The Ultimate Guide to X-Grid Ground Reinforcement Grid System
In the first of our product spotlight series, we’ll be taking a closer look at X-Grid, a 100% UK recycled plastic ground reinforcement grid. Together we will discover all of X-Grid’s many benefits, its numerous applications, how it is manufactured, the installation process and some real life X-Grid case studies to help you visualise how to use our grid and how effective it can prove to be when used.
About X-Grid
X-Grid is perfect for creating strong, long-lasting, low-maintenance, SuDs compliant and wheelchair friendly surfaces that are simple to install, ideal for an incredibly wide range of applications.
With such a large void ratio, our grid can also be filled with a number of different materials including loose gravel, resin bound gravel, soil & seed, tree bark and more, to achieve a finish suitable for any upcoming project you have.
The following range of benefits make our ground reinforcement and gravel retention grid an incredibly sought after product for surfacing and landscaping professionals as well as DIYers;
Market-leading strength – X-Grid is able to withstand up to 428 tonnes per m² when unfilled.
Simple installation – X-Grid is lightweight and easy to handle, weighing under 5kg per square metre and features integral slot and peg connections which allows one person to install up to 100m² in just one hour.
Low maintenance – Prevents material migration and requires little upkeep which in turn produces huge cost benefits for commercial & domestic car parking.
Weather & UV resistant – X-Grid is able to withstand all weather types and temperatures from -50°C to +90°C without rotting or degrading and able to resist the effects of UV weathering without changing colour and becoming brittle.
Environmentally friendly – Each piece of X-Grid is manufactured here in the UK from entirely recycled plastic waste and can be recycled at the end of its working life.
Made in Britain – X-Grid has been awarded the prestigious ‘Made in Britain’ certification as it is designed and manufactured in the UK using domestic plastic waste meaning it is a 100% British product.
SuDs compliant – Thanks to the unique open cell design, each piece of grid is permeable and allows water to drain away naturally into the ground below which in turn helps to reduce surface water build-up.
Versatile – X-Grid can be used for an incredibly wide range of applications from car parks to driveways to access routes to pathways and so much more,
DDA Compliant – Our grid is perfect for providing access to wheelchair users across both gravel and grass areas ensuring all projects and installations can meet DDA compliance.
How Can X-Grid Be used?
Simply, X-Grid can be used in so many ways, it is one of the most versatile building and surfacing products available on the market today. The unique design and manufacture help to produce the benefits previously mentioned to make it the ideal product for creating strong, migration free and permeable surfaces.
From commercial car parks to driveways to access routes to livestock areas and more, the possibilities are almost endless. Here are just a few of the applications that X-Grid can be used for:
Car parking – Perfect for both commercial car parks and domestic driveways. To see examples of this, read the Belper School X-Grid car park case study and West Bridgford driveway case studies.
Landscaping – Create pathways, walkways, grass roads, embankments and a whole host of other landscaped areas.
Access routes – Ideal for events and off-road locations such as holiday parks to provide access for visitors and emergency vehicles at all times.
Golf and leisure – Create all-weather surfaces such as buggy paths, winter walkways, fishing swims and more.
Gardens – Used as quality foundations for garden buildings such as sheds, log cabins, summerhouses & can also be used as a base for hot tubs and swim spas.
Equestrian and farms – Ideal paving or surfacing a range of locations including paddocks, tracks, feeding areas, gateways, exercise areas and more.
You can learn more by browsing all of our case studies or by reading our X-Grid Case Studies Brochure.
How to install X-Grid
X-Grid installations may vary slightly from project to project depending on the size, application or if being installed on a gradient. However, most will follow these simple installation steps to help you easily create a strong and SuDs compliant surface:
1. Mark the area to be excavated and dig down to an appropriate depth dependent on the intended use.
2. Install the perimeter edging which is substantial enough to retain grid installation. This will help to eliminate lateral movement of the surface.
3. Backfill by compacting MoT type 1 or 3 in layers of 50mm to a final depth of 150mm.
4. Lay and secure a sheet of geotextile membrane across the entirety of MoT sub-base. Ensure the membrane is flat to the surface by securing it to the ground using fixing pegs or pins.
