ACO selected to provide discreet drainage for innovative garden design

ACO selected to provide discreet drainage for innovative garden design

Langlea Garden Design and Construction, a specialist in bespoke residential garden design and residential projects, turned to ACO to supply a drainage system to ensure the landscape design is built-to-last.

Outdoor space is an increasingly sought-after commodity, with research suggesting that a well-kept stylish garden can add as much as 20% to a property’s value. Installing effective drainage is integral to the long-term health of a garden.

Langlea Garden Design and Construction take a sophisticated bottom-up approach that seeks to deliver gardens that don’t just look good, but are built to last. Integral to the longevity and health of a landscaping project is its drainage, which is why it must be considered from an early stage.

The key role of drainage

The primary role of drainage in gardens is to prevent rainwater from collecting and causing damage to the structural integrity of landscape features. It essentially serves as a ‘behind the scenes’ function, which ensures that the outdoor space continues to be usable.

Oliver Collins, Product Marketing Manager, Building and Landscape at ACO Water Management, comments: “Drainage is something that should be considered in the earliest stages of landscape design, as careful positioning is crucial to its performance. By factoring in drainage channels right from the outset, landscape designers can ensure that gardens continue to look great, even when the weather isn’t.

Drainage shouldn’t be viewed in opposition to pleasant aesthetics. With a number of discreet options and a variety of designs and finishes available, it should contribute to the look of a garden.

For a number of its projects, Langlea has opted for ACO’s HexDrain® Brickslot drainage, owing to its discreet finish which doesn’t impinge on the overall design of the garden. In projects such as Line and Pocket Oasis, the HexDrain® Brickslot quietly manages water flow without drawing the eye.

Francesca Sideris, Co-owner of Langlea, said: “We use ACO products on a number of our projects, predominantly due to the versatility it offers for the wide range of landscape styles we produce. The ‘Complete the Look’ offering is a brilliant example of this, which allows us to easily match gratings to the surroundings.

But we also know that while looking good, the drainage has to perform to a level that ensures the ongoing health of the garden. We have found the HexDrain® Brickslot is not only extremely durable, but it has been very reliable across a number of our projects, which for us is key, especially as our clients often request premium designs.

Swimming pools are another landscaping feature that benefit from effective drainage. Francesca explains: “We worked on a project called Fracture, which involved a heated swimming pool in the back garden. Drainage was essential to prevent rainwater running from the patio into the pool, as this would result in unwanted substances entering the water.

Once more, we turned to the ACO HexDrain® Brickslot for its discretion and versatility. This helped us to create the impression that the pool merged seamlessly into the rest of the garden, meaning we could protect the pool from surface water without detracting from the overall design.

Installation considerations

Alongside performance and aesthetic appeal, drainage needs to be straightforward to install. The HexDrain® Brickslot is compatible with most surface finishes, and the vertical sides of the grating enable pavements to be laid directly to the unit’s edge.

Lea Sideris, Co-Owner of Langlea comments: “The versatility of ACO’s HexDrain® Brickslot means that installation is never an issue. This is crucial for a project with lots of moving parts, as getting the drainage right at the very beginning sets an ideal foundation for the rest of the build to follow.

The fact that ACO is such a big name in drainage means that it is well-stocked everywhere. In circumstances where existing drainage needs changing or extending, this is crucial in keeping lead times to a minimum.

Oliver concludes: “It’s great to see that drainage is increasingly being considered at the early stages of design. When companies, such as Langlea Garden Design and Construction, utilise our drainage as part of their award-winning projects, it sends a message to the rest of the construction industry that drainage doesn’t have to be a cursory after-thought."

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ACO Technologies plc

ACO Technologies plc

ACO's award-winning innovation and dedicated expertise has gained a reputation for protecting environments. With global research facilities spanning four continents and over 3,500 employees, ACO combine a rich heritage with the latest technologies to...
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