Wayfarer FAQs 

 

What is the difference between Breedon Golden Amber Gravel and Wayfarer?

Breedon Golden Amber Gravel is more robust, it is a 12mm to dust crushed and graded limestone, Wayfarer is a 6mm to dust crushed and graded limestone. Both products are produced from selected hard limestone at our Breedon Quarry, Breedon on the Hill, Derbyshire. Wayfarer is perfectly suitable for footpaths, canal towpaths, cycleways and bridleways but is not for vehicular use. Please note that Breedon Golden Amber and Wayfarer self-binding gravels are not free draining and therefore require a cross fall or camber to shed water from their surface into adequate drainage.

 

Do you supply to the general public or do I need to hold a Credit Account with you?

We supply Account and Non-account customers alike on a Nationwide basis. All products are available both loose tipped and in 800kg bulk bags. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

 

I only require a small amount of material; can I get this directly from you?

We can supply you with a minimum quantity of 800kg in a bulk bag and can offer delivery nationwide.

 

Is Wayfarer free draining?

No.  Wayfarer is not free draining and therefore requires a cross fall or camber to sged water from its surface into adequate drainage.

 

How much does 1 tonne cover?

One tonne will cover approximately 10sqm laid at our recommended finished compacted thickness of 40mm. This equates to a bulk bag coverage of 8 tonnes approximately per bag.  These calculations build in a 10% wastage factor.

 

What is the density of Wayfarer?

2.2 tonnes per compacted cubic metre.   

 

What depth should I lay Wayfarer?

Wayfarer must be laid to a finished compacted thickness of 40mm as per our laying instructions. If material is laid any thicker, fullest compaction will not be achieved and the fines will not float to the surface when water rolled.  If laid thinner than 40mm the wearing course will be compromised, which will affect the durability of the surface.

 

Is Wayfarer suitable for wheelchair use?

Yes.   When Wayfarer is installed in accordance with our laying instructions, it provides a solid bound base which does not separate or segregate with wheelchair use.   The surface does lightly scarify with use leaving a light dressing of dust/grit on the surface. Please note that this may pick up on shoes or wheels so it would be advisable for a hard paved area prior to entering a building to reduce the migration of dust.

 

Can I use a membrane directly under the Wayfarer?

No. Wayfarer must be laid directly onto the quarried Type 1 sub-base. A membrane or terram may be used underneath the quarried MOT Type 1 if required.

 

Can I lay Wayfarer in conjunction with a Cellweb system?

No. Cellweb has a cellular structure designed for use with clean granular material as infill to allow air and moisture to reach the sub-base or roots underneath and the cellular structure also holds loose gravel or shingle in place to reduce migration and spreading of the material. Wayfarer has to be installed in accordance with our laying instructions to allow the material to bind together inorder to achieve the expected durable finish. These plastic grid cellular systems will not allow Wayfarer to do this.

 

Do you have a recommended contractors to lay Wayfarer?

Unfortunately it would be impossible for us to provide a list of 'recommended' contractors as Wayfarer travels to each and every part of the UK and we simply could not check the installation countrywide. We do however provide all the instructions necessary for you to carry out the work. We have written guidelines along with an informative video on our website which allows you or your contractor to visually how the product should look and behave at each stage of the installation process. We also have a team of experienced technical advisers based at our Special Aggregates Sales Office who can assist you with any queries you may have or talk you through the process step-by-step.

 

Can I lay Wayfarer on top of existing concrete or asphalt?

No. Wayfarer must be laid directly onto an MOT Type 1 sub-base meeting clause 803. Any existing concrete or asphalt must be broken up and removed. MOT Type 1 sub-base provides a solid sub-structure for the Wayfarer and also has voids which the gravel fills, grips and binds on to. Although Wayfarer is not free-draining and must be laid to falls in order to shed water, throughout spells of prolonged rainfall, some rainwater may ingress through the product and the MOT Type 1 sub-base underneath will allow that water to continue to drain away. Concrete or asphalt would not facilitate this and water would be held in or below the layer of Wayfarer causing it to soften and pothole.

 

Do I need to use edgings?

Edgings are optional. Concrete, timber, metal or stone edgings can be used and will help achieve fullest compaction; however, edgings should not stand proud of the Wayfarer. If this is the case with timber or metal edgings, then holes must be drilled through the edgings at half metre intervals at the level of the surface, or a ‘v’ can be cut down to the Wayfarer level to allow water to flow off the surfaces. If curbs or sets are used as edgings the mortar joint can be left out at half metre intervals, again, this will allow water to escape from the surface.

 

Can I lay Wayfarer in the rain?

Laying Wayfarer in the rain can actually prove beneficial as it helps the water rolling process, provided the rain is not so intense that it could wash away the fines content!

 

Can I lay Wayfarer in frozen conditions?

Wayfarer as with all aggregates that contain fines should never be laid in a frozen state.  This can lead to shrinkage and movement of materials upon thawing.

 

Can I lay Wayfarer on a slope?

Breedon self-binding products are not recommended to be laid on slopes steeper than a 1 in 15 gradient. This is because the action of storm water flowing across the surface can cause damage to the material and can result in the occurrence of potholes and ruts. Where you have a slope steeper than 1 in 15, the installation of steps at irregular intervals will reduce the risk of ruts occurring and damage to the finished surface.

