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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:01 pm
by Dan The Van
Hi folks,
Thanks for letting me join the forum.
I am looking to convert my front garden to off-street parking for my van and wifes car. The council has already put the drop curb in, and I am going to start digging out the front garden this weekend. The soil is clay.
I have a couple of questions.
1. Is 6" of MOT1, 2" sand and then the block pavers the correct ratio?
2. Should I be using a landscape fabric or a geotextile fabric? I am a little confused with the best product for this project.
Thanks for your time.
Dan.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 1:40 pm
by IanMelb
Hi Dan
Have you had a look at the main site? This flowchart may help.
Ian
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:58 pm
by Dan The Van
Thanks Ian. Flow chart has cleared up what I wanted to know.
Just spoke to a company about hiring a skip, and they mentioned that they can provide me with the sub base material as well. They mentioned that it is called 'plannings' and is the recycled top layer of tarmac from roads, and costs £7 per ton.
Has anyone used 'plannings' for a sub base?
Thanks.
Dan.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:41 pm
by dig dug dan
They mentioned that it is called 'plannings' and is the recycled top layer of tarmac from roads
NO NO NO NO AND NO!!!!
Road planing should never be used as subbase under any circumstances. It is only good for farm tracks.
I was going to post about this as a seperate item, but you have spurred me on!
My mates next door neighbour has had someone dig out his garden for a drive, and the have put down 8" of road planings.
The drive sat for months with no activity, then last week a different contractor turned up to start blocking. I spoke to him while I was there, and apparnetly the previous guy quoted to put down type one, and told the customer that is what they have got.
This new contractor is not prepared to give a guarantee and has warned them it will sink. They rung the previous guy up and surprise surprise, he is nowhere to be found!
Anyway, the current contractor wacked the planings down, then parked his pick up on it. After an hour, his wheels had sunk down so much, he had to be towed out.
Says it all.
My mate is a landscaper by the way but they didn't ask him for a quote. Serves them right!
If it wasn't a problem using it, how come no skip company will let you mix it in to the loads with the soil?
If i were you, i would just use them for the skips and get the type one, or the more environmentally friendly crushed concrete from another supplier, in case they try to fob you off.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 6:39 pm
by Dan The Van
Wwwwhhhhoooooaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Cheers Dig Dug Dan, will stay well clear of that and go for the crushed concrete stuff.
Saved by the forum from making a costly mistake :O
Will check out some suppliers of crushed concrete.
Fancy your mates neighbour not asking him about this sort of stuff, being in the business and that.
Cheers.
Dan.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:03 pm
by lutonlagerlout
crushed concrete can be ok but your best off using type 1 MOT,i have seen all sorts in crushed loads ,timber,asbestos,iron you name it, your doing a proper job ,use the proper stuff ,you should get MOT for £20-30 a tonne tipped
cheers LLL 
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:46 pm
by Paverman Dan
Use geotextile or a high quality filter fabric as an underlayment between your subgrade soil and the base, never weed fabric.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:00 pm
by Dan The Van
Thanks LLL.
I did my patio last year. I had delivered 8 tons of crushed concrete in a skip and wheelbarrowed it down my alley way to the back garden. Took me, my brother and dad all day to shift it, and yes there was a bit of soil and wood in it, which we managed to sift out. Don't really fancy going through all that again, especially as I am doing it on my own.
I will be looking for local suppliers this weekend, out of interest do you know a good supplier of MOT type 1. I am in Upminster near Romford.
Thanks.
Dan.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:11 pm
by Dan The Van
Cheers Paverman Dan, have ordered some geotextile landscaping fabric, should turn up for the weekend.
Dan.
Is everyone called Dan on this forum!!! 
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 11:34 pm
by lutonlagerlout
no there are 2 tonys
heh
LLL (tony)
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 11:37 pm
by Dave_L
You might have to end up buying it in dumpy bags from a BM......
Having 80+tons 6F2 MOT1 on tap at our yard spoils us somewhat!
If you were closer to us..........
Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:46 am
by Dan The Van
3 Dan's, 2 Tony's and a partridge in a pear tree. :laugh:
Cheers Dave. Will look at some local BM's as well for the price of the 1 ton/850kg bags of MOT type 1.
Somerset aint that far away for you to drive 10 ton of your lovely West Country MOT 1. Just think, you will always know that there is a lovely bit of Somerset in Essex, and the wife will make you a brew and sarney.
Cheers.
Dan.