Paving a sloping drive - Which pattern?

[bobhughes]

My drive slopes about 1 in 7 down to the road (about 5m wide by 10m long) and I intend to use standard 60mm concrete blocks.

1. Is there any difference in performance between 90 and 45 degree herringbone in terms of resistance to slippage?

2. What would anyone reccommend as a "stop" at the bottom - the pavement is part flags and part (poor quality since Telewest dug it up) tarmac.

[Tony McC]

1 - no

2 - Have you read the website? You MUST have a concrete bedded edge restraint at all free edges, and especially at the foot of a gradient such as this.

[bobhughes]

Thanks for the reply Tony.

I am well aware of the need for a concrete bedded edge restraint but I was wondering if more was needed at the foot of a slope. Some of my neighbours have put a row of flat top Edging Kerbs set flush, but to properly haunch it would mean digging up the Council pavement. There would, of course, be a bedded soldier course as well.

How would you deal with this situation?

[Tony McC]

Depends on the blocks being used, but a really good solution is to bed-in a complementary kerb unit at the threshold. It works in much the same method as using a flat-top edging kerb, but it looks far, far better - it actually looks as though you intended there to be a kerb in that position, rather than you were obliged to use a kerb there....



...that massive wodge of concrete is going nowhere and should be adequate to hold back the rest of the paving, but as I said previopusly, intermediate restraining courses are your friend when you have such a steep gradient.

The accommodation fillet shouldn't be a problem. Most LAs turn a blind eye to such works as long as they are safe and tidy. You may need to use bitmac or concrete, depending on what has been used for the existing public footpath. If it's a flagged path, it's easy enough to take up one course of flags while you install the threshold kerb, and then bed them back before the Highways Inspector comes past.

[bobhughes]

Thanks Tony - That was exactly the info I was looking for.

Do you think that intermediate restraint is needed over a 10 metre length?

[Tony McC]

On that sort of gradient: definitely!

[bobhughes]

I have searched the site for info on intermediate restraining courses but without success.

Do they need to be a kerb across the drive or is there some way that they can be incorporated into the pattern? (90 degree herringbone)

[Tony McC]

Try this link

A separate page on the main website is on me "to do" list, but I haven't got the photo's orgabnised just yet.

[bobhughes]

We are planning to start work in a couple of weeks (When the JCB driver sobers up).

Any info would be appreciated.

[bobhughes]

As usual the solution is obvious once someone tells you...

The lads who are going to do the actual work are coming round this pm so I will have your exellent drawings to show them.

Once work gets underway I will try to post a few pics.

Many thanks once again for this first class resource.

[bobhughes]

Had our meeting and most design issues are resolved - your drawing were approved.

We have decided to use a mini digger and Kango to clear the site due to the complications. Apart from the slope which has gas, electric, water and drains underneath, there is a retaining wall and some steps to build; about 60m of blocks to lay; and 10m of random flags. Not to metion a linear drain at the top to take the run off from the paved area at the back.

The total estimate (and it can only be an estimate - who knows what we will find whe we start to dig) is about £4,500.

Work starts Monday week Woohoo.

[Tony McC]

I'm in Ireland that week - but you can post piccies to cheer me up and keep me out of Fitzgerald's bar

[bobhughes]

Talk about the best laid plans…… I’ve been putting off doing the drive for years – The cost was a major factor but there were a lot of decisions to be made as well. So – the bullet was bit and the whole thing finally fixed to start on Monday 8th. I take the week off and hire two stalwart workers hoping to get the bulk of the job done by the weekend (always the optimist) with (possibly) a bit of finishing off for next week.

So what do I do on Friday 5th? Break my bloody leg – that’s what. Run over by a sodding great yellow forklift truck that reversed without looking and crushed my tib and fib. By Friday night I was propped up in a hospital bed with a foot of titanium rod holding my shin together.

So now what? – Well the lads carried on without me and I finally got home on Wednesday to supervise the work from my patio chair.

As promised I will post the pics as soon as I can work out how to do it. We now have a big muddy slope instead of a drive and the only sign of actual construction is the retaining wall and the kerb (as per Tony’s advice) at the pavement edge.

[Tony McC]

Don't fret - just think of the compensation: where's there's blame, there's a claim!

[Ian CHP]

On the subject of patterns on slopes, whilst pricing a driveway last night, the customer informed me that another contractor, had informed them, that it is only possible to use 1 pattern on a slope, plus an extra £300 to fit 3 recessed trays!!