Block paving in driveway question

[dormermike]

Hi

I have quite a long driveway which is block paved (bricks). I notice the sand is coming up, and accumilates against the walls either side of the driveway.

Its a bit annoying and as I havent noticed it on anyone elses block driveway I wondered what was causing it? Should I seal it?

Thanks
Mike

 

[ImayKnow]

Mike is the sub base sufficient - are the blocks sinking under the weight of vehicles?

 

[dormermike]

I did wonder about that - there are two very slight (5mm or so at a guess) grooves where my car (old 3 series, about 1.5ton) drives into the garage every day.

The block driveway was laid in 2008 and has a 10 year warranty - was fitted by the prior owner so i'm not sure it even applies anymore. Do you think it is reasonably worth getting them back to have a look, or is there something I can do to stop it myself?

Presumably you are thinking that the movement is pushing the sand out? There is a 1cm gap at the other side of the drive (opposite side to house) alongside the garden wall - can't be helping i guess.

Thanks

 

[lasors]

Sounds like it's spreading as it's not bound in on that side you mentioned, thus opening up the joints ever so slightly and allowing sand to be pumped up to the surface. If this is the case it's only going to get worse.

Is there any way you can remove a few blocks in an untrafficked corner and check type and depth of construction layers? I wonder if there's an impermeable membrane under the sand? If the bedding sand becomes waterlogged it will be quite fluid and try and escape where it can.

 

[dormermike]

Thanks

I may be able to lide a couple of blocks. Who could i call to look at this, hopefully the whole drive wont have to be redone? It cost 10k!

 

[r896neo]

Is there any chance of a photo?

Could it be ants bringing jointing sand up?

 

[dormermike]

Here you go - thanks

Untitled

• dormermike
• 28 Jul 2013
• 1

 

[lasors]

Does it fall towards that wall? If so is it just sand washing off the surface to the bottom of the wall?

 

[dormermike]

lasors - embarrasingly that had not even occured to me. Just in the bottom left you can see a drain, the driveway slopes into that drain where I was standing to take the photo, though the area actually in the photo is largely flat. I guess sand erroding off the top of the driveway has to stop somewhere..

Thanks - I guess thats a reasonable explanation (behind where i'm stood there is a car, been parked for years - there is a lot of sand next to it) - especially as the wind tunnels down the drive. You've put my mind at ease anyway - i'll leave it and see what happens I think..

 

[lasors]

As always a picture speaks a thousand words! Lol. Don't worry about it, but keep an eye on it, particularly that unbound edge. I'd investigate that first and consider putting some concrete in to hold the edge.

 

[dormermike]

Good idea about the concrete - i'll try and sort that out asap.

Thanks again.

 

[Skimmers]

no need to play with it get wash it and resand the drive with kiln dryed sand and re whack the drive and seal it up job done done loads like this if it falls to the house youll need a gully drain