Driveway bulging upwards - Repair questions for experts

[malford]

Hello,

Just a quick introduction of myself, Im 42 and live in Bisley Surrey Heath.
I have undertaken a DIY block paving project in my previous home about 7 years ago after reading and following the advise on the original website. I remember going a bit mad with the sub grade layer and digging out 15 inches deep and the tipper driver made comments about parking a 747 on it

(I also own Tonys excellent book)

Anyway I would like some advice about my neighbours driveway who I have offered to help with after having previously constructed my own driveway.

The drive in question was layed approximately 7 years ago and until about 18 months ago was fully serviceable and level .

Recently the drive has bulged upwards and milky coloured water collects in the troughs.

I was thinking that maybe he has a problem with a leaking water pipe (maybe after the water meter was installed 18 months ago)

What can we expect to see when we start to lift the bricks?

I was thinking it would just be a simple task of lifting the blocks and reconstructing the sub layer and compacting down and levelling off.... or am I opening a pandoras box of problems?

[dig dug dan]

Wow! thats some serious heavage you have there.

I don't think i have ever seen something as bad as that on a block paved drive.

What was there before the drive? It looks like a swelling in the ground water, and thats usually because someone has removed a mature tree and it upsets the process of water removal which the tree prevoiusly did.

Did you say you did your own drive, and this is your neighbours who you didn't do?

I would suspect you will have to relay an entire section, not just the humps, but an excavation is needed to find the cause. Hopefully anoher brew cabiner can shed some light. Bizarre!

[malford]

Thank you for your comments, no I didn't lay this driveway.

I have lived next door for 6 years and the driveway looked old when we moved in but know where near as bad as it looks now, even the postman has to watch his step...

To be honest the photographs don't show the problem fully so tomorrow I will take some more along with a ruler so you can gauge the heave/bulge.

This estate is only 40 years old and to my knowledge no trees have been planted at this address and previous to the block paving it was a tarmac drive.

The only work that has been carried out was 2 years ago when my neighbour moved in a water meter was installed at the end of the driveway (you just see it in the photo)

We get on really well and I had the neighbours around for a recent party and after a few beers and looking through the Driveways Book we both agreed to have a go at putting it right (things you do when you've drank too much)

I thought I would seek advise first from you guys before getting stuck in..

[Dave_L]

All that can be done is excavate the driveway sub base and any soft/boggy ground and start over.

[Mikey_C]

If a leak was created during the fitting of the meter, your neighbour might be seeing big bills depending on which side of the meter the leak is?

[Tony McC]

That's a failed sub-base - absolute classic.

The sub-grade is pumping and heaving and will only get worse. The only "fix" is a total re-construction.

[malford]

Thanks for your reply Tony

Just a quick update, I have spoken to my nieghbour about repairing the driveway and have decided it may be better for him to get a contractor in to redo the sublayer.

I have also just got the latest brochure from Marshalls and a list of local contractors so I will get them to give me an estimate for my driveway at the same time as Im fed up dropping nuts and bolts and never finding them on my shingle drive..

Pictures:

Not sure why the image link above has vanished but I have uploaded more recent images to photobucket and feel free to use them as examples..









Will keep you informed of the outcome once the driveway is dug up..

[Dave_L]

Shocking! Thanks for the updated pics.

[Mikey_C]

I can't help thinking that there is a link on a driveway that has been down for 5.5 years suddenly gets a failed subase at the exact same time the water main/stopcock is replaced/repaired. especially as there is now standing water within 3ft of the water main/stopcock repair.

hence I would allow a contingency in the budget for a repair/replacement water service.

only a diyers opinion, but from my limited driveway experience I would always allow for a problem with one out the three services.

[Pablo]

Mikey has a point your nieghbour should check whether his house insurance will cover it. Lift and relays work out at very similar money to brand new once you've factored in all the double handling and block cleaning etc.

[lutonlagerlout]

i went to pay a chipie today and i noticed his drive for the first time
every cut has been infilled with mortar and i mean every cut
PMSL
when i asked him about it,he said the "lads" did it at night and couldn't see to do cuts so just filled the gaps with mortar
I will try and get a picture tomorrow when he is not about
LLL :laugh:

[Pablo]

They must've been Irish LLL seen that done many times over here and it still makes me laugh. I saw one where the fella had dyed the mortar and dressed the edges to make them look like blocks. Would have been quicker to cut a bloody block.:p

[SFLandscape]

If theres a new water meter has any one had a look at it , is the meter sat under water or if you turn everything of it is still going around,

[lutonlagerlout]

They must've been Irish LLL seen that done many times over here and it still makes me laugh. I saw one where the fella had dyed the mortar and dressed the edges to make them look like blocks. Would have been quicker to cut a bloody block.:p

here it is





i tell you what,those lads didn't have to worry about dust from cutting,or wasted off cuts :;): :;):

LLL

[rab1]

thats nasty