Off road parking opinions

[highwaychile]

Hi guys,

I am in the process of creating a parking place outside my house, measuring approx 5.5m x 2.5m.

I've already dug my hole out down to 100mm and have a solid base to lay onto.

I was planning on sticking some gravel down but when discussing this with my dad he thought I was crazy and said I would be better off with concrete as gravel would just end up all over the road.

The only traffic over it will be a car pulling up and reversing off at low speeds, so do you think I would be OK with gravel?

Cheers for any advice.

Mark.

 

[JerryD]

If you've dug down to 100mm below finished level then that's too deep for gravel, You'll have to fill with 75mm Mot Type 1 scalpings, well compacted then 25 - 30mm shingle.

Shingle will get onto the road however, it picks up on the tyres and also gets in the treads so you'll get that ticking noise as you drive up the road then a 'bang' as the stone leaves the tyre and shot-blasts your car bodywork at 60mph!

I'd go for concrete/paving but it's personal opinion here.

 

[TexMex]

If you do opt for concrete, you'd probably get away with 100mm (in the short term at least) but I'd be inclined to make it 150mm. to reduce likelyhood of cracking, in due course.

 

[highwaychile]

Thanks for the quick replies, looks like im going to be laying some concrete then.

Any links or tips on laying concrete as never done it before?

Cheers,


Mark.

 

[masona]

Any links or tips on laying concrete as never done it before?

This website here should help you, get back to us if you're not sure

 

[bobb]

I was planning on sticking some gravel down but when discussing this with my dad he thought I was crazy and said I would be better off with concrete as gravel would just end up all over the road.

i just had mine done with block paviors and it looks great. cost about £1500 for an area bigger than you're talking about.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Gravel does spread, but you can use raised edges to keep most of it behind.

The great thing about it is that it allows water to drain away. Flooding due to increased hard landscaping is on the increase.

Is the position of the car predictable? Could you have a couple of paved/concreted strips with gravel in between?

Finally, if you doing this to provide parking, and not as a way to avoid maintenanance, how about those hexagonal concrete blocks with holes in (can't remember what they are called) - grass will grow through and cover them, but the surface will be strong enough to take the weight of a car. Mind you - you'd have to fill that hole with soil.....

 

[masona]

Gravel does spread, but you can use raised edges to keep most of it behind.

My mum's have a gravel driveway and the disadvantage is,
1, Children will play with it or kick it around !
2, Pea shingles over the pavement causing by car driving over it.
3, Can be noisy specially with cars.
4, Pea shingles inside the car, tyre & training shoe!
5, A gaint dogs & cats litter tray !

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm beginning to think you don't like gravel...

 

[markf]

Throwing in my tuppence worth here:-

Gravel will not stick in the tyre treads as long as the size is a minimum of 20mm. Also at this size dogs and cats will not be as inclined to use it as litter trays (the keywords here are not inclined).

If gravelling you do not want a depth any greater than 2" as the tyres will sink and you will be forever raking it.

Ban, I think the stuff you are taliking about is called grasscrete.

One more thought, If you are going to concrete, habe you considered going for PAttern Impressed Concrete (not a DIY job however). it looks like block/slate/cobbled/whatever you want paving, but without the growth of weeeds or moss.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ban, I think the stuff you are taliking about is called grasscrete.

That's the stuff - there may be other makers/systems. Quick check on their website shows that they also do a plastic system which seems to get better grass coverage:

One more thought, If you are going to concrete, habe you considered going for PAttern Impressed Concrete (not a DIY job however). it looks like block/slate/cobbled/whatever you want paving, but without the growth of weeeds or moss.

Well it sort of looks like the real thing.


From a distance.


In half light.


If you screw your eyes up a bit.

 

[masona]

This has given me some idea for my son car on my driveway which I don't want to lose the grass feel.

You often see these in car park, I was wondering do you use the lawn mower to keep the grass down ?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well - I suppose you could buy a goat or a sheep....

 

[Thermo]

i think its called grasscrete if that helps

thermo