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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 11:27 am
by aldiverman
Last summer I found a lot of great info on here and managed to turn the driveway at my house into a back garden with paving, decking, astro & aco drains. I'm back on furlough from work again and my dear wife wants me to start on the next project!
We want to turn our small front garden into a driveway. At the moment it's a lawn with hedges on 2 sides measuring approx. 4m x 7m. I like the look of resin driveways and have read up on the guides on the main sites but now have a couple of questions....
It's mainly about the base layers, as in what would I need to put in place? I'll be removing the hedge at the front of the house and digging out the turf, the drive will be used to fit 2 cars side by side. Could I just use a compacted type 3 base or would I need a concrete or tarmac installation? I saw the references to a monolithic base, is this still advisable? Would I need to install aco drains or would the type 3 & resin be permeable enough for drainage?
I think I would be using the resin bounded system to complete the job as it seems to be more suitable to the DIYer like myself.
I'll be doing the work myself, with assistance from the family and now have a bit of experience in working outside!
Any advice or product recommendations are gladly received!!
Thanks
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:17 pm
by dig dug dan
The subbase needs to be free draining, then you have a base layer of tarmac which is also free draining, then the resin goes ontop of that.
If you are trying this yourself, you need a special mixer for the resin, and be prepared for an awful lot of plastic waste to dispose of at the end
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 8:45 am
by aldiverman
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your reply. I was thinking of using the scatter method on top of the resin rather than mixing it all together, the advice I've read says it can be mixed with a drill paddle?
I see that I'll need to lay a tarmac base, no chance of getting away with laying resin on anything else? I'm trying to save on costs and I've no experience with tarmac so I'll have to pay to get someone in.
Thanks again for passing on your knowledge!
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2021 4:15 pm
by dig dug dan
If it's a driveway, you wont get away with anything else I'm afraid.
Yes I think you can use a drill paddle, but you need a high powered drill. An ordinary one will burn itself out!
Best to mix it as they say and do it right!
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:52 am
by aldiverman
Thanks Dan, the resin option may not be the right way to go for me then. I'll look into alternatives and speak to the boss!!
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:38 am
by Tony McC
To simplify your options: if you go with a resin bonded (scattercoat) application, you will be creating what is, in effect, a traditional impermeable driveway and so you will require some form of surface drainage. Beyond that, you will need a standard (Type 1 or similar) sub-base and a base of bitmac.
The alternative is resin bound (trowelled) which can be permeable or impermeable, depending on the sub-layers. To be permeable, you need a permeable (preferably Type 3) sub-base and, for most products, a permeable bitmac base. There are products (such as Addagrip TerraBase ) which are permeable but do NOT require a bitmac base - they are laid more-or-less directly onto the sub-base (there's a reinforcing grid, but no need for a base).
If you lay resin bound over a conventional bitmac (or concrete) base, then, although the resin bound layer is permeable, the sub-layers are impermeable and so the completed pavement has to be regarded as impermeable.
To be brutally frank, resin surfacing of any type can be a nightmare for DIYers. Specialist kit is needed, bitmac is not an easy lay without a gang, and getting a top quality finish is damned hard work, largely due to it being so unforgiving and time-limited.
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:08 am
by aldiverman
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the brutal honesty!! I think I'd be opening myself up to a massive task that would escalate the budget as I slowly realise my lack of expertise!!
I have stacks of used block paving that I took up from the back driveway. I'm now thinking of cleaning them up and laying them at the front, they seem to be in a decent condition (no staining or obvious degradation). If I got the jet washer on them do you think they'll be suitable for re-use?
I've read enough on your main site to feel confident to attack a block paving task!
Many thanks for your time and for sharing your knowledge.
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 2:06 pm
by Tony McC
Generally speaking, most concrete block paving is damned resilient. They are almost impossible to destroy. True: they can get chipped and spalled, and the colours may fade, but, from a purely structural point of view, they are either broken or they are fit for use.