Matching levels - Levels

[boldandsquashed]

Hi,

I’m block paving my front lawn for parking. I am leaving the tarmac drive in place.
The advice I’m seeking is regards to levels.
The house is higher than the road. There is a straight slope to marry the tarmac drive on one side down to the road. There is a porch with door way in the top centre which will be the highest point to have a smaller step (damp course height ok).
However the problem I have is butting up to the neighbour’s slabs which have a curved slope down to the road with a flatter section by the house. I have disc cut a straight line on the boundary and intend to install a kerb block (914mm lengths).

Should I follow the neighbour’s profile (like a 50p coin)?
Should I do in two levels, slight by house and steeper toward the drive?
Or force a straight line creating a large height difference between the properties (higher by the house and lower in the middle section)?
Or any other preferred options?

Thanks,
Chris

[lemoncurd1702]

Some images would help, particularly the boundary with your neighbour.
If you have difficulty uploading them here put them on picassa or flickr etc. and paste the link.

[boldandsquashed]

Hi,

Please find pictures as requested.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1582/26081420432_47e19487e4_b.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1511/25569134424_9db42de934_b.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1582/26081420432_47e19487e4_b.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1626/26081443922_135f2ddc98_b.jpg

Regards,
Chris

[lemoncurd1702]

If it's block paving I would try to keep it on the same plain as the right hand side of the drive.
Either do as you say force a straight line, or follow the profile of the neighbours path with the kerb edgings so your paving butts against it rather than level with it.
Looking at your sub-base, first option looks easiest.

Replace the edgings along the pavement to get a nice straight and level line to start from. Those existing ones look a tad wonky.

[boldandsquashed]

Thanks Lemoncurd for your reply.

Think I will try to follow the profile of our neighbours , but higher level nearer the house. To avoid putting a step in I wish to have a higher level by the front door (similar to the top for crate in the picture). This means there will be a 1.5 brick slope across the porch to the tarmac drive on the right. This slope I wish to level out (join the string line between left to right) 4ft from the porch toward the road.

So around the porch there are going to be many complex slopes. Is this reasonable? Also on the intersection of the levels do you gradually radius the meeting point?

Regards,
Chris

[lemoncurd1702]

Without being on site with you to string the lines etc. I would say have a front doorstep.
As you say yourself complex slopes. Keep it on the same plane as much as possible latitude and longitude.

[boldandsquashed]

Thankyou

[Dave_L]

What provisions are you building in for drainage?

[boldandsquashed]

There is a 40ton crate and soakaway under sub-base now connected to b class grate.

[Dave_L]

Perfect! Good to see

[sy76uk]

I think you might regret not pulling up that old tarmac and block paving the lot.

[boldandsquashed]

Did it my way in the end. With no step and complex levels. Seemed to workout ok.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69449343@N00/26823201436/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69449343@N00/26252817633/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69449343@N00/26789446221/in/photostream/

[lemoncurd1702]

Excellent job, well done. You could put a lot of so called pros to shame.

[sy76uk]

Nice one