Not sure whether this post should be here or in gardening (or somewhere else).
Our tarmac driveway needs widening. I’m going to steal 3 foot from the lawn to do this. Not sure yet what I’m going to use as a topping for the extended bit – may use concrete; tarmac or block paving. The length of the extended bit of drive is about 40 foot.
My plan is to dig out the lawn about 8 inches to a foot deep, lay hardcore, ballast, etc and then top with 4 inches of concrete. The excavated soil from the front garden will be going into a rather large hollow in the back garden.
First question relates to the foundations. I’ve got stacks of rubble in the back garden. Mainly concrete blocks that are the 1930’s equivalent of breezeblock (12 inch by 6 inch by 8 inch) – and very heavy. Also got some 2 inch thick concrete that was laid as a base for a shed.
Finally, got lots of bits of sandstone that has been ‘mined’ from under our living room – long story but it looks like at some point an air raid shelter was put under our living room. The sandstone from this is currently under our dining room and will need to be moved/removed at some point in the future when I put a new radiator in.
Can I use any of the above as a base – probably along with a few jumbo bags of ballast from Wickes?
Questions on the pros and cons of concrete, block paving and tarmac to follow.
Many thanks in advance
Gordon
Our tarmac driveway needs widening. I’m going to steal 3 foot from the lawn to do this. Not sure yet what I’m going to use as a topping for the extended bit – may use concrete; tarmac or block paving. The length of the extended bit of drive is about 40 foot.
My plan is to dig out the lawn about 8 inches to a foot deep, lay hardcore, ballast, etc and then top with 4 inches of concrete. The excavated soil from the front garden will be going into a rather large hollow in the back garden.
First question relates to the foundations. I’ve got stacks of rubble in the back garden. Mainly concrete blocks that are the 1930’s equivalent of breezeblock (12 inch by 6 inch by 8 inch) – and very heavy. Also got some 2 inch thick concrete that was laid as a base for a shed.
Finally, got lots of bits of sandstone that has been ‘mined’ from under our living room – long story but it looks like at some point an air raid shelter was put under our living room. The sandstone from this is currently under our dining room and will need to be moved/removed at some point in the future when I put a new radiator in.
Can I use any of the above as a base – probably along with a few jumbo bags of ballast from Wickes?
Questions on the pros and cons of concrete, block paving and tarmac to follow.
Many thanks in advance
Gordon