Parking - Grass Reinforcement Mesh
Discussion
Thought I'd post up some info if anyone is considering the same.
I am not a Red Bull wielding quite Director yet and as such have to make do with a single access driveway. The shame!
I have an entirely useless piece of grass as the front of the house and was looking for a solution for occasional parking.
I can street park but it's not ideal. I'm on a thoroughfare so busses, school run and general traffic is fairly regular.
Sadly the Caterham I had previously didn't get as much use as it should have simply because I couldn't be arsed doing the car switcharoo for anything other than a dedicated driving event.
I considered mesh but was told by several people, including professionals, it was a waste of time. The other option was removing the grass and redoing the entire driveway in imprinted concrete or block paving. Didn't bother getting quotes, I can't imagine it would have been cheap.
I found a company selling grass reinforcement mesh online. Various weights (for usage/vehicles) I went for the middle one even though my use is very occasional. All in came out at around £400. I was happy to spend that to try it and if it was rubbish I'd look at the £XXXX paving option.
The other benefit of this type of mesh is self install is very easy. No labour costs. Just a matter of rolling it out and pinning it down.
So.
Install. Easy to do. No surprises. Some odd looks from the neighbours and looks pretty conspicuous.
Hope it improves or it'll be coming up and going to the skip.
10 days in a little grass starting to show through
1 month in and a good coverage of grass
A year down the line and it is completely unnoticeable. I scratched around in the grass to try and find it and thought some b
ds nicked it 
I found a bare patch, scrapped a bit away and you can see a tiny bit of the mesh has really become embedded in the top layer of soil.
Overall, very good product. Really happy with it and certainly worth considering if you are grass parking and not wanting it to look like Glasto on a Monday.
https://www.matsgrids.co.uk/c/grass-protection-rei...
I am not a Red Bull wielding quite Director yet and as such have to make do with a single access driveway. The shame!
I have an entirely useless piece of grass as the front of the house and was looking for a solution for occasional parking.
I can street park but it's not ideal. I'm on a thoroughfare so busses, school run and general traffic is fairly regular.
Sadly the Caterham I had previously didn't get as much use as it should have simply because I couldn't be arsed doing the car switcharoo for anything other than a dedicated driving event.
I considered mesh but was told by several people, including professionals, it was a waste of time. The other option was removing the grass and redoing the entire driveway in imprinted concrete or block paving. Didn't bother getting quotes, I can't imagine it would have been cheap.
I found a company selling grass reinforcement mesh online. Various weights (for usage/vehicles) I went for the middle one even though my use is very occasional. All in came out at around £400. I was happy to spend that to try it and if it was rubbish I'd look at the £XXXX paving option.
The other benefit of this type of mesh is self install is very easy. No labour costs. Just a matter of rolling it out and pinning it down.
So.
Install. Easy to do. No surprises. Some odd looks from the neighbours and looks pretty conspicuous.
Hope it improves or it'll be coming up and going to the skip.
10 days in a little grass starting to show through
1 month in and a good coverage of grass
A year down the line and it is completely unnoticeable. I scratched around in the grass to try and find it and thought some b
ds nicked it I found a bare patch, scrapped a bit away and you can see a tiny bit of the mesh has really become embedded in the top layer of soil.
Overall, very good product. Really happy with it and certainly worth considering if you are grass parking and not wanting it to look like Glasto on a Monday.
https://www.matsgrids.co.uk/c/grass-protection-rei...
Edited by Rick101 on Friday 20th May 14:49
Rick101 said:
No doubt lighter, prob a lot lighter on the wallet too!
Can't say I've used it much in the wet. Very occasionally but I'm careful manoeuvring onto it regardless of what I'm driving.
It will probably be fine.Can't say I've used it much in the wet. Very occasionally but I'm careful manoeuvring onto it regardless of what I'm driving.
Just showed the pic's to my technical director, he rolled his eyes
Impressive OP.
I've placed a large heavy duty rubber mat (with holes) in a grassy gateway, and after not very long it's buried by the grass. Seems to protect the grass from being rubbed away too much by foot traffic, though not quite perfect.
Anyone with a robotic lawnmower will know how fast wires on the grass "bury themselves".
I've placed a large heavy duty rubber mat (with holes) in a grassy gateway, and after not very long it's buried by the grass. Seems to protect the grass from being rubbed away too much by foot traffic, though not quite perfect.
Anyone with a robotic lawnmower will know how fast wires on the grass "bury themselves".
Rick101 said:
blueg33 said:
It will probably be fine.
Just showed the pic's to my technical director, he rolled his eyes
Genuine interest, what would be your suggestion?Just showed the pic's to my technical director, he rolled his eyes
Realistic timeframe? Costs etc?
We use stuff like IBRAN and do it like this. But we have to give 12 year warranties on our site works, so a proper solution is needed
Ahh yes, that's definitely a much bigger job! If I was going to that level and having it all ripped up I'd just get it paved instead of reinstalling reinforced grass.
I'll probably use mine less than 5 times a year. Most of those will be a few hours if that, usually if I have a passenger as egress would have to be roadside otherwise.
Maybe once of twice I'll leave it parked overnight but a rarity and also 1100kg.
Sure, it'll not be the right solution for everybody but for my light usage it's done the trick!
