so we have had a situation where the ground was escuvated in preparation for a cement slab however circumstances have changed and we are not looking at options on what to do we are thinking of sure pave area for caravan storage. And then re filling the other area with turf. my questions I spose is what order should we do the project and what edging should we use to divide the grass and gravel areas also there is a gap area along fence what should we use to fill in the gaps to avoid the gravel from falling under the fence the old owners have something that was there but it’s all falling off and any other advice I have not thought of.
Hi @diymummychar,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It is wonderful to have you with us.
Considering you are planning to use https://www.bunnings.com.au/strol-0-5m-surepave-plastic-pavers_p3452192 , it would be a good idea to have a good read of their installation instructions, which is the main document you should be using, as well as their product page - https://www.strol.com.au/products/permeable-paving/surepave-for-gravel/
I think your plan to use SurePave for the caravan storage area and return the remainder to lawn is certainly workable. The main thing would be getting your finished levels, drainage and edging sorted before bringing in the materials.
For the caravan area, the SurePave installation guide recommends a 150mm compacted base course for heavy vehicle applications, so with the weight of a caravan, I would work to this specification. You can use road base for this compacted base. On top of the 150mm base, the guide calls for a 15–20mm layer of clean sharp sand or crusher dust before installing the SurePave panels. The panels can then be filled with gravel and compacted. Make sure the base material is compacted thoroughly, preferably in layers, as this is what will provide the support for the caravan. Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/building-construction/paths-and-paving/how-to-lay-a-base-for-pavers for a little bit of guidance on base preparations.
Working through these layers, you have 150mm of road base, 15-20mm of sand or crusher dust, then your 40mm SurePave plastic pavers, which are interlocked with gravel or decorative stones. The stones should finish just above the top of the pavers, so let's say 50mm height for the interlocked SurePave pavers and stones.
150 + 20 + 50 = 220mm total materials height.
So, you can use this 220mm measurement to measure down to ensure you have enough space for your materials. You can use this to set the height of your edging, which would be the first thing I'd install. It will help to contain the gravel and will give you a neat edge to mow against. Given the quantity of materials, I'd be inclined to recommend using sleepers as opposed to corten steel, for the additional strength.
Along the fence, you could also look at installing a plinth using H4 sleepers to prevent the gravel from migrating underneath the fence.
For the lawn area, you can then bring the level back up with suitable fill where required, followed by a good layer of topsoil for the turf. I would aim to have the finished turf level roughly flush with your edging and SurePave rather than having a significant step between the two areas.
There's a little bit to it, but if you work in sequence and do one thing after the other, it won't be too difficult. I would start by setting your heights, then installing the edging as it delineates your spaces and gives you a physical height marker to work from. You can then move on to the compacted base, ensuring it is graded towards a drainage point, then your sand or crusher dust followed by the pavers and stones to fill.
Once the gravelled area is done, you can bring in materials for the turfed area, being careful not to accidentally mix soil in with the stones on your driveway. Turf should be the last thing to go in as it is a living thing, and you don't want to be working on it or storing materials on it while it is trying to establish itself.
Allow me to include some links to articles that would also be worth a read -
https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/landscaping/how-to-design-a-landscaping-plan
https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/landscaping/how-to-install-garden-edging-
https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/lawn/how-to-lay-turf
Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Jacob
