Block paving over gravel

[Grandad Gaz]

Just curious really.
There is a house up the road from us that is having a lot of landscaping work in their garden. Contractors have been there for weeks! They are currently doing the drive, dropped kerb and all.
They have just started doing the block paving and instead of laying them on sharp sand, as I assumed they would, they are laying them on a bed of 10mm stones (pea shingle as most people call it).
Is this normal?

[M1AGM]

I’ve had block paving where the infil between the blocks was an aggregate that resembled pea gravel, dont know about underneath as never lifted them. It was a pita.

[hidetheelephants]

Are you sure it's pea gravel and not ballast/type 1/etc? Pea gravel won't lock together properly.

[OutInTheShed]

If you have sand under blocks, ants will move it to on top of the blocks.

[ScottJB]

2-6mm clean stone becoming more common as laying bed material.

Edited by ScottJB on Sunday 6th April 15:06

[m3jappa]

ScottJB said:

2-6mm clean stone becoming more common as laying bed material.

Edited by ScottJB on Sunday 6th April 15:06

It is likely this.

That's what we now use and have done for about 6 or so years. Lots of others following having recognised the benefits. While sharp sand isn't wrong 2-6mm is a lot better.

[Mr Magooagain]

m3jappa said:

ScottJB said:

2-6mm clean stone becoming more common as laying bed material.

Edited by ScottJB on Sunday 6th April 15:06

It is likely this.

That's what we now use and have done for about 6 or so years. Lots of others following having recognised the benefits. While sharp sand isn't wrong 2-6mm is a lot better.

Could you expand a bit more info on that please, ie sub base? Bed thickness’s? Whacking it down etc. As I’ve a terrace I want to change and although it’s for leisure it needs to be able to take a large heavy vehicle like a septic tank emptying lorry every few years.

[m3jappa]

Mr Magooagain said:

Could you expand a bit more info on that please, ie sub base? Bed thickness’s? Whacking it down etc. As I’ve a terrace I want to change and although it’s for leisure it needs to be able to take a large heavy vehicle like a septic tank emptying lorry every few years.

If you want a heavy vehicle like that on it (18t?) then you would need to just beef it all up a bit.

domestic spec I do is as follows and is absolutely fine for occasional 7.5t use

160mm type 1. compact in layers. ideally 3
edges which aren't retained laid on concrete with big haunches. I put in edges once about half the base is in. then finish base. so edges are substantial.
2-6mm granite screed course approx 30mm thick. just wack it once, some say it doesn't need it but I don't see why you wouldn't.
lay blocks
compact blocks as much as you can. we do 3-6 times depending on how they go down.

50mm blocks fine for that.

18t stuff ideally want 80mm blocks. if its occasional then that base spec above would be ok. 80mm block in itself offers more rigidity than thinner blocks.

[Mr Magooagain]

m3jappa said:

Mr Magooagain said:

Could you expand a bit more info on that please, ie sub base? Bed thickness’s? Whacking it down etc. As I’ve a terrace I want to change and although it’s for leisure it needs to be able to take a large heavy vehicle like a septic tank emptying lorry every few years.

If you want a heavy vehicle like that on it (18t?) then you would need to just beef it all up a bit.

domestic spec I do is as follows and is absolutely fine for occasional 7.5t use

160mm type 1. compact in layers. ideally 3
edges which aren't retained laid on concrete with big haunches. I put in edges once about half the base is in. then finish base. so edges are substantial.
2-6mm granite screed course approx 30mm thick. just wack it once, some say it doesn't need it but I don't see why you wouldn't.
lay blocks
compact blocks as much as you can. we do 3-6 times depending on how they go down.

50mm blocks fine for that.

18t stuff ideally want 80mm blocks. if its occasional then that base spec above would be ok. 80mm block in itself offers more rigidity than thinner blocks.

Thanks for that. If I can find them I may lay granite sets on reinforced concrete. It’s an enclosed area so no edges to worry about but if I can’t get the sets then it may have to be interlocking blocks etc.
Cheers.