How do I build a drive?

[muddyjames]

ex landscaper here.

I my self personaly would would do it as.

minimum of 3 inches of hard core, min of 3-4 inches of a semi dry concrete mix and cover toatl area and level out with a long straight item and get level but slope very slightly to road and lay paviers on, water in, get a sharp sand / cemet mix and brush over top after a day or two to point in and then brush off and water in. If you can put some teram under the whole lot even better.

when I have moved house in 4 weeks time I will need something to keep me busy instead of job hunting so can help you. If only I had access to my voluntary groups excavator!!!

A whacker plate doesnt make that much noise and it wont be turned on for long. I would recomend one for both layers.

[bullfrog]

You have several options.
I would buy type one ( white looking crushed stone)
If you hire a wacker plate this would be ok for a drive or the base.
You should lay it to some kind of boundry (edgeing stones or similar.
I would put 150mm down and then the slabs on solid base of mortor.
You could lay them on wet cement of about 4" thick also.
I have 4" thick concrete drive over 200mm hardcore base.
You can buy dye to put in concrete but it is quite dear.
I would forget the block pave option as it is fairly expensive by the time you have dug out and disposed of soil then put 150mm type 1, 150mm grit and bought blocks + kiln dried sand and the hire of wacker !
Type 1, slabs or concrete are cheaper options and type 1 would be the cheapest.
You could live with this for a while and add slabs, concrete or paviors (block) later.

[bezzabsa]

hmmm, can anyone explain why i have 2 tonnes of ballast, 2 tonnes of sand, 40 bags of cement and 140 concrete blocks on my drive (well soon to be drive)????
was going to buy block paving, but 42m2 of block paving = over £600 whereas same area of concrete delivered and premixed is £200...guess what i'm going to be doing???????

[Manicminer]

hmmm, can anyone explain why i have 2 tonnes of ballast, 2 tonnes of sand, 40 bags of cement and 140 concrete blocks on my drive (well soon to be drive)????
was going to buy block paving, but 42m2 of block paving = over £600 whereas same area of concrete delivered and premixed is £200...guess what i'm going to be doing???????

Mixing by hand?

[bezzabsa]

[quote="bezzabsa"quote]

Mixing by hand?

You offering???? ;)
big red wagon turns up and mixes it there and then, metamix - or summat like that.. hope to get it finished in next couple of weeks :D:D

[muddyjames]

If any one is going to mix by hand the far easiest far of doing it is in a wheel barrow and with a mattock. Like a pick axe but slightly different end. Damn sight easier than using a shovel!