5. Lay a 5-10mm thick layer of sharp sand to the entire area in order to level it out. This creates a granular bedding for the grid to sit on.
6. On the fully formed sub-base begin laying the X-Grid reinforcement grids. Start in one corner and lay one panel at a time, connecting each X-Grid panel using the slot and peg snap connection.
7. It can be cut using a hand or power saw in order to fit into your specified area or to navigate around obstructions and curves. Your X-Grid panels can be firmed into place using a light vibrating whacker plate.
8. Fill X-Grid will gravel or aggregate. This is preferable to a 10-20mm diameter, well graded, clean and angular material. Fully rounded ‘pea shingle’ is not recommended due to probable migration of the gravel.
9. Compact the surface of X-Grid using a light vibratory whacker.
10. To accommodate any low areas, refill these spots with gravel or compact again until a satisfactory finish is made. X-Grid can then be used immediately.
Alternatively you can download our Technical Installation Guide here.
X-Grid Case Study: Domestic Driveways
X-Grid is our best-selling product thanks to its many benefits, being permeable, porous, SUDS compliant and abiding by all water management laws and regulations. It is also extremely strong and will therefore protect and reinforce the ground while also encouraging natural drainage.
The characteristics of X-Grid means it is ideal for domestic driveways. In this image you can see how these homeowners chose 40sqm of green X-Grid and used beautiful, decorative gravel to pack it tightly to produce a stunning gravel driveway.
The cellular composition of X-Grid makes them perfect for preventing the displacement of gravel while allowing effective drainage.
A domestic drive is both the first and last thing any guests, visitors of potential buyers will see. Using X-Grid means gravel will be retained, ensuring the front of the house looks neat and tidy all year round.
X-Grid Case Study: Commercial Car Parks
The increased need for parking at locations including festivals, sports venues, shopping centres and establishments mean often staff, visitors and facility users find themselves having to park on grassed areas.
At this school in Belper, parking on grass led to a number of muddy patches around the school grounds. This affected the aesthetics of the school and made the site increasingly inaccessible. This increased the school’s cost with greater need for caretaking and cleaning staff.
To help alleviate drainage issues and as a more ecologically friendly alternative to concrete or tarmac, the school decided to use X-Grid as a permeable alternative to traditional car parking surfacing.
After excavating a number of areas around the school which had been identified for the car parking, a compacted hardcore base of MoT type stone was used to provide X-Grid with a strong and stable sub-base.
By laying a geotextile membrane over this, they reduced the risk of weeds and added separation between build-up layers. The X-Grid was then laid on top of a well screeded sand blinding layer and filled with robust, decorative gravel.
By using X-Grid, the school created a permeable and substantial parking area for both students and visitors. Being simple to install and requiring little maintenance, time and money was saved for the school!
X-Grid Case Study: Camping and Leisure
The X-Grid is also commonly used in the camping and leisure industries. Here you will see how Park Avenue Holiday Village used X-Grid to solve the issue they were facing as many visitors drove around the park to get to their holiday homes.
The traffic around grassed areas of the park meant that the ground had become muddy, with constant foot traffic adding to the issue. The park identified X-Grid as the solution to their muddy patches and created grasses access routes around the park.
The contractors first excavated the ground, removing the top surface and down to a suitable depth. A ground stabilisation mesh was installed with the sub-base in order to help add more strength and stability to the soil base. This was then topped with a depth of MoT hardcore which forms a solid base and a geotextile membrane acts to keep individual layers separate.
X-Grid was laid following a binding layer of sharp sand. It was filled with a mix of soil and grass seed. The gras area then formed grass access routes which could be used all year long.
In contrast to previous years, grass roads do not rut or become muddy. X-Grid is almost invisible while providing a solid and stable surface for many years to come. The grass can be mowed over without any hinderance allowing for ride-on lawnmowers to maintain access routes quickly and effectively.
Find out more
You may still have some questions regarding X-Grid or any of our other products, if so please do not hesitate to contact us. You can call us on 01246 418144 or LiveChat with us during office hours, outside of these times leave us a message and we will be in touch upon our return.