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Gardening & Landscaping

Foundations needed for a pathway

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.35 PM

I'm trying to make a path in my garden with stepping stones (large slabs) and chippings in between. I'm laying it on top of clay soil which doesn't drain well and so I'm having to raise the ground level slightly to avoid flooding the path. What (if anything) should I put underneath the chippings and path? I usually use sharp sand on top of the soil to lay the slabs onto but I've been told that some kind of hard core might be required due to wanting to raise the level of the ground. Is this right? I'm hesitant to know what to do as do not want to pack the ground up so much that it does not drain away the rain water as it's quite exposed. I very much value your advice. Thank you in advance for helping me.

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3 Answers

FJ Landscapes

Rating: 5 out of 5

Braintree

Rather than building up if it's getting too high you may have to also dig down to allow yourself to get the correct depth. Generally 4 inches of hardcore + 1-2 inches of cement or 1 inch of screeded sharp sand to lay your stepping stones on is good practise. By digging down into the clay and replacing with soil you are also creating a place for the water to go into and drain away nicely, however on stepping stones you shouldn't have too much trouble anyway.

Answered13 October 2017

Anonymous user

We lay a lot of the time strong sharp sand and cement mix (3:1) onto soil for stepping stones due to people budget. A longer lasting way use mot base and whacker plate it down or concrete it then lay stones on top

Answered28 September 2017

Anonymous user

Hi if you create a good base 5-6inch layer using MOT Type 1 this should help where drainage is concerned even deeper if needed. And lay slabs on a full bed of cement this is standard practice now. If you also encorporate a 10mm drop from first to last slab this will help water run off.

Answered30 November 2017