Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:32 am
Hi, I'm new here so please bare with me.
Last February we had extensive work done to our garden including a large decked area and a gravel path laid with timber edging. We've been generally very happy with the work done but since the onset of autumn and winter have found that the gravel path isn't as servicable as we'd hoped.
The path is about 800mm wide and snakes from start to finish over about 10 metres on an incline of 500mm or so. There is a geotex mebrane layed under the entire path which is laid using 15mm - 20mm Cotswold chippings to a depth of 75 - 100mm but as deep as 150mm in some areas. The chippings were bedded in well with a wacker plate to finish off.
Some of the problem we have is that the chippings still produce a whitish residue which walks indoors even after 12 months weathering and the surface tends to move under foot a lot more then we expected. It's also difficult to keep clean.
A concrete or slabbed path was consider but we decided against that on the grounds of expense. We intended to extend the path further our selves using the same method as our funds are now limited.
So on a DIY basis would it be viable to use some or all the cotswold chippings as the gravel to create a reasonable concrete path. Also would the chippings in the concrete still produce the same white residue.
I appreciate there will be a lot of heavy work involved and will need to hire a cement mixer plus the additional cost of sand and cement.
Would be grateful for any observations, advise or alternatives.
Last February we had extensive work done to our garden including a large decked area and a gravel path laid with timber edging. We've been generally very happy with the work done but since the onset of autumn and winter have found that the gravel path isn't as servicable as we'd hoped.
The path is about 800mm wide and snakes from start to finish over about 10 metres on an incline of 500mm or so. There is a geotex mebrane layed under the entire path which is laid using 15mm - 20mm Cotswold chippings to a depth of 75 - 100mm but as deep as 150mm in some areas. The chippings were bedded in well with a wacker plate to finish off.
Some of the problem we have is that the chippings still produce a whitish residue which walks indoors even after 12 months weathering and the surface tends to move under foot a lot more then we expected. It's also difficult to keep clean.
A concrete or slabbed path was consider but we decided against that on the grounds of expense. We intended to extend the path further our selves using the same method as our funds are now limited.
So on a DIY basis would it be viable to use some or all the cotswold chippings as the gravel to create a reasonable concrete path. Also would the chippings in the concrete still produce the same white residue.
I appreciate there will be a lot of heavy work involved and will need to hire a cement mixer plus the additional cost of sand and cement.
Would be grateful for any observations, advise or alternatives.