Edging course

[bmusty]

I'll be starting my driveway project next week and would like some advice on laying an edging course please.

From what I can gather the edging course is laid after the sub-base has been compacted. However, drawings of edging courses show the concrete bed as deeper than the top of the sub-base layer. Does this mean I need to dig out some of the sub-base to lay the concrete bed?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Ben.

[lutonlagerlout]

personally I always lay the edgings or kerbs before any subbase is introduced
some times if it is wet we might blind the area with an inch or two of stone just to make working easier
LLL

[sy76uk]

All depends what you mean by edging course. If you mean long concrete edgings or kerbs then like LLL I'll lay them before installing the sub base.

If I'm not using edgings or kerbs then I'll install the sub base first and lay the border on semi dry sand and cement, rake away any surplus mot from outside of the border and haunch with wet concrete.

[seanandruby]

A lot depends on the state of the subsoil and what depth you have to dig out, also how long your drive is and is it viable to use just concrete. You might have to build the ground up with a capping layer before you begin the road formation. Just aim to make the concrete bed 150 of concrete whichever way you attack it.

[Tony McC]

This has come up a few times over the years and what seems obvious to me is obviously not obvious to civilians, so I'll try to find the time to clarify it in the Laying Edge Courses section.

You could lay edge courses prioer to installation of final sub-base, or you could place initial layer of sub-base, then install edge courses before topping-up sub-base, or, if the sub-base is done and dusted, you simply scrape out a shallow channel to accommodate the concrete bed.

Hopefully, that makes it all a bit more obvious.

[bmusty]

Many thanks for all the comments.

I'll dig out a shallow channel after laying the sub-base. Only four days until I begin!