How thick should a patio sub-base be?

The depth of the mortar bed should be approximately 35-40mm deep. Ideally starting from a right angle or straight edge, place the slab down. Gently tap with a rubber mallet or press down with your hands and use a spirit level to ensure to make sure the slab is level and in line with your proposed design.

How do I find my sub-base level?





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Quote from Youtube video: The fall should be 1 in 60. So for every 60 centimeters of paving the drop should be one centimeter. For example if your patio is three meters. Then one end should be five centimeters.

Do I need a sub-base for patio?

Do I really need a Sub-base? The short answer is: if the pavement will be trafficked by vehicles, then yes, but if it will be foot-traffic only, then not necessarily. The type of paving or surfacing that will be used is one of the key factors in determining whether a sub-base will be required.

Can I use broken slabs as a sub-base?

It will be fine.

Can I use gravel as sub-base?

This unstable structure means all gravels are not suitable for patio sub bases. The typical reason for wanting to use gravel for a patio base is recycling existing materials. It is much more expensive to skip used gravel and buy in fresh sub base.

What sub-base do I need for a patio?





The depth at which you will need your base will depend on where you are laying your paving and whether you want this paving raised or at ground level. The Typical measurements are a depth of 150mm. This includes a 75mm sub base, 50mm of a mortar mix or sharp sand and then the paving on top of this.

What is Type 2 sub-base?

Our Type 2 is a crushed aggregate with extra dusts and fines, which makes the perfect sub base for a range of domestic and commercial construction projects. Graded to 50mm down to dust and fines no specified grading, it is finer than our MOT Type 1 sub base, as it is composed of fewer larger angular scalpings.

Can you use ballast as a sub-base?

Can I use ballast as a sub base? Ballast is available in different types for different needs. 0-20mm ballast is perfect for sub-base and concrete foundations. 20mm screened ballast is versatile and can be used on driveways, footpaths, oversite fill as well as sub-bases.

What happens if you dont compact sub-base?

Each time a vehicle pulls into a garage and stops, that action creates a plate compactor effect. If the backfill under the slab has not been properly compacted, the structural fill will eventually settle, leaving voids.

Can I use sharp sand as a sub-base?



We recommend laying sharp sand to the thickness of 10/15mm . The sand is only there to blind the top of your sub-base, so it should be firm.

Can you mix sub-base with sand?

In our opinion a standard back garden patio installation with a good sub-base and substantial drainage, we would recommend a 7:1 mix which equates to 7 even parts of sand and 1 part cement.

Can I use old concrete as subbase?

No you should not reuse concrete as hardcore/aggregate as concrete is not as hard as ballast. This will weaken it and mean the concrete is not full strength.

Can you use aggregate as sub-base?



Most paving relies on the support, literally, of a sound sub-base, a layer of crushed aggregate that provides strength and load-bearing capability.

What is Type 3 sub-base?

Type 3 sub-base is a pure crushed granite, limestone or clean crushed concrete. Usually a 40mm product that has been screened to create a reduced fines aggregate. This product is fully certified according to the Specification for Highway Works. This is the most widely used sub-base where less fines are required.

How much sub-base do I need for a gravel driveway?

If using 20mm gravel, we recommend a depth of at least 5cm or 50mm for the gravel layer, and a depth of at least 15cm or 150mm for an MOT Type 1 sub-base. Therefore, a gravel driveway should be at least 20cm or 200mm deep, including the sub-base.

What is the best sub-base for a gravel driveway?

The most common sub-base material is DT Type 1 (MOT) which consists of crushed rock graded from 40mm down to dust. The range of sizes ensure the material interlocks when compacted whilst still remaining permeable to water.

How do you compact a sub-base for a driveway?



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How thick should a driveway base be?

The minimum thickness in most codes for a residential driveway is 4-inches of concrete on a prepared base. Using stronger concrete can decrease that to 3” in some areas, although it won’t decrease the cost much if any. A properly prepared base and subbase will increase the driveway thickness by 4” to 8” too.

What is the best base for driveway?

These are the best options for driveway surfaces gravel, because they are small stones combined with rock dust, which makes a more solid driving surface.

  • Crushed Stone #411. It is crushed up #57 stone combined with rock dust. …
  • Quarry Process. …
  • Pea Gravel. …
  • Jersey Shore Gravel. …
  • Marble Chips. …
  • Blackstar or Blacktrap Rock.


How many inches of gravel do you need for a concrete driveway?



How Much Gravel Do You Put Under a Concrete Slab? You will need 3 inches of gravel under a concrete slab that is 4 inches thick. More gravel is better, but 3 inches is the minimum amount of gravel you should have with a 4” slab. Use ¾” washed and screened gravel, then compact it to level.