Replacing paving stones with gravel - Laying gravel

[boycie1975]

My wife would like gravel in the back yard to replace the paving stones we currently have.
Just a few questions as I've never done this before, so be easy with me please!
Should I remove the paving stones, and put some weed membrane down and the gravel on top?
Do I need to put any sand down first?
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks

boycie1975

[doobin]

Depends what your underlying ground conditions are like. Sand underneath is pretty pointless. If it needs extra support (maybe your on wet clay for example) then type 1 is what's needed. Probably the slabs will come up and there will be a base of sorts underneath. If this base is hard concrete however, then gravel laid upon it will tend to ping about and migrate unless a thick layer or a more angular gravel that locks together, such as limestone chippings.

Pull up the slabs and have a look.

[Tony McC]

Weed membrane - fine if you want to grow weeds but bloody useless for the construction of paving.

See Gravel Surfaces on the main website