What is the best alternative to concrete around the house?

Hi @Nancy12,

It's great to see @Jason has already provided some helpful advice.

Were you hoping to do this work yourself? It looks like that area could do with some drainage to transfer the sitting water away. You would need to dig a trench 100mm wide and 300mm deep right along the fence line to the street. You'd then lay a length of Vinidex 100mm x 20m Socked Slotted Draincoil into it and backfill the trench with aggregate. The draincoil would be connected to the stormwater line at the street. This would capture the standing water and prevent flooding. Using stones/pebbles in your design will help with your current issues, but I feel a portion of your budget should go to correcting the drainage issue first.

For the aesthetical transformation, we have many amazing projects contributed by our members for inspiration. One of my personal favourites is from @diy_hausdesigns with his Side yard transformation. The key to completing this project on a budget will be utilising bulk stone/pebbles products. If you can have one tonne delivered, it will be substantially cheaper than purchasing smaller bags, roughly a quarter the price.

If you were to dig the trench yourself, lay the pipe and backfill with aggregate, you'd likely only have to employ a tradesperson to connect the draincoil at the street. You'd then be able to order one or two tonnes of ANL 1T 30-40mm White NSW Western Pebble - Bulk Bag and 20 or so Brighton Masonry 400 x 400 x 40mm Charcoal Mypave Pavers all within budget.

I'm looking forward to following along with your project. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Hello @Nancy12

I've done some virtual paving and pebbles for you to give you some inspiration. This is what it could look like if you used these materials. Combined with @MitchellMc's recommendation of drainage, you will not have water pooling here again. Please have a look at the picture and tell us what you think.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nancy pathway1.jpg

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/16111#Comment_16111

Thank you so much! Bunnings Team

There is a drainage in the side yard that hardly saw because of flooding water. Do I still need to do like what @MitchellMc said? I'm going to do this work myself. Can I just elevate the side yard using the pebbles? Will the stormwater go into the drainage then?

IMG_20211015_192226[1].jpg

Ps. I met a concrete man at my neighbor's house today. I asked him if it's all right to use pebbles， he said it will cause termite problem if I use pebbles. I never heard about it. Is it true?

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/16120#Comment_16120

l love it. looks much better than concrete. : )

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/16110#Comment_16110

Thank you @Jason so much. they get me inspired.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/70652#Comment_70652

Hello @Nancy12

If you are worried that it will be a moisture problem you can use a paver as a border at the side of the house. This will act as a buffer and prevent the stones from getting near your house. It is good that you have a drain outlet, you can direct your drainpipe into that drain. In order to increase the height of the area, you can use sand to create a leveled area before you lay the pebbles down.

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your pathway paved and ready for use.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

Here is a link to a fantastic post that a Workshop member has shared.

Side access paving job by @Yorky88

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/98473#Comment_98473

Thanks for reply @EricL

Just wondering do I need to compact the sands? do I need to get rid off all the rocks and stones in the yard soil before i lay the sand? can i use road base to increase the height of the yard instead of sand?

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115979#Comment_115979

Lowering the height of the drain outlet would likely solve the water issues. It's far too high at the moment to drain anything away. You can raise the side of the yard with pebbles, but that won't solve the standing water issue. It will cover it, though. I'd suggest lowering the drain so the top is flush with the current soil level. It will then drain away any standing water. You'll then be free to add your stones. Draw yourself a diagram of where the outlet is, so in the future, if you need to access it, you can.

If you do want to raise the area, you don't need to get rid of any rocks. You can use roadbase, and it would likely be a good idea to hire a compactor.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125954#Comment_125954

So the progress should be the following, is it correct?

1. Lower the height of the drain outlet

2. Level the side yard? (Do I have to, how? what tools do I need?)

3. Lay the roadbase / sand (which one is better? is it coarse sand if i use the sand?)

4. Drain Mat Fabric? (do I need it?)

5. Paving pebbles and paver

Thank you very your patience.

I hope I can finish this project before Christmas 🙂

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132645#Comment_132645

1. Lower the height of the drain outlet and cover it with drain matting. You need the matting, as otherwise, the drain will fill with roadbase.

