Hello,
Excellent site and forum!. I am about to re-do my driveway after putting it off for most of the year - imagine my fustration when I spotted the new legislation for permeable driveways & front gardens!!
Anyway, my question is around the type of sub-base to be used for driveways. My plan is to have two strips of block paves (about 600mm wide) running either side up the length of the driveway for the car wheels to drive on. And down the middle (about 1.2m wide) will be gravel which will be my permeable part of the driveway. After reading up on the legislation for permeable surfaces, the Environment Agency are recommending the use of Type3 (or 4/20 material) for a sub-base over the usual MoT (Type1), as this offers better drainage capacity.
What are your thoughts and opinons on using Type3 as a sub-base for driveways?. Am I best sticking with Type1 even though this does not offer better drainage capacity?
Thanks,
Darren
Permeable sub-base for driveway
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Tony McC
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This is covered on the main website.
Type 3 is suitable for sub-base construction but it will almost definitely need a geo-textile to prevent trickle-down, and given the proposed construction, I wonder if it is necessary at all. If you;re having a two-strips layout, then it may be that a simple gravel-filled channel or fin-drain type construction within that centre strip would be adequate. It all depends on the permeability of the sub-grade on your site. With a 1200mm separation, there is ample space for a fin drain, and as this would drastically reduce both excavation volumes and material requirements, it would be the option I'd consider first.
Type 3 is suitable for sub-base construction but it will almost definitely need a geo-textile to prevent trickle-down, and given the proposed construction, I wonder if it is necessary at all. If you;re having a two-strips layout, then it may be that a simple gravel-filled channel or fin-drain type construction within that centre strip would be adequate. It all depends on the permeability of the sub-grade on your site. With a 1200mm separation, there is ample space for a fin drain, and as this would drastically reduce both excavation volumes and material requirements, it would be the option I'd consider first.
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