can topsoil be laid over hardcore an sand?

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I have a patio I'd like to remove in order to place decking. I don't want to lose out on height what with the 30cm limit, sO I'd like to replace the patio brick with top soil, I'd like to leave the patio bedding (hardcore and sand) where it is. Can I do this? Can around 6" of topsoil be laid on top of what is essentially non organic matter? I won't be growing anything and it will all be covered by a membrane. I can dig the post holes deeper into the established soil. will the topsoil just blow away if it's too shallow?
 
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if i take out the patio brick i need to be 30cm from the new level, if i replace with top soil I can maintain the old level, so my deck can be just as high.
 
No, I still don't understand.
Are you proposing to lay the decking tinber onto the new soil?
 
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the posts would go through the new top soil, through the sand, through the hardcore, and eventually the soil thats underneath that. it will be an elevated deck, there is a limit of 30cm before you need planning permission.
 
OK, I understand. You're asking about planning permission.
Someone might know the answer here but it might be better to ask in thr building regs & planning section.
My guess would be that the 30cm would be from the natural ground level, and that adding topsoil would not change anything, but I kniw nothing.
 
I'm not asking about planning permission

I have a patio I'd like to remove in order to place decking. I don't want to lose out on height what with the 30cm limit, sO I'd like to replace the patio brick with top soil, I'd like to leave the patio bedding (hardcore and sand) where it is. Can I do this? Can around 6" of topsoil be laid on top of what is essentially non organic matter? I won't be growing anything and it will all be covered by a membrane. I can dig the post holes deeper into the established soil. will the topsoil just blow away if it's too shallow?
 
Can around 6" of topsoil be laid on top of what is essentially non organic matter?
will the topsoil just blow away if it's too shallow?
 
Yes and no respectively.
Though it might wash away.
BUT.... I doubt this changes anything about the PLANNING issue; it would be a massive loophole in the rules if you could just add or remove soil to change the level from which something is measured. I would guess that the measurement is from the natural ground level. But the people who might know about that are in the building regs & planning section.
 
it would be too ambiguous for them to try and measure to the original level, how would they know where it is? besides, all i'm planning to do is replace the patio brick and maintain the current level. its possible the people who put it in didn't take out soil and the patio now rests above it, but unless there is some formula for it using something on the house as reference, I don't see how they would complain. i could be dead wrong though, this is the civil service, some have lost their joie de vivre.
 
Why dont you just leave the patio where it is and build the decking above it? can't see what the point of the soil is? I think the 30cm will be relative to the rest of the ground, nothing to do with what's under it, there could be a meter deep hole under and nothing would change.
 
Magic is right whats under the decking is irrelevant, Your only issue is where the decking meets the rest of the lawn or garden. Can you post a photo or quick sketch?

Putting top soil on hardcore sub base will lead to very poor drainage and boggy soil. It would be crazy to fill an area under decking with topsoil if there is a hardcore sub base in there and no reason for the soil.
 
the decking wont cover the entire existing patio area, so the place where the planning office is likely to measure would be right next to the decking which is where the current patio is. by replacing it with topsoil i would be maintaining the current level. all i need to know is if the soil will survive on top of hardcore and sand if its 6" thick.
 
Yes it will no problem. As I said though it might be a little bit boggy. Loosening up the sub base would help significantly or better yet fill with 50mm of 10mm gravel and then 100mm or soil.
 

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