Yes, the hardcore was the foundation for our gridforce, without it the gravel and grids would be moving all over the place. The hardcore and membrane prevent the weeds from coming through and there was no visible dust with our gravel. We are very pleased with the result. I must add I have no connection with Gridforce, the workmen knew exactly what they were doing and just got on with it.
I don't really think the grids will be required - we're digging out, levelling, hardcore, membrane, etc first. So that's all taken care of. There will be raised beds on either side, edging stones at the front and block or sleepers where the cars will actually pull into the driveway, from the pavement up to the final parking position (it's only just about big enough for 2 cars, so it's not that big)
I've happy with a bit of weekly & monthly maintenance, that is not a problem. Weeds are also not really a concern, happy to keep on top of that.
I want it to look right and be ok to walk on - this is my main dilemma with the pebbles.
Yes, of course. I leave near the beach, hence wanting to reflect that here. If the beach is small shingles or particularly deep, I appreciate it's tough going. But I find as the stone size increases the firmer things seem to get. Although then you have to problem that it's uncomfortable underfoot at a certain point.
As i mentioned, the cars will have a solid path through the gravel to drive on - so that shouldn't be an issue and should also help to keep things in place as well.
I'm just trying to avoid gravel, but it looks like practicality will win out over aesthetics.
We used 20mm our neighbour (with grids) has used pea shingle. At some point when my daughter is up I will get her to post some pics. Ours does move slightly when you park on it, I was think of putting a couple of rustic type planks resembling driftwood for the car to go on, its used by guests, we park on the paving, then q uick rake if you fancy it. it a very thick layer, never slippery when wet, because its rough, but then I walk my dogs on the beach in the winter, the big pebbles are a chalenge to walk on (good for the legs, and thighs!) but have never found them slipper. The 18 in patio slabs out the back forming the patio get very slippery with algi, Hubby has just pressure washing them.
Our driveway and patios are shingle. Laid by a professional landscaper - area dug out, levelled, compacted hard core, alayer of compacted hoggin and, finally, a layer of shingle - pressed into place with a garden roller.
It doesn’t move around and we have heavy vehicles and a caravan on the drive. A thin layer of shingle is easy to walk on.
I would recommend the compacted layer of hoggin between the hardcore and shingle rather than membrane. Even if the edges of mypex are dug into the ground there always seem to be odd threads that find their way through and they can look messy. If the mypex edges lift it looks dreadful. The mypex doesn’t look good if it starts to show through in high traffic areas. The shingle also sticks to the hoggin a bit.
The main disadvantages of shingle is a bit of weed growth (ok if you keep on top of it) & traipsing shingle into the house - but the problem is reduced if hoggin is used and if you use a slightly larger size of shingle.
I like the idea of graduating larger size pebbles towards the edges with perhaps some feature piles of large river stones in the corners.
I’m not sure how sleepers would be used but, if we are talking about wooden ones, be aware they can become slick with algae after a couple of winters and could be dangerous if placed on the walking route.
Last edited: 24 January 2018 09:10:43
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
@Nancy Beach - definitely be interested in a pic if it's not too much trouble. I'm thinking probably 20mm pebbles (maybe 40mm), but definitely not the pea shingle.
@Topbird - never thought about hoggin in between, I would have assumed that with rain and movement that this might make it's way up and around the stones, but I can see the advantage of holding the stones in place a bit.
The plan with increasing the size of the pebbles towards the edges was exactly as you've mentioned - gradually getting bigger, especially the parts that won't have any traffic and then collections of bigger rock in certain corners to make it look like they've 'collected' there. I guess I can do this even if we go with gravel for the central area.
Sleepers are going to be for the raised beds and for where the car actually drives/parks - there will be 2 irregular strips running in from the pavement to the parking spot. I appreciate that they can get very slippy, but I've found in the past that regular attacks with a power washer and a bit of roughing up usually solves this. The're intended to look 'rustic' so should be fine.
Overall idea is the pebbles, the distressed (eventually grey) sleepers and some careful planting will give that shingle beach type feel.
It's being started in about a week, so need to finalise things quickly.
Posts
Yes, the hardcore was the foundation for our gridforce, without it the gravel and grids would be moving all over the place. The hardcore and membrane prevent the weeds from coming through and there was no visible dust with our gravel. We are very pleased with the result. I must add I have no connection with Gridforce, the workmen knew exactly what they were doing and just got on with it.
Cheers of the replies and discussion.
