Hi,

So I am thinking of gravelling my my drive having gone through many other options.

My last consideration was to put a CoreGravel stabiliser down and fill this with stone as I need a wheelchair to be able to go over the gravel without too much issue. Also I want to be able to drag the wheelie bins over with out a problem.

The drive is an in-and-out drive so will tend to rutt a bit at the top turning point.

The area is 260m2. All ground works have been done. The cost of the gravel is approx £850 but the cost of the CoreGravel stabiliser is £3700. This is a lot of money for the stabiliser when the gravel is only £850 therefore I am having to ask myself the question of "do I really need the stabiliser?".

The gravel I am going for is a tough limestone costwold/breedon buff 20mm, although some of the pieces of gravel are more like 30 and 40mm. This is a angular gravel so I am hoping that the movement is minimal.

My questions are:-

1. Is the stabiliser worth the extra money?

2. Will this gravel (without stabliser) provide a stable enough surface to allow wheelchair and wheelie bin easy momvement?

3. How deep should the final gravel be laid to get the best stability out of it?

4. Is there a better more cost effection option I should consider?

5. Will a car move the gravel around much?

Sorry for all the questions but want to enusre we get this right!

Regards
Mark

Hi Mark,

1. Stabiliser is well worth the money! But at that money, I would shop around, does that include labour?
2. Without stabiliser, you will need thicker gravel and will 'bog down' more.
3. Thickness of gravel should be just over the stabiliser grid, depending what size you use, I have laid 50mm thick stabiliser for a golf club carpark.
4. As I say, shop around. I thoroughly recommend stabiliser, as per a previous post I responded too, I can't remember the product I used but paid maybe £5k-£7.5k for around 36000m2.....If memory serves me right
5. The gravel should remain 'stabilised'!

SSM

_________________
Measure twice, cut once!

The CoreGravel product is quoted at £11.50 m2. Nida gravel are the same price. These supply in sheets of 1.2m x 2.4m. There are other ones on the market that i have seen are black and come in 1xm2 blocks and cost £9.50m2. With them being black and slightly thicker I am concerned these will stand out too much when the gravel does move. CoreGravel and nida quotes were simply for the supply not labour. I would be laying them myself.

The other thing that has pushed me away from the stabiliser is the stone that I have found that I really want. I think it is meant to be a 20mm angular gravel but on taking a sample some of the stones measure 40mmx10mm, and 30mm x 10mm whilst most of them being 20mm and less. After checking with CoreGravel they say their product only suitable to 22mm so with this stone CoreGravel is not longer suitable I imagine.

What colour where the sheets you put down?
Were they 1 m2 sheets?
What size gravel could you use with them? Could I use my preferred gravel?
Did they have a membrane underneath?

Can anyone recommend any that are cheaper than listed about and suitable for the gravel I speak about?

Thanks

Guys,

Can anyone help or advise on my last post?

Hi,

The sheets we put down were black.
If I remember rightly, they were about 1m2, and pegged down.
The gravel was 20mm white granite.
We put Geotex underneath to prevent weeds and stabilise the ground generally.

Really sorry, I can't remember the product we used, but the service was brilliant, salesman visited us twice from (I think Hampshire) to Devon to make sure we were happy and take some shots.

SSM

_________________
Measure twice, cut once!

I've a funny feeling (the OP) may have already asked this but...

If its going to cost £4500 (if your doing it yourself) and you have wheelchair issues - why not hard pave it with either slabs or block paving?

_________________
Mike
http://rebuildingatimberbungalow.blogspot.com/
any advice welcome