The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:23 am**

Hi Guys

I am new here so please be nice to me.... fantastic info on this site.

A new client (I am a garden designer) would like a gravelled front garden, including the drive, but often wears stiletto heels.

I cannot imagine that gravel is do-able in heels. Does anyone know? I am not a heels girl myself :p nor would I suppose you are, but......

Am thinking I will have to specify a path of some sort from car to front door.... in which case might dispense with the gravel drive idea altogether.

If the gravel or gravel+path is still an option, which is better - loose gravel or gravel in cells? The drive is short (2 car lengths) with a very slight slope to the road and there is no room to turn, so it's drive in, reverse out. I'm thinking therefore that loose gravel would be fine, but want to get it right first time.

From a SUDS point of view, so long as I specify type 3 sub-base that will be ok right? don't need to specify a soakaway as well?

Cheers
Linda

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:05 pm**

Gravel is permeable even on a typ1 base but better to specify it on type 3 or like 20mm single size etc.

Yup not many high heels here do they do them in 13 with steel toes for 18 stone rugby players haha.

Id advise against grids as well as likely to cause more problems with the heels?

Would the budget stretch to resin bound or bonded gravel?

Alternatively a self binder gravel suchbas Tarmac brendon gravel etc but not as deceptive but more functional.

Can you mix and match so say path in block,setts, slabs with a border on the gravel then a gravel drive?

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:41 pm**

high heels are a drama in anything but council greys or nice 6 sided sawn stone
not really suitable for driving either really
LLL

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:52 pm**

Thanks for replies guys

I've worked up a scheme with a block paved drive this afternoon - and will suggest it instead of gravel with regards to the heels! I'd already considered a path alongside for walking on, but it seems a shame that the gravel won't go right across. We'll see - maybe I can persuade her to give up the heels!! maybe not. Anyway, bottom line is it has to be practical.

Cheers
Linda

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:14 pm**

lll, you seem to know a lot about stilettos.

Posted: **Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:24 pm**

i remember a fire alarm in a hotel and a young lady got her stiletto stuck in the metal grate of the fire escape
very embarrassing for her as her as she fell over
seen it with decking and gully surrounds too
LLL

Posted: **Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:27 am**

common sense really linda. My wife puts on flat shoes to drive and changes at the venue, into high heels :;):
Would re-think the choice of loose stone, or something more suited to it, like a pair of wellies.

Posted: **Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:48 am**

Haha my ex was style over practicality all the time Sean, bought her some Loubitouns and she got them stuck in an aco haha was very very funny

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:14 pm**

Hi Linda

Have you considered resin bound? It looks like gravel, some say it looks nicer, it's clean, stays in place, is water porous satisfying SuDS, and not a problem for stiletto wearers.

Have a look and if you fancy seeing some samples, we can pop some in the post.

Ronadeck Resin Bound Surfacing by Ronacrete

Posted: **Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:59 pm**

Hi Simeon, thanks for reply.

I hadn't considered resin bound - partly as I didn't know it was permeable and partly because I think it will be too expensive.

If it does indeed fit in with the SUDS regs, perhaps you could give me a ball park figure on cost? It's quite a small drive, but with a path too would be about 30 sqm tops.....

Samples would be good.... for the future if not for this job.

Cheers, Linda

Posted: **Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:41 pm**

Hi Linda

Sure I'll send you samples and some guide costs; we can get a contractor to do a quick survey and price it too.

Drop me an email or PM me and I'll get the information to you. Thanks for your interest.

I'm not sure where you live but maybe we can suggest some sites to look at. It's currently being laid at "a major sporting venue being built somewhere towards East London". Sorry but I can't mention the project name, but it's an anagram of OLYMPISC.

Edited By simeonronacrete on 1301600641

Posted: **Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:25 am**

Hi Linda & the BC boys - couldn't resist introducing you to my good friends High On Heels.
I will enquire what their drives are like....?
These girls know how to have a serious craic.....

High On Heels

The Brew Cabin

Gravel drive and heels? cells or not?