I don't really think the grids will be required - we're digging out, levelling, hardcore, membrane, etc first. So that's all taken care of. There will be raised beds on either side, edging stones at the front and block or sleepers where the cars will actually pull into the driveway, from the pavement up to the final parking position (it's only just about big enough for 2 cars, so it's not that big)
I've happy with a bit of weekly & monthly maintenance, that is not a problem. Weeds are also not really a concern, happy to keep on top of that.
I want it to look right and be ok to walk on - this is my main dilemma with the pebbles.
@Nancy Beach - so your neighbours have pebbles, I'm assuming 20mm? - the ;'beach' ones on the Parkers website come in 20mm or 40mm.
Does it look ok? Any issues with walking on the pebbles? and everything held in placed nicely with the grids, so minimal movement when it's driven on?
Have you ever walked on a pebble beach or a pebbled drive? They move so under the weight of a car they will shift.
Yes, of course. I leave near the beach, hence wanting to reflect that here. If the beach is small shingles or particularly deep, I appreciate it's tough going. But I find as the stone size increases the firmer things seem to get. Although then you have to problem that it's uncomfortable underfoot at a certain point.
As i mentioned, the cars will have a solid path through the gravel to drive on - so that shouldn't be an issue and should also help to keep things in place as well.
I'm just trying to avoid gravel, but it looks like practicality will win out over aesthetics.
Use the pebbles you prefer but put bars or sleepers or a grid in to keep them in place - whatever will look best with everything else.
Just imagine the pain and disappointment of doing something you don't really want and then wishing you'd done it right in the first place.
Pebbles can be slippery to walk on after a heavy shower of rain.
It would be good to see an after picture ObliqueGreek - good luck with your project.
We used 20mm our neighbour (with grids) has used pea shingle. At some point when my daughter is up I will get her to post some pics. Ours does move slightly when you park on it, I was think of putting a couple of rustic type planks resembling driftwood for the car to go on, its used by guests, we park on the paving, then q uick rake if you fancy it. it a very thick layer, never slippery when wet, because its rough, but then I walk my dogs on the beach in the winter, the big pebbles are a chalenge to walk on (good for the legs, and thighs!) but have never found them slipper. The 18 in patio slabs out the back forming the patio get very slippery with algi, Hubby has just pressure washing them.
Our driveway and patios are shingle. Laid by a professional landscaper - area dug out, levelled, compacted hard core, alayer of compacted hoggin and, finally, a layer of shingle - pressed into place with a garden roller.
It doesn’t move around and we have heavy vehicles and a caravan on the drive. A thin layer of shingle is easy to walk on.
I would recommend the compacted layer of hoggin between the hardcore and shingle rather than membrane. Even if the edges of mypex are dug into the ground there always seem to be odd threads that find their way through and they can look messy. If the mypex edges lift it looks dreadful. The mypex doesn’t look good if it starts to show through in high traffic areas. The shingle also sticks to the hoggin a bit.
The main disadvantages of shingle is a bit of weed growth (ok if you keep on top of it) & traipsing shingle into the house - but the problem is reduced if hoggin is used and if you use a slightly larger size of shingle.
I like the idea of graduating larger size pebbles towards the edges with perhaps some feature piles of large river stones in the corners.
I’m not sure how sleepers would be used but, if we are talking about wooden ones, be aware they can become slick with algae after a couple of winters and could be dangerous if placed on the walking route.
Last edited: 24 January 2018 09:10:43
@Nancy Beach - definitely be interested in a pic if it's not too much trouble. I'm thinking probably 20mm pebbles (maybe 40mm), but definitely not the pea shingle.
@Topbird - never thought about hoggin in between, I would have assumed that with rain and movement that this might make it's way up and around the stones, but I can see the advantage of holding the stones in place a bit.
The plan with increasing the size of the pebbles towards the edges was exactly as you've mentioned - gradually getting bigger, especially the parts that won't have any traffic and then collections of bigger rock in certain corners to make it look like they've 'collected' there. I guess I can do this even if we go with gravel for the central area.
Sleepers are going to be for the raised beds and for where the car actually drives/parks - there will be 2 irregular strips running in from the pavement to the parking spot. I appreciate that they can get very slippy, but I've found in the past that regular attacks with a power washer and a bit of roughing up usually solves this. The're intended to look 'rustic' so should be fine.
Overall idea is the pebbles, the distressed (eventually grey) sleepers and some careful planting will give that shingle beach type feel.
It's being started in about a week, so need to finalise things quickly.