LAYING SELF BINDING GRAVEL - Great Patio Alternative

[@franciscojaviergonzalez4120]

That's family work all the way, you can see the love and that reflects unity. I love it

[@Benzknees]

What you means the bloke doing 90% of the work?

[@justdefacts]

This is exactly what Ive been looking for. I like the look of the paths in public parks and heritage sites and need to hardscape a lot of my garden. No way that I have the budget for paving and I find that standard gravel is hard to find dog mess in so I'll be doing this.

[@ThatOneLadyOverHere]

You made having your kids do it look like it was making the work easier for you! 😆 As a parent I know it's the opposite! Most times it's easier to not let them help than it is the let them. It is better to let them help, so good on you!

[@jonathanvillegas1842]

I would def use it. I'd use it to clean the side yard of my house. it would serve multiple purposes, one id be able to clean it up by removing a mulch cover I currently have, id even out the floor itself, I'd be able to use that space...it's useless and walk less at the moment. It would be the perfect reason to buy a plate compactor. If I decide to put a cover patio id the floor would be cement ready. Great video. That would also be a great place to walk barefoot for grounding purposes for those like me who are into that sort of thing 😁. it would make for a great space to have a long outdoor table for breakfast on cold days. I can go on and on. Thank you again for the great video.

[@billywhizz98]

Well done thats beautiful give yourself and the family a pat on the back you have made a brilliant job of the garden

[@AB-kv6qx]

❤ love, you get the whole family involved

[@jamesparker9243]

Nice job and great video. Great to see the family getting involved. Just like we used to do as kids 👍

[@001SapoBBQ]

Good job. We used the same material 6 years ago and it's still in good condition 👍

[@athloneduke]

I love the Jo and the girls get stuck in, finished job is awesome 👏🏼

[@joanhiggin1134]

Fantastic to see the kids join in 🤩

[@remotorcycled]

Brilliant idea, looking to do something similar so this was a helpful tutorial. Thanks

[@afnankhokhar5578]

Really loving the videos that your churning out. Keep up the good work.

[@bethieg1387]

My landscaper just suggested I use this method on the side of the house where we are trying to save money by not paving with travertine. Now that I've seen how hard it gets, even in the UK with rain, I'm sold! I'm in the desert in the US so I bet it will get rock hard as long as they give it the proper slope so rain does sit on it very long. As usual, the girls are the cutest helpers ever.

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

I have wanted to use this solution for a path to my workshop so now seeing your area and how great it looks makes me want to get it done in the Spring. Andy U.K.

[@lifeukray9285]

Love the video and great help from kids welldone to them

[@markneilson6380]

I'm a big fan of Self Binding Gravel ever since I learned about it at Merrist Wood. Most application's I've been involved with have worked out well. But not all situations were ideal. For instance under trees and high water table you tend to get an abundance of moss growth requiring regular treatment. The milky foot prints can be a nuisance but depending on the aggregate size you can clean the gravel of stone fines (dust) by washing and sprinkle the cleaned gravel over the area to help prevent wet stone dust picking up on shoes.

[@donkmeister]

Ha, Merrist Wood, that takes me back to school trips in the 1980s! I loved those trips, mostly to see the big machinery! Conventional wisdom is that everything down to dust is involved in the interlocking between the stones, so if you wash the fines off, wouldn't the compacted surface lose some of its integrity? Or is it so minimal you don't notice? Not doubting you, just curious as I've never tried pre-washing self-binding aggregates.

[@monkeyfreems]

Breedon, who supply this type of material, suggest sieving fines over those extra gravelly patches before the final steps. They also say that the finished job should give the appearance of fresh concrete i.e. shiny and smooth. I think basically you have too much coarse gravel at the surface and not enough fines. They also recommend a final roll, a) with water sprayed onto the roller and b) without any vibration i.e. don't use whacker plate at this point.

