How much haunching can I cut away?

[thomp1983]

Hi all,

We have 3 diamonds on the middle of our tarmac driveway to allow drainage into the soakaway.

I'm fed up of putting the gravel back in when the cars are moved about, I'm thinking about putting gravel grids inside the diamonds to contain the gravel, to do so neatly I'd like to cut the concrete haunching flush inside the diamonds, will doing this seriously compromise the strength of the concrete retaining the block pavers? I obviously don't want these coming loose and moving.

Thanks
Chris

 

[pcaouolte]

will doing this seriously compromise the strength of the concrete retaining the block pavers

Yes. That concrete is the only thing preventing the pavers from moving sideways when a car runs over them. Leave the concrete there and cut the grids.

 

[noseall]

Hi all,

View attachment 338812
View attachment 338813

We have 3 diamonds on the middle of our tarmac driveway to allow drainage into the soakaway.

I'm fed up of putting the gravel back in when the cars are moved about, I'm thinking about putting gravel grids inside the diamonds to contain the gravel, to do so neatly I'd like to cut the concrete haunching flush inside the diamonds, will doing this seriously compromise the strength of the concrete retaining the block pavers? I obviously don't want these coming loose and moving.

Thanks
Chris

Do the right thing - tarmac the diamonds. Gravel will still migrate.

 

[thomp1983]

Ultimately she wants the diamonds filled with resin finish but it'll probably be at least 18 months off, the gravel grids are just a temporary measure, a mate has a full drive with them and he reckons he gets very little migration, I just need to find a way to neatly finish them to the edges if I can't make the haunching square to them

 

[^woody^]

Remove the concrete fit a plastic edge restraint system.

or

Mix a strong "no-fines" mix and lay that around the border then clean the top with a bit of weak acid to expose the gravel.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Ultimately she wants the diamonds

Don't they all!



Andy

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I'd be very happy if something as minor as this was the top of my to-do list.

 

[thomp1983]

Believe me it's on a huge list of other stuff but it's still something that needs dealing with

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It may be there as drainage. If you replace it with anything non-porous or less porous then you may get flooding.

Check with a long level, the tarmac patches may all slope towards the gravel.

 

[thomp1983]

I know the tarmac drains into it, I dug the soakaway that's under it before the drive was laid.