Instructions & Warnings

Tobermore is a BS EN ISO 9001, BS EN ISO 14001 and BES 6001 registered company. Tobermore uses an integrated management system to manage all health & safety and environmental issues.

Within Tobermore, design and development of products is a continuing process, and product information is subject to change without notice. Accordingly, please check with Tobermore to ensure that the product information you have represents the most up-to-date product information.

The full quantity of product required should be ordered at the same time. Additional material subsequently ordered may delay the completion of your project and is likely to be from a different production batch and there may be a shading difference.

Where circumstances allow it will be beneficial to take receipt of as many bricks / blocks as possible at an early stage to maximise colour consistency throughout the project.

Please ensure the area is measured accurately on site before ordering products. In Tobermore’s experience, dimensions taken from a project drawing / plan can vary significantly from the final layout.

Depending on the layout of the project, we recommend ordering up to an additional 5% of material to allow for cutting, detailing and wastage.

Where a project or design requires large amounts of cutting (for instance when creating curves) rather than an open area this may increase the amount of product wastage.

Tobermore will ship your products on the date agreed.

All products should be carefully inspected for defects or damage upon delivery and prior to being installed.

In the unlikely event you have any issues with your order, please contact your supplier immediately with the product and batch code that are printed on the packaging and explain your concerns to them.

Product (s) deemed not in compliance with the relevant manufacturing standards or customer expectations must be raised within 48 hours of delivery and product should not be used. Any costs to rectify issues will be the responsibility of the user should the defect have been apparent before installation.

Due to loading, unloading, transport and site handling Tobermore deem that the industry norm of up to 5% damages may occur. Products with minor damages can be used for cuts and detailing.

Tobermore produces products with excellent density and durability. All products are manufactured in batches using naturally extracted raw materials including aggregates, granite aggregates, pigments and cement etc.

Like other products such as wallpaper and carpet our products are manufactured in batches, therefore there can be slight variations in colour and shade between and within batches. Whilst we have several factory procedures in place to help control colour and shade, we cannot guarantee consistency, this applies to all concrete products within the industry. This is due to the natural materials used. We would advise that you take this into consideration. Slight variations can enhance the character and natural beauty of the products.

Lansdowne Facing Bricks and Tegula are manufactured using a secondary process that distresses the edges and corners of the product to give the desired aged antique appearance. The process randomly distresses the product; therefore, some may be more distressed than others, this is completely normal and does not affect the product performance.

Some of our products undergo secondary processes such as texturing and grinding. The nature of these processes may result in slight variations in the texture / finish of individual units. These slight variations will not affect the product performance.

Prior to opening the packs check that all the batch code labels match. The batch code labels can be found on the outer packaging. For example, 02D21D.

It is good practice to sort products to ensure consistency of colour, texture and dimensional tolerance. Any defects must be reported without delay and product should not be installed. Any uplift and relaying costs will be the responsibility of the installer should the defect have been apparent before installation.

All products should be installed in accordance with the latest British Standard.

Installation of the product constitutes your acceptance of the product received.

Tobermore cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred to rectify issues caused by the installation of different batches or colour blending issues after the installation is complete.

Please note that the colour of new products will inevitably vary compared to those that have been installed for a period of time as weathering does take place.

All product imagery is as accurate as the printing process will allow. Colours and textures illustrated are representations and therefore should not be expected to be an exact match.

For a more accurate colour match please refer to actual product samples, which can be provided.

When packaging is removed to access products, any remaining product must be re-covered with appropriate packaging to prevent secondary efflorescence, discolouration or staining.

Tobermore cannot be held responsible for waste due to uncovered products.

Whilst we strive to ensure consistency, ancillary products such as Kerb Specials, Step Slabs / risers, Facing Brick specials, Secura corner blocks, Garden Stone corner blocks and copings may not be an exact colour / texture or shade match to the standard version of the product as they will have been manufactured at varying times using different processes.

Occasionally, after installation, some units may show variations in shade and have a patchy appearance. This is due to the varying amounts of moisture within the concrete and the ground. The drying out process of concrete continues in-situ after installation. Some units may also retain more moisture than neighbouring units and take longer to dry out. This is caused by the variations in density of the naturally extracted aggregates used in the manufacturing process. Given time and natural weathering, the capillaries within the surface of the concrete will gradually close and any patches or moisture retention will dissipate as the product matures. This does not affect long-term performance.

