Driveway - Sand or mortar mix?

NobbytheNomad · Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:24 pm

I have just recently finished laying a paved patio x 62 sq mtrs in my back garden using Marshalls Heritage weathered Yorkstone pavers of various sizes, as a novice to the patio building game ( but a keen DIYer) it took me 3 summers to complete the project !
I have to say though I am chuffed with the end result, being a toolmaker I tended to over engineer every step and was probably far too fussy for my own good!
Anyway, I digest, my next project is to set about my depleated looking driveway.This was put down in the 1960s and was/is a tar type construction which is now a bit of a mess with potholes etc.My plan is to dig it over and pack it down with a plate vibrator then put 2 rows of 2x2ft slabs down to create a driveable surface for a car I would be putting stone chips between the rows to create the bog standard driveway.
My main query is what to put under the slabs to minimise movement and give them the required strength to take car usage? my patio slabs were put down on a 3-1 building sand-cement wet mixture (as recommended by Marshals ) but I was thinking a weaker mixture of building sand-cement dry mix would be the way to go for laying the slabs on? Any advice would be gratefully accepted.Cheers.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:46 am

100mm of st4 concrete
6:1 in old money
lot of loading with vehicles,you will need the concrete pretty dry
LLL

NobbytheNomad · Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:10 pm

Cheers LLL, now for the " can I ask a daft question" ! are you saying 'in old money' that under the 2x2 slabs I should put a 4 inch dry mix bed of 6 parts building sand to 1 part cement?
NobbytheNomad

Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:30 pm

sorry kenny
6 parts ballast to one part cement
and some water
LLL

NobbytheNomad · Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:03 pm

Cheers again LLL, I'm now gonna sound realy thick.....but here goes,when you say 'ballast' what exactly is meant by ballast? I was under the impression that if you were laying slabs for a driveway they were layed on a sand and cement mix of some kind be it sharp sand, building sand or whatever.I have no history of doing this so I am learning as I go along,ta.
Also you say a little water with the mix, is the water added while mixing the 'ballast and cement' to give it a semi-dry consistensy, ie, just enough to hold it together?Cheers again LLL for your replys,much appreciated.
NobbytheNomad