Installation

nidagravel^® is very quick and easy to install. The various stages are explained below. You can also watch our short  film.

1. Laying the foundation
2. Laying the borders
3. Laying the nidagravel^® sheets
4. Filling the nidagravel^® sheets with decorative gravel

1. Laying the foundation 

First the depth required for the nidagravel^® sheets and the foundation layer should be excavated. The thickness of the foundation depends on the subgrade’s bearing capacity and the expected traffic (light- or medium-weight vehicle).
Granulates with a large grading will often be used in the case of subbases made from crushed stone. However, this subbase is not level enough to lay nidagravel^® panels immediately on top of it. It is therefore advisable to provide a levelling layer of fine gravel (e.g. crushed stone 1-3), compacted if necessary and then raked level.

For footpaths and cycle paths 
5-10 cm crushed stone surface* (crushed limestone, porphyry or broken concrete) with 1 cm of fine gravel/crushed stone on top for levelling purposes in the event of an existing subgrade.

For cars
15-20 cm crushed stone surface* (crushed limestone, porphyry or broken concrete) with 1 cm of fine gravel/crushed stone on top for levelling purposes in the event of an existing subgrade

For emergency access/sporadic HGV use:
30-40 cm + MOT Type 1 (or similar) covered with approx. 2,5 cm sharp sand for levelling. All base materials to be well compacted.

(*) The subbase can vary depending on the bearing capacity of the existing subgrade. 

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2. Laying the borders 

In order to protect the nidagravel^® sheet from lateral mechanical loads caused by vehicles it is important to pay particular attention to the borders. 

Edging has a double function:

• It ensures that the gravel does not migrate from the surface 
• It provides protection for the nidagravel^® gravel stabilisation sheets

This kerbstones should protrude a minimum of two centimetres above the gravel surface.

Possible finishes are:

    clay or concrete pavers

         aluminium sections

         concrete kerbstones

         nidaborder PE

         nidaborder Galva

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3. Laying the nidagravel^® sheets 

After preparing the subgrade (foundation) the sheets are laid in the following way:

• The sheets are laid ready to use, in general with staggered joints.
• The surface area of one sheet is almost 3 m² so that installation progresses quickly.
• The geotextile, which protrudes along two edges of the sheet, is laid immediately under the adjoining panel.
• Mechanic anchoring is not necessary because one sheet, when filled with gravel, soon weighs 230 kg. 
• Cutting sheets to size and shape is surprisingly quick and easy. The sheets can be cut with a angle grinder or jigsaw. 
• The sheets can be laid on slopes of up to 5° or 11% without additional anchoring. For steeper slopes please contact us. 

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4. Filling the nidagravel^® sheets with decorative gravel

Due to the settling of the granulates during the first few days after using the surface for the first time, it is advisable to fill with gravel up to two centimetres above the sheets. This is in order to eventually end up with 1 cm protruding above the panels.

The high compression resistance of 100 tonnes/m² is achieved the moment the sheets are filled with gravel. Until such a time it is advisable not to allow any wheeled loads on the sheets.

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