The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:25 pm**

Hi there - I'm in the process of installing a new driveway on my residential property and would like to use granite cobble setts.

I've read the detailed information pages in this site, but I am still not sure if I can use 50mm depth cobbles or 100mm cobbles.

The sub base is clear for me, I will compact 150mm type1 MOT and lay the cobbles on a 25mm to 40mm bed of mortar.

The quarry that I plan to buy the cobbles from said I should use 100mm depth, but they also sell 50mm depth.

Are they just saying use the 100mm depth as they are more expensive or is there real justification to their stance?

I'm not doing a bodge, i just want to know if there is any need for 100mm depth or will 50mm be ok.

I am asking because block paving must be around 50/60mm and thats fine as a driveway material.

Thanks in advance for any help given

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:30 pm**

Hi it depends on what weight will be driving over drive don't try and lay 50 mm setts on 25 mm bed it's hard work I have used both with no problems and had 30 ton plus over them where are you buying them from reclaimed may be better depends on your property
Cheers cookie

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:43 pm**

Thanks for the reply.
I would only have two cars on the drive, I don't think weight will be too much of an issue, I've put 5 tonne man hole covers in.

I thought 50mm depth would be OK, probably they are more than that in some cases anyway.

Is 25mm bed a bit shy, I assume say 40/50mm would make it easier to get the cobbles in position.

The house is quite clean looking, with marley weather boards all over. I tried to post a picture but no luck.

I'm not decided on the material source yet for the setts.

Many thanks again

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:51 pm**

50mm may be ok but there's more chance of it rotating/flipping up than if 100m deep. I reckon maybe your bedding mortar needs to be at least 50mm with grit sand and some 10mm aggregate chucked in or better still 100mm of concrete.

Either case a good sub-base is paramount and if you've read any of the advice in the pages on this site you will know to wack it in two layers of 75mm.

Usually unfinished granite setts are used at driveway entrances etc as a rumble strip. A whole driveway in these are crap to walk on especially if your Mrs. wears stiletto heels, unless that's the intention:D

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:49 pm**

Thank you again for the detail.

Making the laying bed stable is a good idea, like you say with grit sand.

I managed to attach a picture to the previous post, its a good point you make about the roughness/uneveness of the cobbles.

My wife doesn't like block paving at all so I was trying to find something different. I thought the grey cobble sets would look smart against the house.

Cheers

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:31 pm**

Take a look at Dempseys work (first class) on page218 of recent work under site works.
Is that the kind of finish you want, the lighter colour blocks that is.
Wouldn't swear to it but I think they're a supplied from "natural paving products.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:47 am**

I looked at the pictures from Dempeys, the drive looks amazing, top job.

I think sandstone setts may work for me as well at the front, I used sandstone slabs for my patio at the back as you can see, this was my first ever job.

Thanks again for the advice.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:23 pm**

well you had a go, what are you pointing it with?
I think what cookie is saying is that reclaimed will have a much better smoothness than new setts
the stuff I see in merchants is pure shite
LLL

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:16 pm**

Yes LC granite was Natural paving 3 sizes 50mm, limestone was Stonemarket. ced.ltd.co.uk do nice granite setts.

Cheers

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:46 pm**

Laguna1 wrote:I looked at the pictures from Dempeys, the drive looks amazing, top job.

I think sandstone setts may work for me as well at the front, I used sandstone slabs for my patio at the back as you can see, this was my first ever job.

Thanks again for the advice.

its not recommended to have + joints there is a wealth of info on the main site about laying paving

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:54 am**

Thank you Mr Dempsey for the granite setts supplier details, I've sent the wife to CED in thourrock for some samples/prices.

I might have confused matters by putting my sandstone patio picture on this toptic, I only intended to imply the colours looked good against the cladding on the house (only my opinion), as I had seen sandstone setts which may have replicated a similar look on the drive.

Also thank you to Mr Cookie, where he mentioned that he'd used both 50mm and 100mm depth setts without issue.

Thanks

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:01 am**

Laguna1 wrote:Thank you Mr Dempsey for the granite setts supplier details, I've sent the wife to CED in thourrock for some samples/prices.

I might have confused matters by putting my sandstone patio picture on this toptic, I only intended to imply the colours looked good against the cladding on the house (only my opinion), as I had seen sandstone setts which may have replicated a similar look on the drive.

Also thank you to Mr Cookie, where he mentioned that he'd used both 50mm and 100mm depth setts without issue.

Thanks

Ps its cookie look further down at New York stone setts some of my pictures on there or on my blog page

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:02 pm**

cookiewales wrote:Ps its cookie

Oh, I don't know....Mr Cookie could catch on! ;~)

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:16 pm**

+ 1 for the Mr Cookie. LOL

Posted: **Sat Jul 18, 2015 2:05 pm**

I'd question on 150mm of sub base material - although it does depend on what the sub-grade is like of course.

The Brew Cabin

Granite cobble sett depth - 100mm or 50mm