Benching

[C MCNAIR]

Hi Tony

What is meant by the term benching around a gully?

[danensis]

Its that artistic mortarwork that guides the water from the surrounding paving into the gulley. Of course if you use the right components there will only be a thin strip to grout between the edges of the gulley and the paving, but sometimes you see great gobs of concrete carefully moulded to direct the water.

[C MCNAIR]

If we are talking about a carriageway gully, shouldn't the asphalt just be shaped into the gully and no mortar is required??

[danensis]

Ah, you're talking about doing things properly!

[84-1093879891]

The benching should be inside the gully, and is a granolithic or high-strength mortar that is used between the grating an the gully itself to guide water into the pot.

If you imagine a circular gully pot with a couple of courses of regulating brickwork and then a rectangular grating, the benching is the mortar used to infill the corners and make a smooth transition from the rectangular to the round, and thus avoid any flat spots where water or rodents can lodge.

Benching around a gully is a concrete infill that is sometimes necessary when it's not possible to extend the paving right up to the edge of the grating for one reason or another. This is becoming more or less obsolete now as most pavements and gratings are designed to eliminate the need for external benching.

Does that make it any clearer?

[C MCNAIR]

That's makes it very clear - Thank you very much!!