Efflorescence is a crystalline deposit that occurs naturally on the surface of concrete materials. It usually appears as a white deposit but can also be brown or yellow in appearance. Tobermore use market-leading technology to significantly suppress the occurrence of efflorescence, however, if it occurs, it may mask the colour of the product for a period of time but tends to be washed away gradually by rain. Tobermore do not replace products with efflorescence. Packs of products which have had packaging removed should always be re-covered with appropriate packaging to prevent the occurrence of secondary efflorescence.

Minor scuffs or bruises may occur during loading, unloading, transport, site handling and installation (for example, during the plate vibrating process). In Tobermore’s experience, these marks usually weather off as the product matures.

To reduce the risk of surface scratches we strongly recommend the use of a vibrating plate with a rubber protective mat.

Please refer to Tobermore’s detailed Walling & Masonry Brochure.

To achieve a quality finish which is visually consistent and evenly distributes any slight variations in shade, colour and texture over the entire project area the following is recommended in accordance with established good practice.

1. A suitable site reference panel should be built prior to commencement of brickwork in order to provide a fair representation of the finished brick appearance.
2. Brick panels should be viewed from a distance of three metres. This is sufficient to reliably compare the aesthetic characteristics of the full delivery of facing bricks with the approved reference panel.
3. When building a one-off unit or wall, select products from the same batch.
4. This can be achieved by checking the batch code labels displayed on the packs.
5. Although products are preblended in their packs, bricklayers should always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously. This is standard industry best practice as stated in the British Standard Code of Practice for Masonry BS8000 Part 3: Workmanship on building sites states “To achieve a good blend, units should be loaded out from at least three packs.
6. For upper lifts, loading bays need to accommodate at least three packs, if blending cannot take place on the ground.
7. A balance of bricks from a previous load should be kept prior to another load arriving so that a continuous blend is maintained throughout the brickwork. This applies equally to both blended and solid colours.
8. House Builders / Developers should allocate products from the same batch to specific plots.
9. When products are supplied in packs with vertical slices always select the product vertically and diagonally slice by slice as this ensures colours, shades and textures are distributed evenly over the entire installation.

When products from different batches are installed in one area it will be more difficult to achieve a consistent finish. Therefore, we would advise that you take this into consideration and follow our guidance for “Achieving a quality finish”.

Where products from different batches are being installed in the same area it is the installers responsibility to carry out a colour match check by comparing colours from each batch. If a noticeable variance in colour / shade or texture is visible, do not proceed with the installation and contact your supplier for further guidance.

Irrespective of the product colour always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously with some overlap between batches / deliveries to minimise any possible colour banding /shading.

The overall visual appearance of a completed installation should only be assessed from the normal viewing distance. Variations in colour/shade and texture are technically harmless, do not affect the products performance and are not deemed to be a product defect.

1. NHBC recommends that walls constructed of concrete masonry units should have vertical movement joints included every 6m to allow for drying/shrinkage, see PD6697:2019, maximum ratio for brickwork panels is to be 3:1 length: height. PD6697:2019 gives advice on joint positions, the benefit of brickwork reinforcement at window openings is also covered in the same document. Movement joints should be planned prior to commencing any construction to enable them to be concealed behind down pipes etc. and ensure the aesthetics of buildings are maintained.
2. It is important to ensure that the mortar specified for the construction is suitable for the contract, see table 15 of PD6697:2019 – class M4 is the maximum recommended for normal external masonry walls. This should not be exceeded when using Tobermore Concrete facing bricks and Country Stone Walling.
3. We would recommend that you discuss this guidance with all parties involved in the design, construction and installation of the scheme. We also recommend that you refer to BS EN 1996-1-1 and PD6697:2019.
4. Specific professional advice should be obtained at all times before commencing building work.

