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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Hi list!
I'm interested in putting gravel down to replace the grass in my small front garden, mostly to reduce maintenance (terrace house, so to mow it I have to drag the mower through the house). Would I be right in saying the job is roughly: 1) dig out existing topsoil down six inches or so 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds 3) get gravel delivered from local builders yard 4) haul gravel up onto garden (it's about 2 feet above ground level, so I think this necessitates a 'barrow and has to be done by hand) and spread it out with a rake. The garden is quite small -- about 12ftx8ft, or thereabouts. The guy in the local builder's yard reckoned a half-ton of chippings, quite chunky ones (10-15mm or so, by eye). Does the amount seem about right to everyone? What about compacting, either the earth underneath or the gravel once laid? This garden won't be walked on often or driven on, so is compaction necessary? Finally, costs. Seems like the DIY approach will be pretty cheap -- a decent shovel and barrow, £10 or so for the impermeable layer, and about £35 for the chippings. Have I missed something off the list? And does anyone have any idea roughly what it would be cost to have the job done by a professional? I've rung a half-dozen firms but none of them are answering the phone. Any help greatfully received! |
#2
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
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#3
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
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#4
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
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#5
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Park your car to keep a space, so that you can be certain the truck can
get to the best position when it arrives. Tell the delivery driver how impressed you'll be if he can swing the semi-bulk bag into the middle of your ex-lawn. |
#6
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
wrote:
Hi list! I'm interested in putting gravel down to replace the grass in my small front garden, mostly to reduce maintenance (terrace house, so to mow it I have to drag the mower through the house). Would I be right in saying the job is roughly: 1) dig out existing topsoil down six inches or so 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds 3) get gravel delivered from local builders yard 4) haul gravel up onto garden (it's about 2 feet above ground level, so I think this necessitates a 'barrow and has to be done by hand) and spread it out with a rake. The garden is quite small -- about 12ftx8ft, or thereabouts. The guy in the local builder's yard reckoned a half-ton of chippings, quite chunky ones (10-15mm or so, by eye). Does the amount seem about right to everyone? What about compacting, either the earth underneath or the gravel once laid? This garden won't be walked on often or driven on, so is compaction necessary? Finally, costs. Seems like the DIY approach will be pretty cheap -- a decent shovel and barrow, £10 or so for the impermeable layer, and about £35 for the chippings. Have I missed something off the list? And does anyone have any idea roughly what it would be cost to have the job done by a professional? I've rung a half-dozen firms but none of them are answering the phone. Any help greatfully received! [==================] A couple of my neighbours have done this. One didn't use a plastic or another membrane, and one used black butyl fish pond liner. Neither have any weeds growing through. I have also seen it done with bark chippings instead of gravel, which is much lighter to spread about. Again, no weeds have come through. A lot of parks departments use bark chippings to avoid weeding in flower beds. |
#7
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Cuprager wrote:
You could probably get the delivery driver to postion the ton bag of chips over where you want them and then you could slash the bottom of the bag that they are being delivered in and voila - a ton (or half) chips right where you intend them to be! Then just rake them about a bit... Aye, that'd be ideal. Might not work though! The garden is about 3 feet above street level, so I'm not sure if we'll be able to deliver them straight onto it. To make matters worse, the driveway that runs alongside that garden is quite sloped (3 feet vertical climb in about 16 feet of horizontal distance) so unsuitable for tipping onto. I have the horrible idea he'll have to deliver onto the street and we'll move the chippings by hand -- probably the hardest part of the whole job. |
#8
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
MikeH wrote:
wrote: [snip] 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds [snip] Don't you want a semi-permeable barrier? It stops weeds growing but allows drainage. D'oh, yes, that is of course what I mean. Usefully, the Terram factory is only a few miles from my house; I wonder if they have a factory shop... |
#9
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Phil Anthropist wrote:
wrote: Hi list! A couple of my neighbours have done this. One didn't use a plastic or another membrane, and one used black butyl fish pond liner. Neither have any weeds growing through. I have also seen it done with bark chippings instead of gravel, which is much lighter to spread about. Again, no weeds have come through. A lot of parks departments use bark chippings to avoid weeding in flower beds. For heavens sake dont use Bark Chippings. They are APITA. They attract woodlice by the million. They rot down and need replacing. When the wind blows the top ones dry off and blow everywhere. Bark Chippings OK in local Parks and Gardens. **** bad news in front gardens. I know from experience. |
#11
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