[@user-bl5zi1vb4p]

Hello from Sweden and thanks for that beautiful video clip. I wonder what this material you use exactly is? What is the name of of it?

[@AL_THOMAS]

Brilliant, the BBQ looks amazing!

[@newbeginnings8566]

All valid points... Keep as is or upgrade later you can't go wrong..

[@barcusful]

Brilliant. Thanks again.

[@garethheathcote4988]

It,s nice to see all the girls mucking in there mate. Nice job!

[@peterrathbone179]

Looks good , like a beach.

[@alexjennison9960]

Finish product looks really good mate. The gravel stone pit and timber colours are really good together. I might steal a few ideas! Keep up the good work

[@preyashdesai]

All the videos are really nice. Only thing I would recommened is for vidoes that are in continuation (for e.g. series of videos for a perticular project) ; have previous and next video in the description. Its really difficult to find videos in your lib. But excellent work never the less . :)

[@link5059]

£50 per bag? That's a great price. Where did you buy it from please?

[@jamesa4566]

I like the idea of using this method and laying slabs with mortar at a later date. I have a large patio plot and I'm not exactly time rich so like the idea of doing it in 2 stages.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yep, great short term option. Just a pretty sub base really!

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Thanks, this has been very helpful

[@guyemmott4009]

The wheels on my whacker go round and round..😃

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Thought you were making a statement on the product quality but just sung your comment instead and 😂. It must be late! Coffee needed!

[@missdimples1982]

This looks great, I'm gonna have a crack at this myself

[@donkmeister]

Looks good, and with a mendable surface like that you won't have that permanent reminder of the time someone dropped a bottle of red wine, or spilled some wood preserver etc. It reminds me of the surface you see on the petanque terrains in some French towns. Get yourself some boules!

[@e30g60]

Love your videos 👌🏽

[@wgoconnor33]

Patio looks great , love the fire pit with the grill !

[@puremad1]

I've just done something similar after catching this video looking for ideas instead of same old same old decking, but it wasn't as cheap as you said !! I Used breedon golden amber ... looks the same though but isn't as cheap wish I would of caught the name you mentioned the first time watching... as I've watched a few time and still didn't hear you say Cotswold 😳...haha Final pathway goes in tomorrow. Thanks for the idea I love it . I've hired the wacker and for future maintenance I'd love to buy a small one like yours but new are way to much to warrant, would love to know what and where you got that little blue one from.. Cheers ..

[@m4ckm4n59]

'On the wonk' I love saying that. Good to hear it's becoming common usage out there! :)

[@darkerbliss]

Amazing idea! In the process of doing something very similar at home, only concern is that the edging is only about 100mm high off the ground, should we dig the area out more in order to put in more base or gravel? Love your vids

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Looks brilliant 👍🇬🇧 well done.

[@bensmallwood3289]

Please can I kindly ask how this is holding up? Keen to do it myself but just need the confidence it will last.

[@pljpmas1623]

Considering this for an area which I was going to deck but unable to find anything under £100/bag so am undecided on what to order now. It looks great though and seems to be more fashionable in gardens now.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Find an independent local aggregate merchants. 👍

[@mikemorton954]

Loving the set up and flexibility of the BBQ.

[@edcohen1980]

What is drainage like? I have read that you should camber this surface to allow runoff and prevent puddles. Have you had any issues? I am restoring 1950s path and patio and was going to use this aggregate

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It tends to drain well enough however is sloped toward the concrete wall which is freely draining underneath. I would definitely camber for a drive.

[@mrdcon101]

Great video 😊

[@vaalrus]

Heh. Proper moisture is vital to getting a good bind… When it’s been too dry, I’ve hired bulk water haulers to spray 13 cubic metres a time. My last large project was 5 acres and I kept the truck for about 5 loads. But I got a good crust on the parking lot. Mind you, instead of a rake, I had a 130hp tractor with a 14” levelling box blade behind, and my compactor was a wee bit bigger...

