Sub base or not? - Gravel patio and garden

[halster78]

Hi,

I need some help on deciding whether or not to lay a sub base or not,

I have a 71 metre square back garden that I want to completely gravel over with some slabs laid in amongst the gravel.

Do I need to lay a 75mmm compacted sub base? or will permeable fabric and about 35mm or compacted gravel do?

Cheers
Al

[carlbeardsmore]

You are opening your self up for some abuse... . I will love Tonys reply...

[halster78]

Why am I?

[rms]

You only need a sub base if the ground is exceptionally soft.

[Nigel Walker]

Every single job i do without exception has Dpt1 Sub Base laid.
Any area with pedestrian traffic only has a minimum of 50mm of Sub Base. On driveways I lay a minimum of 100-150mm of Sub Base.
I would not be able to sleep at night if I laid any paving (inc gravel) on ground without sub base.

I would never consider laying any type of paving without Sub Base.
I know Tony says you dont need Sub Base in certain circumstances, but I am of the belief - do it right, do it once.

It may cost a little more to dig out deeper and in-fill with sub base, but in my opinion well worth it.

Sorry Tony if this contradicts you !

[Stuarty]

I have to agree with rms on this one, seems each to their own with this

[Tony McC]

I know plenty contractors use a sub-base for patios, and while I wouldn't say that it's wrong, I do feel that it's not always justified. But, as Nigel says, if a jobs worth doing....

I wonder what happened to the OP? Maybe he found the main wwebsite and educated himself during my absence!