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Self binding gravel path

coaching4adhdcoaching4adhd Posts: 8
in Garden design
My landscaper is about to lay a self binding gravel path. Path is all laid out, with cement edging, hard-core is already down but no sign of a membrane. The weather is going to be pretty wet next week and I understand that there is a specific way of laying self binding gravel? 
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  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I don't really understand what you're asking.

    Do you mean a resin bound gravel path? As far as I know the material for resin bound drives / paths is mixed and laid in a similar manner to concrete. ie gravel is mixed with resin and activator, barrowed into small piles, spread with a rake and then smoothed over and left to set. You wouldn't have membrane under that.

    If I was having a full drive done I would consider using a specialist firm but, for a small path like that, I would have thought a competent landscaper could deal with it. Only you know your landscaper and how much experience he has dealing with this material.

    If you're not sure, why not have a chat with him before he starts to confirm he knows how to lay this material successfully.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • coaching4adhdcoaching4adhd Posts: 8
    It’s self-binding gravel, no mention of resin. Was hoping someone had experience of landscaping with this 
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    A resin bound path needs a solid completely level base, usually concrete so a very expensive and resource intensive affair. Self binding can be laid on a sub-base of hardcore or directly into soil.  It’s debatable whether membrane adds any benefit so not always used and if it is should be underneath the hardcore layer. When laying it’s usually a final death of around 50mm, but laid gradually eg 15-20mm. Link here to advice from one of the bigger suppliers https://www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk/laying
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • coaching4adhdcoaching4adhd Posts: 8
    Thankyou, that makes sense 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    @McRazz
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    It looks like such a mean path...too late to make it a bit wider but presumably it's there as a decorative feature than a path...
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • coaching4adhdcoaching4adhd Posts: 8
    Yes it’s a decorative feature but would be better a bit wider I agree
    ive been unable to monitor as mum’s very ill in hospital so ive had to leave them to get on with it 😏
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    I suspect OP is referring to a self binding gravel such as CEDEC...

    https://www.cedstone.co.uk/landscape/product-range/cedec-footpath-gravel-gold

    Geotextile is optional (this would usually be a Terram1000 or similar). I'd say that the geotextile is better laid beneath the sub base with the self binding gravel laid on top. If you choose for a geotextile directly below the tension of the fabric can present itself with undesireable fracturing of the surface layer. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    We had self-binding gravel laid over heavy duty Terram 10 years or more ago around our garage/parking area and we are very pleased with it. As far as I know, it's simply a gravel/sandy mix which helps to keep the gravel in place when using it for a car park space, i.e. the gravel doesn't get spread by the tyres so much over the adjoining areas or into the road. We are now getting some weeds self-seeding into it but they are fairly easy to pull up or weed kill. 
    The Terram hasn't yet shown up on the top surface, I think it was probably as McRazz says under the sub base.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • coaching4adhdcoaching4adhd Posts: 8
    Apparently it has clay as an element of the gravel too so it hardens when dry

    what is Terram? 
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