Occasional gravel drive

Prefect_1998

Morning everyone,

I am looking at putting in a back garden drive area to park now and again, i have a gate so access is all good, its the drive on area i am looking for info on.

I have dug down 4 inches or so and i do need to level this but its the materials and order to lay them i am confused about.

So i want to use gravel stabilising mats but i am wondering the following :

do i put 804 hardcore down then level then put the Sheets then the decretive stone?

or are the sheets right at the bottom directly on the muck?

is there sand used in any of this ?

thanks a million
D

Idioteque

Check out this site, lots of good info on sub-bases, drainage and projects that need them.

With the mats, you get what you pay for so just make sure to buy ones meant to take vehicle loads as some are just to meant to hold the gravel in place and not meant for vehicle traffic

Lumen

I have used those mats on pedestrian areas and found that they need good edge support, e.g. brick paver, otherwise they just bend at the edges, spill gravel and look ugly.

Prefect_1998

Idioteque wrote: »

Check out this site, lots of good info on sub-bases, drainage and projects that need them.

With the mats, you get what you pay for so just make sure to buy ones meant to take vehicle loads as some are just to meant to hold the gravel in place and not meant for vehicle traffic

thanks for that link , loads of info...


this is the sheets i was looking at.
https://www.goodwins.ie/products/gravel-and-grass-stabilising-tile-matting-and-weed-block-120x80cm-x-30mm-4020120.html


seem to cover car load

Lumen

danielle_door wrote: »

thanks for that link , loads of info...


this is the sheets i was looking at.
https://www.goodwins.ie/products/gravel-and-grass-stabilising-tile-matting-and-weed-block-120x80cm-x-30mm-4020120.html


seem to cover car load

The installation instructions are right there.

https://www.goodwins.ie/sites/admin/plugins/elfinder/files/goodwins/products/downloads/4020120/Installation%20Instructions.jpg

Prefect_1998

Lumen wrote: »

The installation instructions are right there.

https://www.goodwins.ie/sites/admin/plugins/elfinder/files/goodwins/products/downloads/4020120/Installation%20Instructions.jpg

:rolleyes:

thanks for that again. ;-)

Have you ever seem permeable pavers ?

https://www.howbertandmays.ie/garden-blog/gardens-and-flooding-what-can-we-do-help

TheBoyConor

Really isn't necessary to use those mats.
If the ground is any way good, digging out 150mm and laying 804 and compacting with a whacker will provide a perfectly adequate parking area.

Prefect_1998

BrownFinger wrote: »

Have you ever seem permeable pavers ?

https://www.howbertandmays.ie/garden-blog/gardens-and-flooding-what-can-we-do-help

looks good but i don't have the skill to lay paving at all, i know my DIY limits ;-)

Prefect_1998

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Really isn't necessary to use those mats.
If the ground is any way good, digging out 150mm and laying 804 and compacting with a whacker will provide a perfectly adequate parking area.

ground is ok.. getting muck level is another problem i have...

mats was jus to keep shape if i park a car long term on it.

but in reality it

wont be used much for car maybe washing once a week etc...
only walking on etc..]


i might get some photos up to show you the area as it stands today

TheBoyConor

If it is muck as you say, as in soft mucky stuff, then you need to dig that out.
Don't for the life of you place soil down to build up low spots. That will turn to shíte and end up a sunken area on the final surface.

If the ground is bad as in actual muck you should consider laying a geotextile under the 804. Don't know where you'll get such small quantities though.

Calahonda52

as noted above, you don't need the dec stone etc, just use the 804 or similar and dig out two or more inches and let it settle.
You also need to edge it or else keep the car well awy from the edges.

TheBoyConor

More than 2 inches. You'd need 150mm i would say, even just to make up levels for what you take out in topsoil and soft material.

Prefect_1998

i will get some photos up after lunch, way easier than describing it.

Prefect_1998

photos added for context

Prefect_1998

TheBoyConor wrote: »

More than 2 inches. You'd need 150mm i would say, even just to make up levels for what you take out in topsoil and soft material.

would there be less digging using the gravel stabilizers ?

levelling ground is not a strong point

garv123

I wouldnt bother with the gravel mats,

Be sure you're deep enough that youve removed all the topsoil,

I used 2 inch down first for a base, then 804, wack it all down and you're good to go.

It doesn't have to be level at the bottom, you'll make it level at the top.

Lumen

I hate to labour the point, but IMO in this case edge restraint is everything.

If the gravel is bounded by an immovable perimeter, it's going nowhere and the worst you'll have to deal with is a few weeds.

If the edges aren't properly restrained, then over time the weight of the car will squish it out sideways and you'll have problems.

TheBoyConor

no need for an edge really. Just make the area wide enough, land in your 804 and whack it down well.

You could put down an edge, but there isn't really any point.

As said, don't get your knickers in a knot over having the base of the excavation level. It just has to be appriximately 150mm deep and free of soft spots or obviously mucky patches.

Prefect_1998

Lumen wrote: »

I hate to labour the point, but IMO in this case edge restraint is everything.

If the gravel is bounded by an immovable perimeter, it's going nowhere and the worst you'll have to deal with is a few weeds.

If the edges aren't properly restrained, then over time the weight of the car will squish it out sideways and you'll have problems.

the edge of the grave should be level with the path in the photos, the sleepers will hold it in on the other sides.

so just need to order the 804 compact and then the some nice drive way stones

TheBoyConor

trust me, you are better off not laying down a timber edge. It will just get slimey and lethally slippy in the wet and over time it will eventually rot and start festering with weeds.
It just isn't necessary unless you are very concerned about the cosmetic appearance of it.

Just lay a sufficiently wide 804 hardstanding so that the car doesn't drive directly on the edge, and you will be fine.