Advice for gravel/shingle garden area - Sub-base needed? clay soil

[Alp078]

Hi
Been reading here and elsewhere but can't decide for sure how to proceed.
We have a large(ish) area at the house end of our garden about 11m x 8m which will be paved nearest the house and outside some French doors for a seating area. Beyond this we want to install some raised beds and put down some gravel or chippings, undecided on style/size etc yet. My question is, should I put down any sub base before the gravel or just a decent weed membrane? We're on clay soil and in the process of lifting old pavers which sunk a little (though they were only bedded on 50mm sand/cement straight on the soil) and a concrete slab that makes up the rest of the area.
We've only lived here a year, but haven't noticed any significant puddling or drainage issues. My concern is to give the right base so the gravel doesn't all sink in and/or create drainage problems.
Any help would be much appreciated.

[Tony McC]

Read the main website for the definitive answer.

Use a sub-base if there will be *any* pedestrian traffic other than occasional weeding/maintenance - so, if it's to be a patio or mingling area, then a sub-base is needed.

Think about it: you have loose, small stones on top of a crap plastic sheet. How does that support *any* load? It doesn't, which is why a sub-base is essential beneath any area that will be walked upon more than 3 or 4 times a year.

[Alp078]

Thanks. What sort of depth would you suggest? Presumably type 1 would be fine?

[Tony McC]

Follow the link I gave you previously!