The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:36 pm**

Hi guys,

I've spent the last few days reading the site, which is fantastically detailed and useful.

I'm an absolute novice but, this year, I want to turn our front 'garden', which at the moment doubles as an off road parking area with some cement runners for the car, into a proper driveway/parking area (the kerb is already dropped). Size is roughly 36M square. Have chosen gravel as it's cheaper and, for a newbie like me, easier than laying a variety of paving.

OK, after reading the site, my understand is that I dig out the garden to a depth of approx 150mm. After ensuring the earth base is ill that up with approx. 130mm compacted sub-base (ensure it's dtp1 type) and then complete the job with approx. 20mm compacted hard gravel. Does this sound right?

I have a couple of extra questions just to get things right in my mind. 1) I see different views about whether a membrane is also needed, do I need to set down a membrane, and I take it that, if so, it would go between the sub-base and gravel....told you I was a novice, hehe and 2) how much sub-base and gravel would I need in tonnage?

Grateful for any advice. I just want to make sure I know what I'm up to and what better way to do that than ask the experts. Many thanks.

Posted: **Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:48 pm**

take a look here, as you need to consider drainage mate: http://www.pavingexpert.com/news184.htm

Posted: **Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:34 am**

Morning p. It depends on the firmness of the subsoil if you need a membrane. It won't hurt to place one, and maybe spray with weed killer. Make sure it is a proper geo-textile and not a weed membrane. There are several pop up calculators that will work out the amount of material you will need.

Posted: **Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:51 am**

the calcualtors sean mentioned are here

my supplier also provides one for which can be quite good for different gravels that is here

Posted: **Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:50 am**

Thanks for the links guys, much appreciated.

Regarding the planning permission and drainage, if I'm reading that right then I would need planning permission unless I lay down a certain type of paving, yep, so I'd even need permission for gravel?

Posted: **Sun Feb 20, 2011 12:56 pm**

gravel is free draining and as such, does not require permission.
You can get into trouble if the gravel spills onto the highway, but as usual, they never enforce it.
The membrane does not go between the gravel and the subbase on a driveway. you would end up seeing membrane all over the place by the time your car has moved it around a bit.

Posted: **Mon Feb 21, 2011 3:40 pm**

I did mine a few years ago, I'm also a novice and used this site for the info I needed. From my experience I would make sure that you concentrate on 2 areas.

1) If your soil is quite soft on the edges after digging out, maybe consider tannelised shuttering to give the type 1 something solid to compact up against. I nailed the shuttering to timber pegs and then hammered them into the soil so that the top edge was at my finished level and gradient. Looks nice and neat as a seperator between gravel and the rest of the garden.

2) Make sure that you have compacted the type 1 really well with a whacker, my type 1 level was 20mm below finish level as I used 20mm gravel. Take the time to get this bit right as you don't want any hollows.

The gravel when put down should just cover the type 1, this gives a nice firm feel when walked on. If you have hollows or deeper areas and then fill with gravel, it feels horrible like walking on a shingle beach where you get no grip.

Good luck with the job, it really is worth all the effort.

The Brew Cabin

Gravel drive advice appreciated