Sub base - What is it, and what's it made of?

[Andrea]

Hi

Considering block paving for our driveway and paving slabs for our patio.

What base is recommended for each of these?

Mant thanks
Andrea

[msh paving]

150mm mot type1 for drive way
100mm mot type1 patio MSH

[Andrea]

Ta,

Erm wot is mot type 1?

[87-1235666499]

It's the industry term for a type of graded limestone material that compacts very well (you'll need to hire a plate compactor).

If the potential supplier you are talking to does not recognise the term, you've got the wrong company!

You'll be amazed at the size of the pile you get when it's delivered, for an average driveway you will need about 6 cubic metres which it memory serves me will be around 12 tonnes.

Oh and don't try to move it about by shovelling, use a rake.

Best,
WOP

[87-1235666499]

Or, I should have said, get someone else to do it for you!

[Andrea]

Ah.

One chap suggested a pre-mix conreate base for the drive as he had worked in the area before and said there's a lot of clay in the ground. He explained it would prevent denting, taking the weight of vehichles.

Would this be a fair assumption?

[Dave_L]

Ah.

One chap suggested a pre-mix conreate base for the drive as he had worked in the area before and said there's a lot of clay in the ground. He explained it would prevent denting, taking the weight of vehichles.

Would this be a fair assumption?

What a lot of crap!

[seanandruby]

its not always necessary for a patio depending on sub grade. mot type 1 is now called DTp type 1.

[Dave_L]

Andrea - all the information (and more!!) you'll ever need to know about sub base materials and construction.......HERE

[Big Phil]

Type 1 can be many aggregate types and even recycled aggregate containing %ages of crushed concrete, asphalt, glass. In the UK, Type 1 refers to the Manual of Contracts for Highway Works (MCHW) or more commonly the Specification for Highway Works (SHW) Cl.803 Type 1 Granular Sub Base.

Strictly speaking it is a material 'specification', not actually a material. Generally a 40mm crusher will comply but it has to be non-plastic and non frost susceptible. It can be Limestone, Gritstone, even recycled aggregate, but generally a limestone will compact easier.

Limestone GSB1 will have a compacted density of around 2.2T/m3

[topgrafter2007]

on your driveway you could consider using a geotex type fabric to strenghten and reduce rutting if you want to spend alittle extra prob £70.00. weve used it on drives that have had heavy traffic and one drive had 12 vans on it for 3 months! without any ruts!! just a thought...