Block-paved drive, sunk in places

[Avocet]

Hi all, I posted this in the garden section, but without success, so I thought I'd try here as well.

The terrain around our house slopes. A couple of years ago, we had to have the retaining wall rebuilt (it's a boundary we're responsible for). The drive is block-paved up to the retaining wall. In a few places, the blocks have now sunk (I assume it's the disturbed earth settling after the retaining wall was built). For the most part, they've only dropped an inch or less, but in a few places they're up to 3" lower.

Is kiln-dried sand the right stuff to use to pack the bocks back up level, or should I be using something different - like sharp sand or gravel?

 

[noseall]

Hi all, I posted this in the garden section, but without success, so I thought I'd try here as well.

The terrain around our house slopes. A couple of years ago, we had to have the retaining wall rebuilt (it's a boundary we're responsible for). The drive is block-paved up to the retaining wall. In a few places, the blocks have now sunk (I assume it's the disturbed earth settling after the retaining wall was built). For the most part, they've only dropped an inch or less, but in a few places they're up to 3" lower.

Is kiln-dried sand the right stuff to use to pack the bocks back up level, or should I be using something different - like sharp sand or gravel?

What we tend to do with wheel sinkage - localised repairs is replace the screed sand with a dry-ish screed mortar mix and pack them down well. If it's a bigger area, then we compact the sand and give the blocks a rubber tap before wackering...

sunk2.jpg

• noseall
• 24 Jan 2025

sunk1.jpg

• noseall
• 24 Jan 2025

sunk4.jpg

• noseall
• 24 Jan 2025

sunk3.jpg

• noseall
• 24 Jan 2025

 

[Avocet]

Fantastic, thanks! This area doesn't see much wheel traffic, as it's right next to the wall. I'm just hoping it's the earth that was removed when the wall was built (it's between about 2 and 3 feet deep) just compacting itself again?

 

[phatboy]

We repaired our sunken parts with grit sand. Kiln dried sand is for brushing easily into the gaps between the blocks, so you will need a little bit.

Ours was sunken because a HIAB extended a leg onto it, and lifted off a heavy load.