1. Professional advice, specific to the project, should be sought before commencement of the building work.
2. Tobermore Facing Bricks have different properties to clay bricks especially in relation to moisture movement. Please refer to Tobermore’s detailed Walling & Masonry brochure, which is available on request or at www.tobermore.co.uk.
3. Tobermore recommends that vertical movement joints be spaced at no more than 6m apart. Panels of brickwork where the length: height ratio exceeds 3 are particularly vulnerable to cracking; if they cannot be avoided, they should include movement joints at closer centres.
4. Movement joints should be planned prior to any construction so that they can be concealed behind drainpipes etc. Further guidance on moisture movement is available in Tobermore’s detailed Walling & Masonry brochure and BSI documents BSEN 1996 (Eurocode 6) and PD 6697 (Recommendations for Design).
5. It is important to ensure that the mortar specified is suitable for the construction, see Table 15 of PD 6697. Mortar of strength class M4 will generally be suitable. Please refer to Tobermore’s detailed Walling & Masonry brochure, which is available on request or at www.tobermore.co.uk.
6. When building with dissimilar materials allowances should be made for differential movement. Design guidance from a structural engineer should be sought when combining dissimilar materials such as clay and concrete facing bricks. Examples of using dissimilar materials would be where a clay brick is used to build up to the dpc level and then Tobermore concrete facing bricks are used above the dpc. In some circumstances the dpc acts as a slip plane to separate the two materials which helps to dissipate tensile stress. However, expert guidance should always be sought as to ensure structural stability as further slip planes or bed reinforcement may need to be incorporated into the design.
7. It is recommended that this guidance is discussed with all persons involved in the design and construction of the building work.

Tobermore’s Country Stone walling product is designed to recreate traditional stone sizes and to co-ordinate with standard cavity wall construction. When used in housing projects, a clear cavity must be retained.

All work must be protected during construction and must be designed and built in accordance with accepted industry standards and practice. Builders familiar with conventional brickwork will find that similar installation principles apply.

Joints can be finished flush or tooled depending on the overall effect required. Raked joints are not recommended. It is vital that all horizontal and vertical joints between Country Stone blocks must be compacted and free from voids. Shell bedding should not be used.

• If mortar dries on the surface of the bricks, it will stain the product and may be difficult to remove.
• Mortar extruding from joints should be removed when the mortar is wet and during the process of laying.
• Any mortar smears on the brick surface should be removed by dry or wet brushing.
• Scaffolding should be installed as per regulatory instructions. Please note that mortar can drop and hit the scaffolding and then also go onto the wall. You should inspect the work area at all times to ensure the brick surface remains mortar free.
• When it rains be careful that any wet mortar on the scaffolding does not get ‘splashed’ onto the wall.
• When work stops or is interrupted by inclement weather conditions, brickwork should be protected immediately with polythene sheeting that is held in place with a suitable fixing. If new brickwork is not protected efflorescence, patchy mortar colour, patchy brickwork and staining can occur.
• Bricks should always be covered with a suitable covering and held securely in place to avoid getting damp or dirty when not being used.

It is always important to keep bricks as clean as possible while laying and tooling. See Good Practice during Construction.

• If mortar has been allowed to dry on the surface of the bricks the options, you have to clean it off are as follows; Each process should be tested first and should ensure the facing bricks are not damaged – a. Dry brushing b. Wet brushing c. Using a ‘like coloured’ brick to rub the stained brick d. Pressure washing – should only be used as a last resort as it will damage the surface and the mortar joint if not completed correctly (this method cannot be attempted until the area has been allowed to set for a minimum of 7 days).
• Acid cleaning should be avoided.

To achieve a quality finish which is visually consistent and evenly distributes any slight variations in shade, colour and texture over the entire project area the following is recommended in accordance with established good practice.

1. Complete one project / area by using products from the same batch.
2. This can be achieved by checking the batch code labels displayed on the packs.
3. Always, thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously. This applies equally to both blended and solid colours such as Golden, Buff, Natural, Jet Black, Charcoal, Graphite, Silver, Mid-Grey, Sandstone, Oat, Alto Silver, Arran Stone, Jura Grey and Innis Black.
4. When products are supplied in packs with vertical slices always select the product vertically and diagonally slice by slice as this ensures colours, shades and textures are distributed evenly over the entire installation. See images 1 & 2.

Image 1 – Select blocks by working diagonally down through each slice of the pack.

Image 2 – Select blocks from a minimum of three packs

During installation the installer must make regular visual checks to ensure the blending of colours is consistent. Before the final compaction and brushing in of the kiln dried sand a final check should be made and any areas where colour blending has not been achieved should be rectified by lifting out and relocating units to achieve the desired blend. Adjustments at this stage is always quicker and easier. Once the paving has been compacted and sanded any adjustments will be much more difficult, time consuming and expensive.