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Wow, that’s a different scale! Yes it’s amazing what difference the water makes, even just rain over the last few weeks has ‘cemented’ it further.

[@seanmcateer9506]

Looks awesome I would definitely use this.

[@barriemoorcroft534]

Just add a colorful resin mix. Looks great and easy to do in a day.

[@miker8149]

Cracking! brill vid thanks

[@herbiesaccani6193]

Can you do this process directly on old paving?

[@willoweve9392]

Is this following on from a previous video showing the prep work? Would like to see what work was involved before this stage.

[@Dazzlar7]

I see you’re getting good use from your wacker plate too. I’ve used mine loads already and still need it for a few more jobs. Would of cost a fortune to hire one for the same period

[@boxingcoachdz6846]

I've seen builders mix cement and sand and spread it all over the flat bed of sharp sand, put the slabs down, then wet the slabs for a few minutes. What do you reckon? Is it a good idea?

[@David-zv2em]

does it deteriorate in areas where there is a lots of rain like Seattle?

[@rob91Harvey]

Been researching a lot about patios, sub-bases, gravel etc recently, I just wondered how much you paid for sub-base, the amount you ordered and ditto for self-binding gravel? Thanks so much

[@TheRestorationCouple]

£35 tonne for type 1 and about twice that for the gravel.

[@jackhopkins9618]

Hi, any tips for using a whacker on this stuff? most places online say to use a roller, im just doing some gravel areas in the back garden for decoration, just curious as to weather you had any learning points with the whacker?

[@louisfroment1879]

well done look great enjoy

[@thedoctorandhim]

Love what you did and want to do something similar. I live on the Bath side of Wiltshire and wondered where you got your SB gravel from. Keep up the good work.

[@davidbanner9001]

To be honest, I think it makes sense around your fire-pit area. But I wouldn't use it as a direct patio replacement. But thanks for all the videos. They really help and inspire me.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Agreed. Not sure I would have used it if we hadn’t already got a stone patio, but perfect for additional areas around the garden. 👍

[@orchardheadstudio1023]

Lovely solution. Would you ever need to consider a weed membrane, maybe on layer of sand over the hardcore before you lay the top layers ?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes it is under the sub base. It’s shown in another video. 👍

[@396032]

Hi Tim, your videos have given me the confidence to do my own patio with oak sleeper edge all the way around. Could you please advise me on the gap between the pavers and the sleepers, on the back side of the patio I'm going to have a 4 inch gap filled with stone for drainage but unsure about the 3 other sides? should there be a gap all around or can I leave just a 10mm gap and fill with joint filler? Just concerned with movement in the oak sleepers, what's your advice?

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Nice video. Do you know, is this stuff the same as Grano dust or is it different?

[@dougsaunders8109]

Looks great and the BBQ / fire pit fabulous centre piece. Will be interesting to see weed growth during a wet Autumn mild winter. I know you put the mat down, but if flowers grow like weeds garden centres would go out of business. I guess there is not such thing as maintenance free outside space....

[@jamessilvester9077]

Maybe a obvious answer but if you mixed some concrete laid it then wet it would it go completely sold and look the same. I love the colour but like you mentioned at the end its going to get moved around the house on your feet. Would it start to crack up?

[@MakingSawdust]

It looks great! I don't know if I would use it at my house but I think it works perfect for around the barbecue. I will keep it in mind when fixing up my own backyard. I love the myriad of projects you tackle!

[@kmdphil]

Can you put this on top of a concrete that is uneven and cracked places and is on a slope slightly down to the back door?

[@charlesmilligan1416]

How do you put the oak retainers in and how do you work out the height?

