Self-binding gravel suppliers in ireland?

[Jeff Young]

Anyone know of any self-binding gravel suppliers in Ireland? I'm looking for a limestone-colored one if possible. (The picture of the Co Clare example on the self-binding gravel web page on this site would be perfect, if anyone knows a supplier of it.)

Thanks,
-- Jeff.

[Jeff Young]

No one knows a supplier in Ireland?

What about a home-made mix? Could I add linestone dust to a smallish pea gravel to create a self-binding gravel? Or do I need all the sizes in between as well?

Thanks,
-- Jeff.

[lutonlagerlout]

sorry jeff but most of us here are uk based (except ted in angola)
i cant find a supplier in the suppliers page,have you tried googling suppliers eire?
cheers LLL
btw went to a wedding in ballyvaughn ,beautiful part of the world

[Jeff Young]

Thanks, LLL. Most Irish businesses don't seem to have much of a web presence, so Google hasn't been very fruitful. Perhaps I'll give the old-fashioned phone a try....

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

[Tony McC]

Self-binding gravel is not all that common in Ireland, but you should be able to get something from Roadstone. The limestone "quarry waste" from Carlow/Kilkenny is sort of self-binding. In Clare, I'm not sure what's available, but you could try Williams Concrete in Ennis, as they tend to know what's available locally.

The photo to which you refer was taken a few years ago while working in Co. Limerick, and I can't recall where we sourced that product but it was described as coming from Clare. I know we were buying sand from somewhere near Foynes, but the SBG had to come across the Shannon in a lorry.

[Jeff Young]

I found one SBG supplier in Cork (who claim to be the only suppliers in Ireland). They call it Breedon gravel, and they want 220 euro a ton, which seemed somewhat egregious to me. Is that a reasonable price? (It's also the wrong color, being somewhat golden instead of grey.)

The local quary has what they call "804" and "604" hardcore, both of which are self-binding, but contain stuff all the way from 30 or 40mm down to dust. Is this similar to "quary waste"? If I had them grade that down to, say 10mm to dust would it work? Or do I need the larger stones to be round rather than sharp?

If memory serves, the hardcore is more like 10 euro a ton, which is certainly a bit easier on the pocketbook. (I'm going to need somewhere between 20 and 50 tons.)

Thanks,
-- Jeff.

[Tony McC]

Breedon is an English limestone product from Nottinghamshire. It's very good, but your supplier is wrong: they are not the only supplier in RoI. Having said that, though, their price is keen as Breedon sells for 140-180 quid per tonne in England. This supplier wouldn't be Irish Aggregates at Ovens, would it?

804 is a sub-base material. Its title refers to clause 804 of the spec for highways work (SHW) and in Britain it is known as DTp2. There is also 803, which is the equivalent of DTp1. Neither of these could be referred to as a "self binding gravel' because the spec does not require them to be limestone (some 803/804s from, say, Co. Tipp are sandstone based) and the size range takes them outside the usual scope of "gravels".

Depending on the source, it is possible to get a nice tight finish with 804, but it would never be described as "gravel". If you opt for this, it's well worth looking at "wet mix" which is a processed crushed granular material that is slightly inferior (and cheaper) than 804, but more than adequate for residential driveways. Again, it is not gravelly, but a cheap sub-base material.

10 Euro a tonne!? Bargain!!

[Jeff Young]

Yep, the Breedon gravel quote was from Irish Aggregates.

Our local ("local" as in all our windows rattle whenever they blast) 804 is a rather blue limestone. They also do a wet mix which is of more uniform size but appears to be the same substrate.

I was planning on using 75mm of 804 for the path base (they're just pedestrian paths -- no vehicles) and then something as self-binding as I could find for a surface finish. What about using a flooring mix for the surface -- does that bind at all? Or I could try to get them to grind and/or sieve an 804 or wet mix down to, say 8mm and down.

My wife does think the 804 by itself is both too blue and too "industrial" looking. Grinding/seiving it wouldn't help the blue, but might make it look a bit less industrial. The flooring mix is a better color (more grey), but I'm worried that it will scatter like normal gravel.

Thanks so much for your time so far,
-- Jeff.

[Tony McC]

See if they can get you a 6mm to dust: that will be as close to a SBG as you'll find. The blue limestone makes a not-too-bad SBG - you'll still get some travelling on the soles of your shoes, so a good doormat is essential, but it tends not to be as "claggy" as some of the whiter/greyer limestones.

[Jeff Young]

Tony --

Will do. And how much cover do I need? Something like 12 to 15mm or more like 25 to 30mm? (Assume it's going over 75mm of whacked 804.)

Thanks,
-- Jeff.