Example of poorly blended blocks

Blocks have been laid from one pack rather than mixing from three packs causing patches where one colour is predominant.

Example of poorly blended blocks

Blocks have been selected from one layer rather than vertically and diagonally from one slice causing a patch of dark coloured blocks.

When products from different batches are installed in one area it will be more difficult to achieve a consistent finish. Therefore, we would advise that you take this into consideration and follow our guidance for “Achieving a quality finish”.

Where products from different batches are being installed in the same area it is the installers responsibility to carry out a colour match check by comparing colours from each batch. If a noticeable variance in colour / shade or texture is visible, do not proceed with the installation and contact your supplier for further guidance.

To minimise any possible colour banding /shading when products from different batches are being installed, always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously with some overlap between batches / deliveries.

Irrespective of the product colour always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously with some overlap between batches / deliveries to minimise any possible colour banding /shading.

The overall visual appearance of a completed installation should only be assessed from the normal viewing distance. Variations in colour/shade and texture are technically harmless, do not affect the products performance and are not deemed to be a product defect.

When paving is installed using the unbound method the joints should have a close joint width of 2-5mm to allow for the dimensional tolerances of products, to create a gap to allow the brushing in of kiln-dried jointing sand and to prevent spalling (chipping). The straightness of lines will be dependent on workmanship and product tolerances. String lines must be used to achieve straight lines.

Tobermore do not recommend “Butt” jointing which is when adjacent units are installed touching as this will cause spalling and makes achieving straight lines more difficult.

Some chemicals that are commonly used in gardens such as lawn feed containing Ferrous Sulphate can stain concrete products. Any chemicals that are spilt must be removed immediately by rinsing away with clean water. Please check the information on the instruction label of the container holding the chemical.

Routine cleaning and maintenance is required to keep the overall appearance of products in pristine condition.

All concrete products can develop algae, lichen, and moss growths due to environmental conditions and may require cleaning. Areas adjacent to plant borders and trees may discolour from the transfer of plant life. Tobermore cannot accept responsibility for any of these conditions.

Light coloured paving blocks and slabs emphasise tyre marks and oil spills on the driveway. Please note that these products will need more maintenance if the overall appearance is to be maintained.

When an area has just been paved, allow it to settle for a few days. After this, you may wish to lightly hose down the paving to remove any excess sand or dirt. The area should then be treated with a weed killer suppressant 2-3 times per year as required.

Paving requires regular maintenance, including regular sweeping to prevent the build-up of detritus. Tobermore recommends that paving is cleaned 2-3 times per year.

For general cleaning of dirt, vigorous brushing with a stiff yard brush and plenty of hot detergent solution should suffice. Then thoroughly rinse with clean water. Repeated treatment may be required for paved areas sited beneath trees or in permanent/ near permanent shade.

A light power hose at medium pressure is generally all that is required to clean general dirt and grime. Any jointing material which is removed must be replaced. Do not use high pressure power washers as aggressive power-washing can damage the product surface. A trial area should be tested before large scale power washing takes place.

Thick growths of moss or lichen must be removed first by scraping out the joints and then treating the area with a moss killing product suitable for concrete paving. These are best applied in dry weather. After being applied it will usually take a few days to be fully effective. Once the moss and lichens have been killed, they can easily be brushed off. Some moss killing products also leave a residue in the sand joint which will help reduce the likelihood of re-growth. The manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed when using any cleaning product.

Large weeds should be removed by hand and then the area treated with a weed killer (available from any good garden centre). Smaller weeds can then be treated directly with weed killer and these weeds should start to die within days. The manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed when using any weed killing agent.

Sealers which combat staining, weed growth and which also enhance colour may be used on paving products.

There are many different types of sealers available to purchase from specialist companies. Acrylic and Polyurethane paving sealers are considered the best. Sealers should be BS 5750 & ISO9000 approved.

New paving: Each sealer manufacturer will have their own guidelines for when and how to apply their sealer; however, it is very important to allow any moisture or efflorescence present to disappear before sealing. This can take anywhere between two and six months. Both the paving and the jointing material should be completely dry prior to applying any sealer.

Old paving: Old existing paving must be completely washed prior to sealing. Allow two weeks after cleaning before applying a sealer and ensure that both the paving and the jointing material are completely dry prior to applying any sealer. If any jointing material is washed out of the joints during the cleaning process, top up joints with new material prior to sealing the paving.