I'll probably use mine less than 5 times a year. Most of those will be a few hours if that, usually if I have a passenger as egress would have to be roadside otherwise.
Maybe once of twice I'll leave it parked overnight but a rarity and also 1100kg.
Sure, it'll not be the right solution for everybody but for my light usage it's done the trick!
Edited by Rick101 on Friday 20th May 15:50
Rick101 said:
Ahh yes, that's definitely a much bigger job!
I'll probably use the grass less than 5 times a year. Most of those will be a few hours if that, usually if I have a passenger as egress would have to be roadside otherwise.
Maybe once of twice I'll leave it parked overnight but a rarity and also 1100kg.
Sure, it'll not be the right solution for everybody but for my light usage it's done the trick!
For so little use it will be fine I'm sure, and even if it isnt with low cost you just re-do it.I'll probably use the grass less than 5 times a year. Most of those will be a few hours if that, usually if I have a passenger as egress would have to be roadside otherwise.
Maybe once of twice I'll leave it parked overnight but a rarity and also 1100kg.
Sure, it'll not be the right solution for everybody but for my light usage it's done the trick!
Edited by Rick101 on Friday 20th May 15:49
Looks interesting
I have a 2 car long driveway, double width at roadside. Making 3. Double width dropped kerb.
I need 3 places for recent extension & loss of garage that a 21st century car wouldn’t fit in to. For planning.
Now the drive/front garden is trashed by 3 months of skips
So rather than paying out for a complete new driveway I’d rather get the 2 car length done + this to restore green area that could be used occasionally
Will look better & save a couple of K!
After signoff
I have a 2 car long driveway, double width at roadside. Making 3. Double width dropped kerb.
I need 3 places for recent extension & loss of garage that a 21st century car wouldn’t fit in to. For planning.
Now the drive/front garden is trashed by 3 months of skips
So rather than paying out for a complete new driveway I’d rather get the 2 car length done + this to restore green area that could be used occasionally
Will look better & save a couple of K!
After signoff
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 21st May 23:42
Rick101 said:
I'd not heard of this stuff before - so thanks for posting.You might not know if only using a few times a years, but does it help spread the load a bit to prevent ruts forming?
I keep considering something like this for the 1-car-sized patch of grass in front of my house - however as it is literally only the size of a car then I'd have the wheels running in the same line each time, so thinking that it might sink and ruts forming. I occasionally drive over the grass in different lines to try and compact it in preparation!
C-J said:
You might not know if only using a few times a years, but does it help spread the load a bit to prevent ruts forming?
No. A friend used it for a couple of years and while it did allow the car tyres to get grip you got train-tracks where the wheels went, and it got very muddy as well. Looked a mess to be honest and as soon as he could afford it was ripped up and a proper driveway made. Taking it up was an issue in itself, as it broke into smaller pieces which were all half buried. The solid frames are much better as they take the weight of the vehicle.
Condi said:
C-J said:
You might not know if only using a few times a years, but does it help spread the load a bit to prevent ruts forming?
No. A friend used it for a couple of years and while it did allow the car tyres to get grip you got train-tracks where the wheels went, and it got very muddy as well. Looked a mess to be honest and as soon as he could afford it was ripped up and a proper driveway made. Taking it up was an issue in itself, as it broke into smaller pieces which were all half buried. The solid frames are much better as they take the weight of the vehicle.
We have two areas of grass that I park boats on at times.
One gets muddy, the other does not.
The muddy bit has poorer drainage and deeper soil.
If the ground is firm and well drained, the mesh only has to hold the surface together.
If the ground is soft, the weight of the car (or boat) will put big loads on the mesh.
I had originally planned to use it a bit more with two vehicles but I decided to throw all my money into one ridiculous car so it's only used occasionally.
I had parked on the grass without the mesh and even driving off gently the torque would tear up the roots and I think that's what quickly starts a quagmire.
Whilst it's not the strongest or most permanent solution, it works great for me and was within a price range I was happy with.
The mesh will spread the load a little but I think it's main feature is reinforcing the top layer and protecting the roots.
They do sell different sizes which supposedly work better for heavier use or heavier vehicles though I'm not sure I'd ever want a 2T+ vehicle on grass for a duration.
I might grass park a bit more over the next month or so and take some pics for your entertainment.
p.s should add when I do grass park it's in the same position, same lines each time.
I had parked on the grass without the mesh and even driving off gently the torque would tear up the roots and I think that's what quickly starts a quagmire.
Whilst it's not the strongest or most permanent solution, it works great for me and was within a price range I was happy with.
The mesh will spread the load a little but I think it's main feature is reinforcing the top layer and protecting the roots.
They do sell different sizes which supposedly work better for heavier use or heavier vehicles though I'm not sure I'd ever want a 2T+ vehicle on grass for a duration.
I might grass park a bit more over the next month or so and take some pics for your entertainment.
p.s should add when I do grass park it's in the same position, same lines each time.
Rick101 said:
p.s should add when I do grass park it's in the same position, same lines each time.
You could have cut your costs dramatically then!The other approach to this is to work out where you're going to use it and pave just that bit. If you were a bit creative with design and planting I think you could hide the fact that the paving would look out of place and get a decent compromise.
What about some raised flower beds, except the wall is where you park the car and there's a ramp built into the bed? You'd need to plant fairly low, non woody stuff, so strawberries?
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