The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:24 pm**

I have been asked by a client to resurface their current car park using golden gravel. The existing surface is currently well compacted limestone with the odd cobble poking through, the problem is the car park is on a slope and it is also used for their guest house which see's quite a large amount of vehicle movement.
The concern is that the gravel will move under the amount of traffic. They have asked me to lay 10 mm Golden Gravel with a topping of 6mm golden gravel which they have been informed will help it bind when compacted, however, speaking to my usual supplier they have not dealt with any 6mm gravel, of which I'd only need a couple of tonnes plus I am still unconvinced that this will work, my way would be to pound the 10mm down with a cuffing big roller or a diesel compactor plate.
Ideas or comments gratefully recieved

Posted: **Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:55 pm**

I have done a few large gravel carparks using the folowing method. Site excavated and levels set up. 100mm hoggin rolled with vibrations, Concrete edgeing kerbs set in or timber edging if cheapskate client! 50mm layer of 20mm clean limestone or flint chippings (rolled and vibrated), aprox 25mm of 10mm chippings rolled without vibrations.

If the above method is used then the two layers do seem to bind however i think that without roling you would end up with rutts come the slightest wheel spin

The above method was used for the car park at a rural vets and a couple of domestic jobs. Save for a bi anual toping up of the top layer, the method has worked well, despite heavy vehicle use.

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:45 am**

Paul - bear in mind that 'kin Hoggin and Flint are only used in south-east Eng-er-land. Those of us fortunate enough to live elsewhere would never use these materials partly because they are not available in our locales and partly because they are shite. They are used in SE Eng-er-land because that's all there is. Wouldn't you love to live in a region where they have real aggregates (and water to waste!)? :laugh:

Golden Gravel - if this is the genuine Breedon stuff, which is probably the best self-binding gravel available in Eng-er-land, then a 40mm layer of the 10mm or the 6mm (I really wouldn't waste me time mixing them) compacted over a regulated sub-base should be OK-ish, but because of the gradient, you will always experience some migration. How much migration will depend on the gradient and the amount of traffic.

In your position, I'd get a written disclaimer from the client stating they were aware of the potential problems and wouldn't come whingeing to you if/when it all ended up at the bottom of the slope.

The Brew Cabin

6 mm golden gravel