Mutley Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Ok the wife wants the front drive sorting. So thinking of slabs of a sort? Am i right in assuming they need to be at least 50mm/2" thick to take the weght with out fear of them cracking? Cheers Mutley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I'd say the more important thing to prevent cracking is what is underneath them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 At this rate a wife and x2 dogs if she comes up with any more jobs for me! Grrrr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 i would suggest used 3x2 slabs, cheaper - already weathered so dont look so in your face and thicker than rubbish 2x2 on market. good pressure wash once down and can look great. definetly not skimping on foundation for them makes a lot of difference, oh and mate or two to help as they properly heavy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zardos Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Have you thought about if planning permission is required?If using concrete slabs you might require planning permission as they won't be porous and depending of the lay of the land (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/pavingfrontgarden/ ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 As I understand it, slab on hardcore is OK, it's solid concrete that is the issue - a hard standing is not regarded as a permanent structure and so planning isn't required, but a solid surface is permanent so needs planning permission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zardos Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 The link I gave is about water run off not whether is is permanent or not. Concrete slabs with water draining off your property requires planning permission if over 5m sq (unless the slabs are special porous type), if they drain on to your own land then planning permission is not required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 If that's the case i should be safe as sadly the drive slopes towards the house, and there is no chance of sloping it the other way as it would mean the drive would start half way up the front window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 As said above its the base that will make real difference to whether or not the slabs crack. The same goes for a concrete slab as well unless you reinforce it. A hard-core sub-base properly compacted with a hired whacker plate would be where I would start. Once you have a level sub-base you need a sand blinding layer to bed the slabs on, lean mix dry sand and cement is good as it doesn't move once set. I would be surprised if a two inch slab would crack laid on that, problems arise when the material under the slab washes away and the slab ends up bridging the gap. I didn't know the bit about planning and exceeding 5m2, although it makes sense as you're responsible for all surface water from hard areas on a property if it causes someone else grief. You could go to the trouble of digging a soak away if you're so inclined to deal with surface water. Personally I would steer clear of permeable paving. Firstly it's sensitive to frost heave and secondly I've not seen it stay permeable for many years anyway as it gets blocked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zardos Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 If that's the case i should be safe as sadly the drive slopes towards the house, and there is no chance of sloping it the other way as it would mean the drive would start half way up the front window Sounds like you are OK with planning permission regards to drainage, but you might want to think about drainage to stop run off water flooding your house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoggyN Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 I've always found this website really helpful for paving related stuff... http://www.pavingexpert.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Zardos, we were flooded 4 years ago! Live nowhere near a river! Heavy rain and water running off the fields behind us,about 6 off us on the estate had water damage, not nice so no fears of decent drainage and soak away not being put in! Dont ever want to go through that again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Remember to leave a grass track or absorbent area between the slabs to allow for the usual Defender spot marking..... (Easier to hide it than clean off slabs.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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