The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:29 pm**

Hello,
I know im a contractor, but got a bit of a problem here, a client of mine has a driveway which runs in a fairly steep slope up to his house from a concreted pavement. However as he wants it block paving, I have provided the estimate as requested, but now he has come back onto me saying another company he has had in to quote for this, has said block paving cannot be done on driveways which slope away from the house, as all the sand which they would be bedded on would eventually wash out with the rain and the blocks would then become uneven and sink. I admit i have done sloped driveways before, including my own, and never had any problems, but due to the size of this driveway about 50 sq m all being a alope, i cant help thinking perhaps the other contractor may be right?
Can anyone tell me if this is true, and if so, how could i install blocks onto a driveway like this, and somehow prevent the rain from washing all the bedding sand away?
I was thinking of setting the bottom row of blocks into mortar, but am unsure now as how the job will look in a few years time.
thanks

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 12:58 pm**

The other company are full of bullshit, Ant. There's no problem using block paving on any gradient, whether towards or away from the house, as long as it is constructed properly. There is some truth in the statement that the jointing sand can be lost due to scour from surface water, but this is easily rectified with a joint-stabilising compound and/or a sealant. The bedding sand is far less vulnerable, but, if it is considered to be a risk, the use of intermediate restraining courses will keep everything in place.

I can't help wondering if this 'other contractor' was trying to persuade the client to choose an alternative surface such as PIC. It soulnds like the sort of bollocks some of the less reputable PIC contractors come out with.

Posted: **Thu May 05, 2005 10:51 pm**

Thanks again Tony, ill show this to the client and hopefully ill be able to continue with the block paving as originally planned, apparently the contractors who said this mainly do tarmac and are contractors to the local council. Sounds as if they were trying to convince my client to tarmac there driveway for a quick bit of cash as they had just finished a job for the council around the corner.

Thanks

Posted: **Fri May 06, 2005 12:59 pm**

I wish I had a quid for every time I've heard "they were doing this job for the council just round the corner".

Posted: **Fri May 06, 2005 3:00 pm**

My favourite is "they said they had some block paving left over from a big motorway job" - we've all seen those block paved motorways, haven't we! :p

The Brew Cabin

Block paving on concrete sloped driveway - Block paving