Membrane or not ?

[trippx]

Hi, heres a pic of my drive dug out and edged, going to type 1 it then gravel it.

I have read through all the great pages on this site but cant find a definate answere as to weather its best to put membrane down or not ?

What's the best practice ? If you recommend using membrane is it different stuff for drives than paths ?

Thanks for your help..

PICS

[danensis]

The "Search" button is your friend:

http://www.pavingexpert.com/faqmembr.htm

[trippx]

The "Search" button is your friend:

http://www.pavingexpert.com/faqmembr.htm

Thanks a lot.

I have looked at all this but the link you sent refers to block/slabed paved driveways but this link
http://www.pavingexpert.com/gravel01.htm
suggests " consider using a permeable geo-textile."[/I]

So im a bit confused. Im putting a 100mm sub base then 40mm depth gravel (10mm)

[dig dug dan]

personally, since the gravel is "moveable", and any settlement is not an issue, i wouldn't use a membrane, (unless the sub grade is seriously unstable)but it certainly won't do any harm to add one

[Pablo]

No need for a membrane it's best to let the gravel grip the base rather than separate them. Also in high impact areas it can be easily exposed then it frays and tears etc and it's a nightmare to hide again. Run a plate over the gravel once it's leveled and it will grip the base and stay put. If you have any type of soft subgrade then 100mm of type1 might be a bit lean.

[Tony McC]

If you have a sub-base, then a membrane between sub-base and gravel is not only unnecessary, it's positively dangerous. The only place of a geo-textile is between sub-base and sub-grade and then, only if absolutely necessary.

[Mikey_C]

to the best of my knowledge, anything less 20mm gravel, cats will use a litter tray

[Rich H]

Not so. 10mm is fine as long as it's laid as 'thin' as possible (20-30mm) and compacted using a roller or wacker. In fact, done properly a 10mm drive is firmer and therefore easier to walk on than 20mm, which is less likely to compact and can drift easily.

[lutonlagerlout]

i'd agree with rich on this one,i did mine a couple of years ago with 20 mm gravel over 100mm type 1.
no matter how much i rake it the gravel seems to migrate at will and TBH when i get the time i will replace it with summat better
LLL

[msh paving]

I always use 14mm whole stone(as in not crushed) it is great to walk and drive on, does not pick up in shoes or car tyres and sits flat and level without rutting up with car wheels,its about £2 t more than 19mm or 3/4" ,but well worth the extra MSH