IMPORTANT: Specialist sealers are required for Hydropave permeable paving products.

Tobermore recommends that its Hydropave products are designed and installed in accordance with the latest BS 7533 guidance.

Note: A permeable paving design relies heavily on using the correct aggregates. Prior to installation, we would ask you to test both the 4/20mm coarse graded aggregate and also the 6.3-2mm bedding and jointing grit as per the relevant British Standard specification (BS EN 13242:2002). In particular, the material should be categorised as LA20 according to Table 9, SZ18 according to Table 10 and MDE15 according to Table 11 within this standard. The grit should be insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid and should be naturally occurring material. In our experience, incorrect use of aggregates is one of the most common reasons for failure of a permeable paving system.

All joints must be filled to the top with 6.3 – 2mm grit to prevent movement and spalling of the blocks. We recommend that after a few weeks use, any joints which have settled and are not full, are topped up with grit. Joints should be kept filled at all times. You will need approximately one tonne of grit for every 100m2 of 80mm paving.

Note: Care should be taken that the permeable joints do not become contaminated as work on the scheme is completed. Special care needs to be taken when soft landscaping is carried out so that soil does not enter the joints. When this type of work is being carried out, the surface of the permeable paving should be protected by an appropriate cover to protect the joints from being contaminated.

All Secura products should be installed in accordance with British Standard BS8002. When constructing a retaining wall, ensure that you follow the design provided by the scheme engineer.

To achieve a quality finish which is visually consistent and evenly distributes any slight variations in shade, colour and texture over the entire project area the following is recommended in accordance with established good practice.

1. When building a one-off wall, select products from the same batch.
2. This can be achieved by checking the batch code labels displayed on the packs.
3. Although products are preblended in their packs, installers should always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously. This is standard industry best practice.
4. A balance of blocks from a previous load should be kept prior to another load arriving so that a continuous blend is maintained throughout the wall.
5. House Builders / Developers should allocate products from the same batch to specific walls.
6. Secura Grand blocks are packaged in four rows with twelve blocks per row, each row is separated by wooden slats. The blocks should be taken from the packs row by row mixing from a minimum of three packs as this ensures colours, shades and textures are distributed evenly over the entire installation. Always use a full row of blocks before starting the next row. Carefully remove and dispose of the wooden slats. See image 3.

When products from different batches are installed in one wall it will be more difficult to achieve a consistent finish. Therefore, we would advise that you take this into consideration and follow our guidance for “Achieving a quality finish”.

Where products from different batches are being installed in the same area it is the installers responsibility to carry out a colour match check by comparing colours from each batch. If a noticeable variance in colour / shade or texture is visible, do not proceed with the installation and contact your supplier for further guidance.

To minimise any possible colour banding /shading when products from different batches are being installed, always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously with some overlap between batches / deliveries.

The overall visual appearance of a completed installation should only be assessed from the normal viewing distance. Variations in colour/shade and texture are technically harmless, do not affect the products performance and are not deemed to be a product defect.

Important: The design of any retaining wall requires the input of an engineer to assess the unique conditions of every site in respect of loads in conjunction with site and soil conditions. The advice and typical wall designs in our literature are for information only to assist estimating and initial planning but should not be used for construction.

It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that a full site-specific Health & Safety risk assessment has been carried out prior to construction.

Adequate fall protection should be constructed to provide a safe working at height environment for all employees in compliance with current legislation. Please ensure compliance with the latest construction Health & Safety regulations. There are specialist companies who can provide fall protection solutions.

In our experience scaffolding can be used successfully to construct fall protection guard rails. The scaffolding and rails should rise as the wall height rises and must comply with Health & Safety regulations.

The use of a water suppressed masonry saw is recommended to reduce the risk of staining. Please observe regulations with regards to the use of PPE.

Secura segmental retaining walls require very little maintenance. However, where any specific requirements have been set out in the project engineers wall design, these should be adhered to.

The maximum gravity wall retained height is 1m (Secura Grand) and 880mm (Secura Lite) on a site with no toe or crest slope and zero surcharge. Please review the geogrid or concrete reinforced options if the gravity option is not possible.

Please read our installation guidelines in conjunction with the design drawings provided by the scheme engineer.