Explore loose aggregate for a Sandwich entrance, parking area or garden approach. We discuss decorative stone, stable support, edging and possible grid systems, with slope, turning movements and ongoing maintenance considered before choosing the finish.
Compare samples for the house and garden, then discuss grading and shape for the intended traffic. The choice between 10mm and 20mm is not settled by colour alone. Walking comfort, movement and compatibility with any grid also matter.
Include the route from parked vehicles to the house. Loose aggregate may need a different arrangement at doors or frequently used walking areas. Ask how the chosen stone is contained where it meets paths, beds and the entrance.
Assess slope, turning and underlying support
Loose stone can move where vehicles turn or the drive slopes. Show those parts of the site in photographs. Firm edges, suitable support and a compatible stabilisation system may help, with suitability assessed for the actual gradient and use.
Gravel should not be presented as a way to avoid preparation. Recurring ruts or soft areas need investigation beneath the visible layer. Water management depends on the ground and construction, not simply on spaces between the stones.
Separate decorative stone from construction quantities
Measure the area and agree the selected system before calculating quantities. Decorative aggregate and supporting material have different jobs. Specify their quantities separately and use supplier data when converting a volume to weight.
A price per tonne is a material comparison, not a complete driveway price. Check delivery charges, bag weights and access for unloading. For an existing drive, clarify whether stone is redistributed, topped up or removed and what base repairs are included.
Plan upkeep and compare complete costs
Gravel can be a potential lower-cost option, but your ground, edges and access still define the installation. Compare full scopes with resin, blocks or tarmac rather than buying stone before preparation is agreed.
Allow for redistribution, weed control and occasional top-ups. Keep the stone specification for later replenishment. If movement or rutting repeatedly returns, assess the construction and use instead of continually adding aggregate over the same fault.
Keep aggregate quantities and supporting work distinct
Calculate the decorative quantity from the measured area and the agreed depth for the selected stone or grid. Convert volume to weight using supplier data for that material. Check the stated weight of bags and whether delivery is included; a bulk bag is not automatically one tonne.
The supporting aggregate and decorative stone perform different roles and need separate quantities in the proposal. Record the stone name and grading for future top-ups. Where an existing drive is being refreshed, clarify whether old stone is redistributed, supplemented or removed, and which base or edge repairs are included.
What the complete Sandwich quotation should cover
Use the same agreed scope when comparing proposals. Confirm the materials and work below the visible finish, together with any retained construction. Ask how exclusions or provisional work will be handled and keep the written specification with the quotation.
Measured parking area and walking-route arrangements
Excavation or assessment of retained supporting layers
Named decorative aggregate and specified quantity
Any compatible grid or separation system and its purpose
Edge containment, slope assessment and water route
Delivery, disposal, maintenance guidance, VAT and exclusions
Photographs, dimensions and access details help define the work. They can start the discussion, with a visit or further assessment where needed. A quoted total is useful when it is clear what the finished result includes.
From the first enquiry to handover
Assess slope, access, turning and the existing support.
Agree stone samples, construction and containment.
Install suitable support and any specified fabric or grid.
Place aggregate to the agreed system requirements and finish edges.
Explain redistribution, top-ups and what recurrent rutting could indicate.
Agree the programme after the scope and materials are confirmed. Include delivery arrangements, protection of retained features and any periods when the area cannot be used. At handover, confirm how the completed work should be used and cared for, and retain the relevant product details.
COMPLETED PROJECT · CANTERBURY
Tiered garden and paving circles
Retaining walls, shingle infill and riven buff slab circles across connected garden levels.
This project is in Canterbury. The photographs show the documented work at that property.