Creating hard standing...what best to use?

[TonyHetherington]

Afternoon all

Never really delved in this part of PH before, but I have a question and thought I'd come say hi

The back of our house has a rear access road, so we are going to move the shed forward, remove bushes, and make a hard standing to park the car on in the evening. This is as opposed to parking it on the road and every flipping person in the world driving into it. Grrr.

Anyway, my question - what's best? The area will be about 32m^2 (4 x 8m) and I'm torn between some form of concrete and gravel. What options are there and, roughly, what would it cost?!

Any and all ideas appreciated
Thanks!

[itsnotarace]

Did our driveway with a load of crushed hardcore (not pron) over a weed membrane and then gravel over the top

[Sheets Tabuer]

Ours has a weed membrane with costwold gravel on top, compressed with a whacker plate.

[TonyHetherington]

Did you do it yourselves, I assume?

Also, what sort of cost are you talking?!

[Sheets Tabuer]

Can't remember price but it was 2 of those giant canvas bags they lift with a forklift.

Only the top inch or so was the cotswold stone underneath was a few inches of type1 which is crushed stone and quite cheap.

[TonyHetherington]

cool, thanks

[Skyedriver]

Concrete or other hard surface best if you are working on the area with jack or axle stands as they dig into the gravel & the car falls over but you may find that you now need planning permission!!!
Gravel will not need permission as it is free draining

[TonyHetherington]

The most work that will go on is car washing...my parents live 1mile up the road with huge drive, double garage and all the tools
Good thinking tho!

[Toyowner]

http://www.building-supplies-online.co.uk/mot-type...

Will give the best effect after being wacker plated.

[FamilyGuy]

Gravel is good (if as above you're not going to use jacks/stands) - drains nicely and is a good base for sheds too, as they don't stand in water.

But NOT Cotswold (sorry Sheets) which is what has been used for about the last 20 years on our driveway. It's soft and crumbles to powder after a few years with only light use. The previous owners of our house used to top up every few years with a few extra tons (with associated costs) and now it's up to the top of the retaining curbs and we can't add more - cue a 4-figure bill for a JCB and digging out, removal and replacement. Get granite which will last.

[TonyHetherington]

Hmmm that's interesting. Duly noted, thanks!

Actually I hadn't considered putting the shed on the hard standing - I was going to keep the shed on lawn, but now you've said that it does make sense.