a depth suitable for the purpose of the paving and any debris is removed from site.

Following excavation, we will know what kind of sub base is available and an appropriate level of hardcore will then be added. This is then compacted to form a solid, level foundation on which to pour the concrete.

The preparation stage is also the time when any required remedial or alteration works to the drainage will done, along with the installtion of gate posts, manholes, steps, etc..

To provide a framework for the concrete to be poured into, temporary wooden barriers are then fitted around the perimeter.

Pouring The Concrete

The concrete itself is specially designed for pattern imprinting. It is air entrained and fibre enmeshed, meaning that whilst the concrete is setting (or curing), the fibres within it mesh together. This gives the whole slab much greater strength, making it up to 25% harder than standard concrete.

After pouring it to the required depth, the concrete is raked to ensure future rain water will flow in the desired direction and then floated to give a smooth, flat finish.

Whilst still wet, it is then ready for colouring and stamping.

Colouring The Concrete

Each colouring uses two agents which come in the form of a powder. Used together, these colouring agents help to create a textured two tone look upon completion.

Colour surface hardener (in your chosen colour) is distributed across the surface of the concrete by hand. Following which, the concrete is then re-floated, forcing the colour into the surface of the concrete.

The release agent, most often a darker colour, is then added over the coloured concrete ready for imprinting.

Imprinting / Stamping The Concrete

Interlocking moulded rubber mats with the selected pattern(s) are then used to stamp the concrete, creating a nice uniform finish. Starting at an edge or corner, we work our way across, standing on the mats as we go to imprint the concrete, thus avoiding directly stepping in it.

With imprinting complete, it is cordoned off overnight to avoid unwanted footprints.

Preparation For Sealing

Dependent on the weather, once dry, the surface of the concrete is pressure washed using detergents and release agent remover.

Once cleaned, "crack control joints" (also known as "expansion cuts") are created in the surface of the concrete using a diamond disc saw. Essential to reduce the likelihood of future cracking, with most patterns these cuts are barely visible.

Sealing The Concrete

Finally an acrylic sealant with anti-slip agent is applied. This protects the surface of the concrete and brings it to life, enhancing the colours beneath.

Want to know more? Why not contact Northern Cobblestone for driveways, garden paths or patios and you can see it in action.