Case Study Brief
The Installation Challenge
The 1,300 m² guesthouse driveway in Constantia needed a stable gravel finish suited to daily vehicle movements and the property’s landscape. Base levels, perimeter restraint and transitions had to support a consistent surface without relying on loose gravel alone. Drainage depended on the supporting pavement and ground conditions.
BERA Gravel Fix® Pro was installed over the prepared base, with cellular panels trimmed to the driveway geometry, gravel infill and EcoEdge detailing. The installation coordinated base preparation, panel placement, filling and finishing as one surface system.
Installation Sequence
Prepare the supporting base
Establish the required formation, compacted base and finished levels for the expected traffic and site drainage conditions.
Place and trim cellular panels
Lay BERA Gravel Fix® Pro panels on the prepared surface, maintain the integrated geotextile continuity and trim around boundaries and interfaces.
Install edging and gravel infill
Secure the perimeter edging and fill the cells with the specified gravel, distributing the infill evenly across the panels.
Compact, finish and inspect
Complete compaction and surface finishing; review edge restraint, gravel cover, levels and the drainage arrangement before handover.
Field Quality Assurance (QA/QC) Checklist
Quality checks recorded on this installation.
Products Used in Project
Products supplied and installed on this project.
Specification Conformity & Lab Verification
Key properties compared with the project specification.
| Property | Test Method | Specification Minimum | Delivered Value (Average) | Margin Above Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed panel vertical strength | Manufacturer brochure | Not a project acceptance criterion | >450 t/m²; depends on gravel | Manufacturer reference only |
| Attached geotextile | Manufacturer brochure | Typar membrane | DuPont™ Typar®; 68 g/m² | Manufacturer reference only |
| Environmental data | Published EPD | Applicable variant declaration | White and grey Gravel Fix EPDs published | Verify applicable declaration |
| Cell depth | Manufacturer brochure | Pro model | 32 mm | Manufacturer reference only |
| UV and frost resistance | Manufacturer brochure | Product property | UV and frost resistant | Manufacturer reference only |
| Permeable surface | Site drainage design | Site-specific | Depends on foundation, soil and outlet | Not a measured project result |
“We were told we would have to choose between the gravel look we wanted and a surface that actually worked. Geosynthetics Africa proved that wrong. Peak season of guests, deliveries and winter rain later, the driveway looks exactly as it did on handover - no ruts, no weeds, nothing washing away. Our guests simply see gravel. We see a surface that has stopped costing us maintenance.