wrote in message ps.com... 1) dig out existing topsoil down six inches or so If that is all gravel, it will be difficult to walk on. Lay a couple of inches of well-compacted MOT sub-base and a couple of inches of gravel on top of that. 1a) remove large volume of topsoil from site 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds As others have pointed out, semi-permeable membrane is the right stuff. 3) get gravel delivered from local builders yard 4) haul gravel up onto garden (it's about 2 feet above ground level, so I think this necessitates a 'barrow and has to be done by hand) and spread it out with a rake. The driver should be able to dump the bag on your new gravel area. The garden is quite small -- about 12ftx8ft, or thereabouts. The guy in the local builder's yard reckoned a half-ton of chippings, quite chunky ones (10-15mm or so, by eye). Does the amount seem about right to everyone? Doesn't sound enough to me. It took six tonnes to do a 3m radius circle and some paths in my house to 50mm deep. It is also worth specifying 20mm grid chippings. They are far less attractive to cats as a litter tray than smaller sizes. Colin Bignell |
#12
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
For heavens sake dont use Bark Chippings. They are APITA. They attract
woodlice by the million. They rot down and need replacing. When the wind blows the top ones dry off and blow everywhere. I have the entire back garden bark chipped - the birds love it... Yes, they rot and need adding to on an annual basis, but our two dogs probably scatter more than the wind blows... Ours is very shallow (2" max in places) but it still does a very good job at keeping weeds down generally. |
#13
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
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#14
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:27:54 +0100, "nightjar" nightjar@insert my
surname here.uk.com wrote: . It is also worth specifying 20mm grid chippings. They are far less attractive to cats as a litter tray than smaller sizes. Agreed. They also don't get picked up in the soles of your shoes and walked into the house as much as the smaller stuff (nor get stuck in car/bike tyres) Cheers, John |
#15
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
wrote:
Hi list! I'm interested in putting gravel down to replace the grass in my small front garden, mostly to reduce maintenance (terrace house, so to mow it I have to drag the mower through the house). Would I be right in saying the job is roughly: 1) dig out existing topsoil down six inches or so Dont bother, gravel right over it. 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds Use a decent weed control fabric. http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/160172 3) get gravel delivered from local builders yard Yup. In 1 Tonne bags. Go for 18mm gravel, it won't move about as much as 10mm. 4) haul gravel up onto garden (it's about 2 feet above ground level, so I think this necessitates a 'barrow and has to be done by hand) and spread it out with a rake. The Hiab on the delivery truck will easily lift over that. The garden is quite small -- about 12ftx8ft, or thereabouts. The guy in the local builder's yard reckoned a half-ton of chippings, quite chunky ones (10-15mm or so, by eye). Does the amount seem about right to everyone? About right for 18mm What about compacting, either the earth underneath or the gravel once laid? This garden won't be walked on often or driven on, so is compaction necessary? Not unless you drive/walk on it. Finally, costs. Seems like the DIY approach will be pretty cheap -- a decent shovel and barrow, £10 or so for the impermeable layer, and about £35 for the chippings. Have I missed something off the list? A back support belt if you are 40+ ! Gravel in 1 tonne bags doesn't spread itself when you cut the bag open. You have to shovel, barrow & rake. And does anyone have any idea roughly what it would be cost to have the job done by a professional? I've rung a half-dozen firms but none of them are answering the phone. I would charge about a days labour + gravel + weed control fabric, + a margin on a job like this, so about £300. -- Dave The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk 01634 717930 07850 597257 |
#16
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
MikeH wrote:
wrote: [snip] 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds [snip] Don't you want a semi-permeable barrier? It stops weeds growing but allows drainage. If you put down an impermeable barrier you'll get puddles unless you arrange enough slope to ensure rainwater can run off. Mike And both will in time get infested with weeds anyway..dust and water collects, and seeds, and off go the weeds. Only sure way to stop weeds is to use pathclear every year. |
#17
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Bookworm wrote:
wrote: 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds It is best to use woven Polypropylene sheet. It allows water through but weeds will not come through, (though they sometimes grow in the gravel). They won't "come through" 4" of gravel anyway. They WILL seed in almost anything. |
#18
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
Bookworm wrote:
wrote: 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds It is best to use woven Polypropylene sheet. It allows water through but weeds will not come through, (though they sometimes grow in the gravel). I've had this before though, at a house I used to live at -- weeds in gravel are no problem as they are very easy to pull up. Weeds rooted in the earth are a lot harder to get at. I realise no solution will be totally weed-free, I'm just happy to only have to weed for 5 minutes a few times a year! |
#19
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General advice sought on gravelling a garden
wrote:
Bookworm wrote: wrote: 2) lay impermeable plastic layer to kill weeds It is best to use woven Polypropylene sheet. It allows water through but weeds will not come through, (though they sometimes grow in the gravel). I've had this before though, at a house I used to live at -- weeds in gravel are no problem as they are very easy to pull up. Weeds rooted in the earth are a lot harder to get at. I realise no solution will be totally weed-free, I'm just happy to only have to weed for 5 minutes a few times a year! Well thats all I do..go round with path clear once a year. No polypropylene at all. just a deep layer of crushed limestone and a deep layer of gravel. |
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