Tropical project - My costa rican driveway

[marksandler_costarica]

Since you guys seem to like lots of fresh coffee, here's a pic of me and some fresh picked coffee beans.

We have the best coffee in the world here, imho.

Now on to my DIY project...

We don't have the tight controls here as you do in the UK and the materials are a bit different. I live on the side of an active volcano (Poas) and it rains for about 6 months and then it's dry dry dry. The ground becomes quite hard when it's dry. For sub-base material, there are 2 grades of material called lastre, coarse and fine. Sand comes in 2 grades as well.

I purchased blocks from a local company called Pedregal (www.pedregal.co.cr). The blocks are 10x20x8 cm (yellow), 20x20x8 (gray squares) and 12x20x40 (border). My wife chose the pattern javascript:emoticon(':p')

The layout.

This is not yet finalized as I need some guidance regarding my design as it relates to the topography. The width of the level area in front may be the same as the drive or not. It could have 1 cluster more (cluster=1 gray square + 6 surrounding blocks, 40x40 cm total).
These photos show the area to be paved.







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In the layout image diagram, the bold lines on the left and bottom represent the house (bottom) and the block wall (left). I haven't decided yet about making the 2 curves. The area along the dividing wall contains my electrical and telephone feeds and roof drain and will be covered and planted with flowers, perhaps. The major slope begins about 4 meters from the garage and drops well over 1 meter to the street. I doubt I'll have any drainage problems as I intend to put a bit of a slope on the 'level' area as well. I will be putting in 2 columns, not shown in the diagram, to hang a 2 panel gate and redo the electrical meter box etc. The utility drop is 7.3 meters from the house. A local contractor suggests that I put in a retention line across at this point as well as one at the 4 meter point. I would use the same border block for this, ending up with 3 separate areas. I don't know if this is a good idea from a design perspective or if it is necessary. I also wonder about the line of block around the border separating the clusters from the border. Most designs and local installations use something similar. I can accept it with or without.

Regarding the sub-base, should I mix some concrete in with the lastre? I intend on putting down 2 layers between 200 and 300 mm compacting each and then 100 mm of sand, compact the sand and lay and compact the block with very fine sand to lock it in place. I don't want to have to cut anything if possible so I know that measurements must be very exact. I will be installing the borders first, setting them into concrete.

I'm posting this now and expect to get comments over the next few days. Like everything here, there is no great urgency in doing it by tomorrow, I bought the blocks in June, he he. I'll probably end up with more questions than answers after reading your comments.

Thanks in advance!



Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1285537152

[seanandruby]

A bit on the large side, he he. 100ml sand is way too deep. I take it lastre, is your term for our type one ( DTP1 ) in other words sub-base. 40ml sand.

[lutonlagerlout]

800 by 600 is your friend for posting pictures mark :;):
welcome to the brew cabin BTW
we are mainly tea drinkers here in blighty
as sean says 25-40mm is ideal for your sand laying course
the sand should be coarse
cheers LLL

[marksandler_costarica]

Give me a bit (a day or so) and I'll resize the pics... sorry bout that.

[marksandler_costarica]

Here are the pics again resized for better viewing... javascript:emoticon(':D')

[marksandler_costarica]

I'll get some photos of what they call lastre and post them tomorrow.

[lutonlagerlout]

i edited out those jumbo pictures for a bit more clarity mark
LLL