[@sportmurphy4392]

thanks for the video, a good explanation and the tips at the end about carrying in residue to the home. I'm thinking of using this for a triple driveway picture framed with cobbles as a contrast and a retainer. my reservation is the milky residue as you describe when its wet on the sole of your shoes. I do have a 5 metre path between drive and path. do you think that is enough to lose the residue before reaching the door threshold. though that residue may end up on the path rather than the house. appreciate your advice

[@susiegambie]

Hi, love this project. I'm starting out building a 3.5m wide circular area. Can you tell me where you got your self binding gravel from as certainly haven't seen it low priced? Would a 1 tone sack do the job? Thanks Suise

[@davecharlesworth8176]

Wondering how the shorts and rigger boots sun tan is getting along?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Looks like a rhubarb and custard!

[@simonpond6914]

I don’t know how you do it! I’m trying to keep up with you and I’m knackered. Just got to the end of my mammoth sleeper and fence project and now the wife is getting me lined up for welding balustrade and stair case for our new patio. Seeing the bar b que metal work video has certainly given me a bit more confidence to try welding. If this is likely to be my only welding project, do you think it’s still worth buying the welding gear or hiring? Also chopping metal, Specialists tools? Hire or buy secondhand?

[@pyrrhical3423]

Just find a local car wheel/alloy repair company. I’ve had them weld other things for me before

[@tuscan440r]

Great video. Do you think it's comfortable enough to walk on barefoot? I'm considering it for the patio area but considering the kids run on it from the lawn.

[@andyw3152]

Can you also use granite dust for this top layer?

[@davidgraham22]

Looks good

[@jwills3242]

I can’t find self binding material in the US. Any suggestions? Is there a way to buy all the materials and mix it myself?

[@CastlesMadeOf...]

What about cats and littering? Do they like it? That would be my main concern...

[@annkelly398]

Hi there, we've had some sleeper steps laid with this Cotwold Gold in their treads and the colour isn't as muted as yours. Ours pops far too much in our calm, wistful garden and I'm really disappointed with the colour. So we're frantically needing advice about whether we can paint it or cover it with another coloured self-binding gravel. We don't need a bulk bag and this is proving impossible as they're only sold in these sizes for a Manchester delivery. We walked on it this morning and the orangey colour came off on our shoes as we walked on the decking area next to it! Is this supposed to happen? It was only morning dew and it left a really obvious wet footprint everywhere we stood. Thank you in anticipation.

[@taratanballbag]

Simple solution to fix that compactor's ever moving throttle lever is to pop a nut on the end of the screw

[@ollydearden]

Good advice, make sure you use a decent quality one though, don't want to bust a nut unnecessarily

[@sharonmc5192]

Hi Tim, do you always have to lay this kind of thing over a sub base of MOT or can it go directly on the ground?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Best over sub base as you would need far more of the self binding otherwise.

[@sharonmc5192]

@TheRestorationCouple ​ Thanks Tim, I thought that might be the case. Just looked at prices though and it's pretty much double what you quoted here from three years ago! Looks great though and might be a solution for our garden. Had never heard of it before. Cheers

[@TheRestorationCouple]

@@sharonmc5192 make sure you try aggregate merchants as it’s way cheaper than typical bulk bagged stuff. We just had a quote for a lorry load and it wasn’t that much more than the last time we used it.

[@sharonmc5192]

@@TheRestorationCouple Sorry to be a complete dunce but what do you search for when sourcing Aggregate Merchants in your area? Just 'Aggregate Merchants'? Every time I looked online it just comes up with Companies that are miles away but deliver nationally and the costs vary massively. I'm in Berkshire.

[@freeman6147]

Raised ponds?

[@medicmarkuk]

Just what we're thinking of but where did you get the self-binding gravel from? Looking online it's more like £130 for a tonne bag not £38! Thanks.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Try your local aggregate merchants. You will find branded stuff online is much more. I couldn’t find our receipt but it was around £50 a bag. We use Champions in Somerset.

[@medicmarkuk]

@@TheRestorationCouple Great, thank you!