2. Level the yard with the roadbase. You don't need to level the yard before the roadbase. Roadbase will compact better than sand and would be my preference. Coarse sand would be an alternative.

3. Compact the roadbase.

4. Lay the paving and then surround it with pebbles.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136732#Comment_136732

When I started more question turned up.

* How low should the drain outlet be? -- under the soil? or same level of the soil / roadbase?

* Shall I slope the roadbase to drain outlet, or just compact the roadbase flat?

* How thick the roadbase should be layed?

* Shall I start the roadbase until the soil dried completely?

Thank you very much

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139543#Comment_139543

The grate height should be at the same level as the current soil. That will allow the standing water on top of the soil to drain.

The drain outlet will be below the roadbase. The roadbase should be compacted flat. 50mm of roadbase should give you an adequate amount to level it. The amount of roadbase required really depends on how unlevel the current soil is.

With the method you've decided to go with, the soil will remain wet and will continue to do so after each rainfall. By adding roadbase, you are simply covering it up. I can't see any reason to wait until it is dry before laying the roadbase.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141454#Comment_141454

one more question. do I need weed mat on the top of roadbase?

Thank you

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142884#Comment_142884

Hi @Nancy12

I would definitely use a weed mat to keep the pebbles from sinking and prevent weeds from growing in between your pebbles.

Eric

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141454#Comment_141454

I still haven't started the project. I only did lower the height of drain outlet. There two things I'm not sure.

I went to Bunnings, the smallest drain matting is 6m x 600mm. I'm not sure how to use it. Is it the correct product? how long will it last? what do i do if it need to be changed? Because the drain outlet will be below the roadbase, when i compact the roadbase, will it affect the drain outlet?

Nancy IMG_20211021_150731[1].jpg

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142885#Comment_142885

HI @Nancy12

It's good to see that you're checking out the materials for your project. Yes, that is the correct cover for the drain coil. Once installed the only reason you will need to dig it up is that there is something blocking the drain coil. Run the compactor close to the coil drain but not over it.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143887#Comment_143887

i went to neighbor's house today and mentioned about my project. they said if your neighbor's yard is concrete, yours is pebble and paver, the water will run into your yard in wet weather. i'm not sure if it's true. I'd better check with you here more i can trust.

Thank you very much

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144665#Comment_144665

That is correct. If it is a concrete slab on the other side of the boundary fence, then the water will probably run into your yard. Is there concrete on the other side of the fence?

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145228#Comment_145228

it means i have no choice, i have to use concrete for my side yard? : (.. because one side of my neighbor concreted his yard, the other side is going to use concrete as well.

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145682#Comment_145682

You have plenty of choices, including using pebbles and pavers. You'll just need to solve the drainage issue as per my first post. "It looks like that area could do with some drainage to transfer the sitting water away.".

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146025#Comment_146025

@MitchellMc

if i elevate that sitting water area that is lower than the front side yard using the roadbase, will it help to prevent flooding? or i still need to do some drainage?

thank you very much

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146315#Comment_146315

By adding roadbase, it will help hide the flooding issue @Nancy12. Once you've added the pebbles, you'll be unlikely to notice the water pooled beneath them. However, if you have a substantial downpour, you might still experience some flooding, as there is nowhere for the water to go.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/16111#Comment_16111

IMG_20211013_060605[1].jpg

What should i do with the other side yard? a friend laid the roadbase for me half year ago. i noticed the drain outlet is above the roadbase. Shall i redo the roadbase? shall i wait until the fence intalled? or better to start project before the fence installed?

Thank you very much

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/70738#Comment_70738

That side looks almost identical to the other. Much of what we've discussed should apply there too. If there are no drainage issues here and the area is level, you'll be free to add your pebbles and pavers if you wish. It's likely a good idea to wait until the fence goes in, so the pebbles are retained by it.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/98529#Comment_98529

so i don't need to do anything with the drain outlet that is above the roadbase?

Nancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116015#Comment_116015