Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 29, 2023 5:36 pm Hi team, a few questions about our proposed driveway: 1) We have about 300m2 of driveway to do, and exposed aggregate / asphalt quotes are coming in around $200/m2 which is getting pricey. We've found a contractor to do a gravel driveway, roadbase + gravel and he has proposed "20mm bluestone drainage will be approx. 80mm thick before rolling, to punch into existing base, on top of 25mm bluestone roadbase 100mm thick before rolling". Is this sufficient thickness to make this long lasting with minor maintenance? Do we also need to include geotech gravel grids (e.g. https://ecosustainablehouse.com.au/prod ... rol-system), as they are quite expensive (about $9K for 300m2)? If required, would making the roadbase or gravel thicker avoid the need for geotech gravel grids? 2) The garage is on a suspended floor, how do we join the gravel driveway up to the garage? Do we need to create a concrete span? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 3) The builder has previously mentioned we should not have any external materials closer to the house than 40-80mm to prevent termites 'jumping across'. How then do we have our garage and driveway connected? Many thanks! Re: Gravel Driveway 2Apr 30, 2023 4:21 pm The proposed thickness of 80mm for the bluestone drainage layer and 100mm for the roadbase before rolling seems adequate for a gravel driveway. However, it is best to consult with a qualified engineer or geotechnical expert to ensure that the design meets the required standards for durability and load-bearing capacity. The use of geotech gravel grids may not be necessary if the base is properly compacted and graded. Increasing the thickness of the roadbase or gravel may help to improve the strength of the driveway, but it is important to ensure that the layers are properly compacted. To join the gravel driveway to the garage, you may need to create a concrete span or ramp that provides a smooth transition between the two surfaces. This will help to prevent damage to the garage floor and ensure that vehicles can easily access the garage. To prevent termites from accessing the garage, you may need to install a physical termite barrier around the perimeter of the garage. This can be a strip of material such as stainless steel, termite-resistant timber or plastic, installed vertically in the ground to a depth of at least 75mm. The garage and driveway can be connected by leaving a gap of at least 40-80mm between the external materials and the garage wall, and ensuring that any landscaping or garden beds are kept clear of the garage. Re: Gravel Driveway 3Apr 30, 2023 4:24 pm TamFred The proposed thickness of 80mm for the bluestone drainage layer and 100mm for the roadbase before rolling seems adequate for a gravel driveway. However, it is best to consult with a qualified engineer or geotechnical expert to ensure that the design meets the required standards for durability and load-bearing capacity. The use of geotech gravel grids may not be necessary if the base is properly compacted and graded. Increasing the thickness of the roadbase or gravel may help to improve the strength of the driveway, but it is important to ensure that the layers are properly compacted. To join the gravel driveway to the garage, you may need to create a concrete span or ramp that provides a smooth transition between the two surfaces. This will help to prevent damage to the garage floor and ensure that vehicles can easily access the garage. To prevent termites from accessing the garage, you may need to install a physical termite barrier around the perimeter of the garage. This can be a strip of material such as stainless steel, termite-resistant timber or plastic, installed vertically in the ground to a depth of at least 75mm. The garage and driveway can be connected by leaving a gap of at least 40-80mm between the external materials and the garage wall, and ensuring that any landscaping or garden beds are kept clear of the garage. Thanks TamFed! 2 3045 I want to build a bigger driveway (without a nature strip) than has been approved under my CDC. I’ve also had a DA approved to build a deck. It looks like I can do this… 0 4933 Very common on rendered homes Smaller suppliers get the lower quality raw materials 6 11989 |