[@adamwilliams1532]

Try London Rock also as ask for Hoggin 😉

[@RokebyBay]

Nice video. Eight months on and after a winter how is it? Are you still happy with it? We’re thinking of using it

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yeah all good. 👍 Few weeds over winter but only in top inch so just pulled out super easy yesterday.

[@marissacarrara5816]

Hiya - how have you found the performance a year in? Did you find that the base was problematic in areas around table and chair legs? Did you need to do lots of packing back down or rough areas?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It held up well, you always end up with a loose 10- 20mm or so on top like a path would have but furniture doesn’t dig in like it would with gravel if that makes sense. It’s pretty rock solid

[@marissacarrara5816]

@@TheRestorationCouple brilliant thanks for the reply

[@vivaldi1236]

Brilliant.

[@julieannabaca5403]

Exactly what I've been wanting to do with a spot in my yard exactly..thanks

[@cherryturbojames]

It looks great I know it's a favourite of Charlie Dimmock's and I have often considered using it myself and was wondering about how messy it is so I'm glad you addressed that in the video. You've done a great job 👍 well done

[@u8myufo]

Great job, but in normal circumstances you would finish off with clean gravel of the same type on top, and it should prove no problem for the bench set for you.

[@ThomasKempDesign]

Was thinking about using this around my veg raised beds. Interesting comment about the milky foot prints. Do you get dusty ones when it’s dry?

[@ryanh3285]

Nice job where did you order it from? can't seem to find a place that does it locally wondered if its called something else sometimes.

[@adamwilliams1532]

Try searching for Hoggin... Dandy's are nationwide bit recommend London Rock as a supplier 👍

[@grayscottage]

Hi Love the videos what depth did you throw down and how much do you think it compacted by?

[@rollerbladinggeek5507]

Can u imagine having his life? A wife & family & home like that in an area like that with his financial stability & surrounded by supportive people... I guess only some people on this earth are blessed

[@alexist.5598]

If I want to buy this gravel what is it called?

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I lived down a mud track in the 70's and my dad got our neighbours to fork out for the exact same material (we called in hoggin) once it was rollered down, it was just like a half decent road. Plus in the winter it didn't go to a bog! I went back 30 years later....still all there, but a bit rutted. Amazing stuff.

[@spencebespokedreams]

How did you lay your oak sleepers?

[@azza1793]

Look back on earlier videos

[@michaeladams2077]

Thanks for sharing... the DG (decomposed granite) is definitely an issue for us. our 2 and 4 year old always try to play in it. I did research on it and its not exactly healthy to play in it. specially for the young ones. On the plus side like you said, you can always just lay down pavers/flagstone etc now that your base is done :)

[@Hilbregirl]

This video really helped us weigh up options and go down the self-binding gravel route. But am dying to know how you managed the drainage where the gravel falls to the sleeper edge!

[@seanmcateer9506]

Does it keep weeds away for a while?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

There is a membrane under the sub base so any weeds that you might get would just be sat on top and not rooted in.

[@steveadams1013]

Aye, first view😀😀

[@thetruth6693]

Where the hell do you get all this knowledge 😂

[@BigSyzie]

Check the shirt!! You-know@

[@Liam....]

Get some natural stone slabs over top of it, it just looks like compacted crusher run.

[@richardsmart9879]

Hi Tim, I must ,firstly, say that I enjoy most of your videos but getting away from the subject I was just wondering what had happened to your spaniel, I’ve not seen it in a long while. Keep up the good work Richard

[@TheRestorationCouple]

He’s still here. 🐶 Nearly 15 so less by my side as I work now. He’s enjoying the retired life ... albeit with three children running round him all day. Fortunately for him he’s deaf now!

[@richardsmart9879]

Glad to hear he’s still about, and what a good age

[@radicalpaddyo]

I guess the only negative for laying slabs on top of it is that it won't really allow water to go through? So might cause a few drainage issues depending on circumstances.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

This stuff doesn’t really let water through much so you need to allow for that already. 👍