Saturday 5 March 2016

Paving and steps

I decided to make my life simple and just grey paint any pavement or step areas as I could not figure out a way to finish them without adding weight.  The versi bricks and slates are great and there is some flooring in the range but not grey versi paving stones.  Richard Stacey sells lovely real stone slabs but, as I said, it would add weight to an already heavy front.

I painted all the 'grey' areas very carefully and beautifully and then came up with this wheeze which I think looks OK.  It would look even better if I could 'dirty' it up and add moss and the odd weed.  Not a talent I have.......... as yet........nothing stopping me doing it much later in my house's life when I have nothing else to do.  I wish someone would do a 'dirty-it-up' class.


ashlar stone paper

cut into individual slabs and trimmed to size


border adhesive

If I am sticking any papers on my house I always use border adhesive.  Any make will do.  To be honest I think it is just PVA glue but it does seem silkier somehow?  Whatever it is, it is very strong and will bond the heaviest paper to wood or painted wood. Think this one was the cheapest B & Q sell but I am not sure about that as I have had it a long time.



I think the steps and pavement look much better 'slabbed' than they did painted:


slabbed steps

Notice that the pediments either side of the door now stand on the step.  Imagine if I hadn't added the step how odd they would look just floating around, not to mention an accident waiting to happen every time you stepped out of the door.

pretty good pavement???

top slab and front edge are made with separate papers so I could get in a full width slab

6 comments:

  1. I think that's a fab idea. Why stress yourself out over something like steps? It might not have been your first choice but after a wee bit time you'll forget that and just enjoy the overall look which is what it's all about anyway!

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    1. You hit the nail on the head Irene. I get bogged down in detail and at the end of the day it is more about first impression than anything else with this hobby. I have finished the front of the house and the paving seen against everything else that is going on becomes very unimportant. Nice to see you.

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  2. Looks much better than I would have though for just a paper effect. Cutting them out was a great idea and I think makes all the difference. I've used the Richard Stacey Pavement slabs for a small area of a shop front and they looks great but they are very heavy!

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    1. They will certainly do for now (long term) I am planning on keeping this house, unlike its three predecessors, so I can imagine undoing and re-doing all kinds of things I am not 'thrilled' with as time goes by. Glad you dropped in.

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  3. Hi Marilyn! What a Terrific Special Effect this is!!! I am all for taking the easy way whenever possible because it is often just as effective as something more elaborate and/or time consuming. Your stone steps look so Real and the way that you have carried the stone over the edge to look as if it is a thick heavy slab, looks MARVELOUS! You had me fooled and so perhaps it is YOU who should be teaching a class! :D

    elizabeth

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    1. High praise indeed. Thank you. As I said it will certainly do for now - its all about effect at the moment and I may tweak and refine some time in the future.

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