Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 11:57 am
What material should I use for the approach slopes in and out of a ford?
The path either side of the ford is an unmade road in a rural location providing domestic traffic access only. It is originally a cinder path and has been repaired with brick rubble over the years. For aesthetic reasons we don’t want to have concrete slab slopes. The slopes need to be about 1 car’s width wide and 2.5 metres in length (at a 20% gradient). The water flow is consistent and would not be flooding up the slopes.
A more lasting repair is required as the current approach slopes have been repaired with brick rubble and are at far too steep a gradient resulting in quick erosion.
As well as the choice for material for the slope I understand that at the point where the slope meets the water there should ideally be some “keystones� to retain the material on the slope and be a more-erosion resistant material in permanent contact with the water. What are your thoughts on how deep these should be (I’ve read around 300mm) and what type of blocks would be suitable?
I’m down in Sussex and am thinking this would be a self-do project over a weekend with the help of a mini-excavator to re-profile the approach slope. So I’m not equipped to move around very heavy concrete beams etc.
Many thanks for any advice you can provide.
The path either side of the ford is an unmade road in a rural location providing domestic traffic access only. It is originally a cinder path and has been repaired with brick rubble over the years. For aesthetic reasons we don’t want to have concrete slab slopes. The slopes need to be about 1 car’s width wide and 2.5 metres in length (at a 20% gradient). The water flow is consistent and would not be flooding up the slopes.
A more lasting repair is required as the current approach slopes have been repaired with brick rubble and are at far too steep a gradient resulting in quick erosion.
As well as the choice for material for the slope I understand that at the point where the slope meets the water there should ideally be some “keystones� to retain the material on the slope and be a more-erosion resistant material in permanent contact with the water. What are your thoughts on how deep these should be (I’ve read around 300mm) and what type of blocks would be suitable?
I’m down in Sussex and am thinking this would be a self-do project over a weekend with the help of a mini-excavator to re-profile the approach slope. So I’m not equipped to move around very heavy concrete beams etc.
Many thanks for any advice you can provide.