 

What is the minimum/maximum gradient to shed surface water?

An adequate gradient for a small area such as a footpath would be 1 in 50 to allow water to shed from the surface.

 

What equipment would I need to lay it?

A flat boarded rake to initially spread the material (you can use the back of a garden rake, but do not use the prongs as this will segregate the coarse components). For footpaths a minimum of a 1 tonne sit-on water roller should be used. For larger areas, a 1.5 tonne sit-on water roller will be required. Access to additional water via a hosepipe or water bowser is necessary and also a soft broom to finish the surface.

 

How much water do I need?

Approximately 5 gallons per tonne is required. In hot, dry spells more water may be required and in winter slightly less. Please be aware the water which is dispelled from a vibrating roller will be inadequate and additional water will be necessary via a hosepipe directed onto the drum.

 

Can I use a wacker plate instead of a roller?

Yes, but this requires more time and attention. A wacker plate can be used to compact the Wayfarer if access will not allow a pedestrian roller into the area, however as the wacker plate does not carry the weight of a roller, the area must be compacted repeatedly with many passes of the plate in order to achieve the best compaction possible. It is beneficial also if the depth of the gravel is reduced slightly from 40mm to 35mm in order to assist with achieving best compaction. Once the surface is fully compacted and the plate leaves no lines on the surface, then water must be carefully applied to the area using a hosepipe with a fine nozzle spray which should be directed up into the air to give an even spread of water without washing out any of the fines. It is important to apply sufficient water to float the fines (or fats) of the gravel. Keep the plate moving on the gravel surface and if the plate is pulling up the surface, then it is probably too dry and more water is required.

 

How long does it take to set?

The time taken for the surface of the Wayfarer to set is dependent on the weather conditions at the time of laying. This can vary from between one week in the height of summer to two weeks plus in the wet colder winter months. The area should remain unused in this period. Wayfarer should be treated with respect in the first three months whilst gaining strength. After that, the more the area is used the better it will perform.

 

If Wayfarer is mixed with cement will it make the finished product harder wearing?

No. Cement can be manually blended into Wayfarer, however, this does cause a few issues. Wayfarer is a natural quarried limestone and by manually mixing 1 part cement to 10 parts Wayfarer this could affect the consistency of colour. Cement will only help the material set a little quicker, it will not give the product more strength and it will not stop the surface from scarifying.

 

Can Wayfarer be stored for longer periods of time before use?

Wayfarer can be successfully used after being stocked or stored for longer periods of time. However, if during this period the material is left to completely dry out the 6mm aggregate and the fines content may seperate, which will affect the laying of the product leaving coarse areas. If the material has been stored it is always advisable to add moisture and turn and re-blend the stockpile prior to use.

 

Will the material pick up on my shoes?

Wayfarer is a natural material and will pick up on shoes, especially when the material is wet. A paved area and a good doormat are an advantage before entering buildings etc. The dusting effect will lessen with time once the material has been weathered.

 

Does Wayfarer come in any other colour?

No. Our material is a beautiful natural golden buff colour which lends itself to natural historical and modern day surroundings alike.

 

Can vehicles use the area?

No. Wayfarer is perfectly suitable for footpaths, bridleways, cycleways and canal towpaths but is not suitable for driveways or car parks.

 

Can I brush the surface?

After the Wayfarer has been water-rolled there may be some lines from the roller in the material. A soft broom should be used at this point, whilst the material is still wet, to gently run across the surface to remove any roller marks and leave a nice smooth finish.
Wayfarer will naturally self-scarify with use but if you choose to remove the surface chippings for visual purposes, a soft broom may be used to do so. However please note the surface will continually scarify so this process may need to be repeated if a smoother appearance is required.

 

Is Wayfarer suitable for bridleways?

Yes, but as bridleways are often in woodlands or fields, try to get the sub-base above ground level and then lay the Wayfarer on the top to allow water to drain off the surface. If edgings are not used then the material should be laid to a camber and feathered off at the edges. If this isn’t done and the bridleway is lower than the surrounding area, water will flow down onto the bridleway and will pond causing weakness, potholes and potentially a breakdown of the whole surface. Please also note that whilst our self-binding products are perfectly suitable for horses to walk over, they are not strong enough to withstand horses cantering or galloping over their surface.

 

Is Wayfarer suitable for Seating/Patio Areas?

Wayfarer can be used underneath seating areas, however dragging of patio furniture feet across the surface may dig into the Wayfarer, causing it to scuff so regular maintenance will be required. A paved hard surface area would be preferrable in this instance. Please ensure adequate drainage is installed so that surface water is not held on the patio area.

 

Can Wayfarer be used in tree pits?

Wayfarer must be laid onto compacted Type 1 sub-base. If it is not possible to roll the material around tree pits then hand compaction must be used. There must be watering points for the trees as Wayfarer is not free draining. Please be aware that growth and movement of tree roots in time may cause cracking of the surface.

 

What is the pH value of Wayfarer?

The pH value is 8.3.

 

What do I do if potholes occur?

If a pothole occurs it must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid holding rainwater as this will ingress into the Wayfarer making the pothole larger. To repair, cut out squarely the material around the pothole down to the sub-base – water the sub-base if it is dry and then lay in new material, following the laying instructions. Please refer to our maintenance section.

 

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