To sub or not to sub?

[Rich H]

Jonah, a 10 tonne load of type 1 should cost you no more than £150+VAT if you phone around. £3-4 a square metre is not much to do a proper job.

[Tony McC]

Should I use sub-base?
Now I am more confused than ever. Tony says no, but useful if ground needs elevating – others say yes!

Tony doesn't say "no": Tony says "not always".

If you have a firm and stable sub-grade, with no settlement, no soft spots, no organic material, then there is no point in digging that out to accommodate a layer of crushed rock when the heaviest vehicle the paving will ever carry is a child's bike.

However, if the paving is to be trafficked by a car or anything bigger, then a sub-base is more-or-less always necessary (there are one or two exceptional exceptions), but patios and garden paths come down to being a judgement call.

[lutonlagerlout]

Jonah, a 10 tonne load of type 1 should cost you no more than £150+VAT if you phone around. £3-4 a square metre is not much to do a proper job.

cant get it for that money round here rich
10 tonne delivered costs us £250 plus vat in luton
LLL

[Rich H]

Blimey. Hanson (formerly Foster Yoeman) will do £14+VAT/tonne on a 16t load.

[lutonlagerlout]

Blimey. Hanson (formerly Foster Yoeman) will do £14+VAT/tonne on a 16t load.

thats 16 tonne rich not 10!
LLL ???

[Rich H]

Exactly. £14 if you take 16, £15 if you take 10.

[Jonah]

I lifted the council 3x2's down the side of the house. Seems they've been bedded on sharp sand, about 30mm. I got the trowel out and dug beneath it and hit builders sand, and lots of it.

Looks like I'm going to have to use a sub base for this section of paving at least. So I may aswell do the lot with a sub base.

[BGHSE]

Thanks everyone for their input on this.

Tony is of course correct when he says a sub-base is needed for a drive, the website makes than clear in the relevant section.
But I am looking at a garden patio which is intended for pedestrian traffic only, not even a childs tricycle. Though it will probably have a garden table and chairs.

Does LLL mention 100mm mot merely for costing purposes, or does he recommend I put 100mm sub-base?

Appreciate if anybody else has any thoughts whether I should use a sub-base on clay?

[Rich H]

On clay? The short answer is yes.

[lutonlagerlout]

chalk gravel sand or rock is good

clay is not


LLL

[matt h]

clay is definately not good... have same down here, and the water table is high as well. slightest rain and the place is a quagmire.If you dig down a metre you,ll hit gravel here so at least there is something to compact to! Best of luck, and post some pics so we can see how you got on:)