Block paving driveway - Bedding layer for blocks

[dab49]

Hi everyone, i'll probably get slaughtered for this question, but here goes! I am currently having my drive block paved with Marshalls Tegular blocks with granite sett border. I chose a marshalls registered installer for piece of mind and redress if any problems occured in the future. I noticed today that the bedding layer (grit sand) is 90-100mm in depth. I have read the info on this excellent site which states between 35-50mm.

Any thoughts from the proffesionals would be very gratefully received.

[msh paving]

90-100 is far to deep,do not accept this ,40-50mm is the standard accepted depth,

Do not let them lay on sand that thick,

if he does not agree show him this site,marshalls would like to know about his standards too i guess

MSH

[dab49]

Many thanks for your prompt response MSH, looks like I have a discussion or two to have in the morning. I will try to post some pictures,when I know how to.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond, on your day off.

[msh paving]

Day off's don't happen very often.....MSH

[Carberry]

deepest I've seen in person was 80mm and I was repairing that drive. Dips and puddles everywhere.

[dab49]

carberry, many thanks for taking the time to respond. I have been following this great site for years (Yeh i'm sad). Any more comments from the old school such as LLL or MickyG- Crystalclear ......Dug Dan..

Many thanks
Dave

[mickg]

Hi Dave

I didn't respond as carberry had answered your question

if you have any issues with your Marshall's installer when you question the workmanship carried out so far then phone Marshalls and they will send the regional assessor what covers your area to take a look

the number is 0845 820 5000
explain who you are and the name of the contractor who is doing the work and they will arrange for an inspection to be carried out

I hope this helps

ADDED
just a thought, is the sand already laid in place screeded off to the finished height and ready to lay the block paving and that's why you noticed this depth or has it been laid and compacted prior to screeding to the finished height as if the latter is the case then it will be deeper than 35mm - 50mm

[dab49]

Hi Mickg, as always, many thanks for taking the time to respond. I have measured the depth of the bedding layer after the contractor had compacted the bedding layer and laid the blocks (but not compacted the blocks) i.e they have laid the feature circle ,blocks included and I scraped back the bedding layer to the subase and took the measurement from the finished layer of the subase to the highest point of the bedding layer (underneath of the block,already laid) . As it is in progress I took the opportunity to scrape back the bedding layer and measure the depth of the bedding layer which at this particular point is 80+mm . The total area is approx 215 sqm so it really sticks out like a sore thumb.

Sorry if this is not clear, not really my area but I am paying the going rate (didnt knock him on price etc...) Manythanks Dave

[mickg]

Hi Dave

its very clear how you describe it

all I can suggest is when the installer returns on Monday have a word and explain your not happy with the depth of the sand laying course and see what he says, if there is no joy then contact Marshall's on the phone number above

is the driveway being covered by the Marshall's 10 year guarantee ?

[lutonlagerlout]

dave 80mm is too much
sure as eggs is eggs it will sink
i lay the stone to a line 75mm below finished height then wack
this gives me roughly 85-90mm
then sand, screed to 35 mm below finish and wack the sand
finally screed to levels which hopefully will be approx 35mm of sand
there is no excuse for 80mm its just poor workmanship
LLL

[dab49]

Many thanks LLL for your response and to all you guys for your support. In all fairness to the contractor he was happy to go along with what I wanted,but stated it would be o.k. I said lets let Marshalls rep make the decision, he came out investigated and said that it was not a concern. I pointed out the very useful info that you guys gave me and quoted B.S (not bull sh1t/British Standards!!). I then popped to the shops asked him for his business card. On my return the area was taken up and he admitted that he had made a mistake!!

Many thanks to you all.......

[lutonlagerlout]

fair play to him
any one can make a mistake
but he has fessed up and put it right
good luck
LLL

[mickg]

what was the guys name who came from Marshall's ?

[Tony McC]

Ooooh! What a surprise! The Assessor, who gets paid from the subs paid the contrractor, initially finds in favour of said contractor, but when confronted with uncontestable facts, they suddenly change their mind.

And that's why I have no faith in any of the manufacturer-sponsored installer schemes. I hear the same tale, or a variation of it, a dozen times a week at this time of year.

It's not fair on the customers who pay top dollar in the belief that they will somehow get a better standard of work, and it's not fair on those good contractors who feel thay have to pay the subs to be a part of the scheme otherwise the customers will think they are just cowboys.

When contractors blatantly contravene the laying guidance in BS7533:3 and the installation protocal issued by the manufacturers for compliance with their own scheme, the offending contractor should be booted out. But they're not. Because that would mean losing 400-ish quid in subs every year.

It's WRONG!



Edited By Tony McC on 1338285215

[Carberry]

fair play to him
any one can make a mistake
but he has fessed up and put it right
good luck
LLL

That's a bloody big mistake though. I've got a 16 year old lad that works with me and he isn't even daft enough to do that.

I would be keeping a close eye on the rest of the work they do and wouldn't be convinced about the work they 'fixed' unless I saw it myself.