Material list

Sand

0–1 mm 0–2 mm 0–4 mm 0–8 mm

Used in

• 2.1Pipe and duct bedding Bed and surround 0–4 mm
• 2.4Frost protection layer Sand or gravel 0–8 mm · Filter on silt or clay 0–4 mm
• 3.1Base for patios, paths and sheds Bedding sand 0–4 mm
• 3.2Base for driveways Bedding sand 0–4 mm
• 3.3Sand bedding under paving Bedding sand 0–4 mm
• 4.1Casting a concrete floor Sand (blinding) 0–4 mm · Sand (concrete) 0–4 mm
• 4.2Foundation concrete Sand 0–4 mm
• 4.3Setting posts in concrete Sand 0–4 mm
• 4.4Casting in formwork Sand 0–4 mm
• 5.1Laying bricks and blocks Sand 0–4 mm, 0–2 mm
• 5.2Rendering a wall Sand (base coat) 0–4 mm · Sand (finish coat) 0–2 mm, 0–1 mm
• 5.3Laying a floor screed Sand 0–4 mm, 0–8 mm
• 6.6Filter layer A · Filter sand 0–4 mm
• 7.1Planning a driveway or parking space Pavers on sand 0–4 mm
• 7.5Reinforced grass parking Bedding sand 0–4 mm · Rootzone mix 0–4 mm
• 7.6Block paving driveway Bedding 0–4 mm
• 7.8Edging a driveway Sand 0–4 mm
• 8.4Stepping-stone and slab paths Bedding 0–4 mm · Gap filling 0–4 mm
• 9.7Slim gabion fences and screens Post footings 0–4 mm

Joint sand

0–2 mm

Used in

• 3.1Base for patios, paths and sheds Joint sand 0–2 mm
• 3.2Base for driveways Joint sand 0–2 mm
• 3.4Filling paving joints Joint sand 0–2 mm
• 7.6Block paving driveway Joint sand 0–2 mm

Grit

2–5 mm 2–8 mm 4–8 mm

Used in

• 2.1Pipe and duct bedding Bed and surround 2–8 mm
• 3.4Filling paving joints Clean grit
• 4.1Casting a concrete floor Stone (concrete) 4–8 mm
• 4.3Setting posts in concrete Stone 4–8 mm
• 4.4Casting in formwork Stone 4–8 mm
• 6.2Permeable layer Bedding grit 2–8 mm · Joint grit 2–5 mm, 2–8 mm
• 6.6Filter layer A · Filter grit 4–8 mm
• 7.1Planning a driveway or parking space Permeable paving 2–8 mm
• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Bedding grit 2–8 mm · Grid fill 2–8 mm, 4–8 mm
• 8.1Loose gravel path Loose top 4–8 mm
• 8.4Stepping-stone and slab paths Gap filling 4–8 mm

Path gravel with fines

0–8 mm 0–11 mm

Used in

• 7.3Compacted gravel driveway Surface, path 0–8 mm
• 8.1Loose gravel path Binding layer 0–8 mm
• 8.2Self-binding gravel path Surface 0–8 mm, 0–11 mm
• 8.3Decomposed granite path Decomposed granite 0–8 mm
• 8.6Steps and slopes on paths Tread surface 0–8 mm, 0–11 mm

Crushed stone with fines

0–16 mm 0–19 mm 0–32 mm 0–63 mm

Used in

• 2.2Backfill against foundations and walls Fill 0–32 mm
• 2.3Structural fill Fill 0–32 mm, 0–63 mm
• 2.4Frost protection layer Sand or gravel 0–32 mm
• 3.1Base for patios, paths and sheds Base 0–32 mm, 0–16 mm
• 3.2Base for driveways Base 0–32 mm, 0–63 mm
• 7.1Planning a driveway or parking space Compacted gravel 0–32 mm, 0–16 mm · Pavers on sand 0–32 mm · Concrete slab 0–32 mm
• 7.2Loose gravel driveway Base 0–32 mm
• 7.3Compacted gravel driveway Base, path 0–32 mm · Base, drive 0–32 mm · Surface, drive 0–16 mm
• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Base, dense 0–32 mm
• 7.6Block paving driveway Base 0–32 mm
• 7.7Concrete driveway Base 0–32 mm
• 7.9Maintaining a gravel driveway New surface, compacted drive 0–16 mm · Deep potholes and ruts 0–32 mm
• 8.1Loose gravel path Base 0–32 mm
• 8.2Self-binding gravel path Base 0–32 mm
• 8.3Decomposed granite path Base 0–32 mm
• 8.4Stepping-stone and slab paths Base, slab paths only 0–32 mm
• 8.6Steps and slopes on paths Footing 0–32 mm · Fill behind the riser 0–32 mm
• 9.1Base for block retaining walls Levelling pad 0–32 mm, 0–16 mm
• 9.3Base for gabion walls Base 0–32 mm, 0–16 mm, 0–19 mm
• 9.5Freestanding gabion walls Base 0–32 mm, 0–19 mm
• 9.6Low retaining walls with gabions Base 0–32 mm
• 9.7Slim gabion fences and screens Base strip 0–32 mm
• 9.8Gabion benches, planters and pillars Base 0–19 mm, 0–32 mm

Stone and gravel

4–20 mm 8–16 mm 16–32 mm 32–63 mm

Used in

• 2.1Pipe and duct bedding Bed and surround 8–16 mm
• 2.2Backfill against foundations and walls Drainage stone 8–16 mm
• 2.4Frost protection layer Sand or gravel 16–32 mm
• 4.1Casting a concrete floor Capillary-break stone 16–32 mm · Stone (concrete) 8–16 mm
• 4.2Foundation concrete Stone 16–32 mm, 8–16 mm
• 4.3Setting posts in concrete Gravel base 8–16 mm · Stone 8–16 mm
• 4.4Casting in formwork Stone 8–16 mm
• 6.1Capillary break Capillary-break stone 16–32 mm, 8–16 mm
• 6.2Permeable layer Base stone 4–20 mm
• 6.3Drainage against walls Drainage stone 8–16 mm, 4–20 mm
• 6.4Drainage trench Drainage stone 16–32 mm, 4–20 mm
• 6.5Soakaway Soakaway stone 32–63 mm, 16–32 mm
• 7.1Planning a driveway or parking space Permeable paving 4–20 mm · Concrete slab 8–16 mm
• 7.2Loose gravel driveway Loose gravel 8–16 mm
• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Base, permeable 4–20 mm
• 7.5Reinforced grass parking Base 4–20 mm
• 7.8Edging a driveway Stone 8–16 mm
• 7.9Maintaining a gravel driveway Top-up, loose drive 8–16 mm
• 8.1Loose gravel path Loose top 8–16 mm
• 9.1Base for block retaining walls Drainage stone 8–16 mm
• 9.6Low retaining walls with gabions Drainage stone 8–16 mm
• 9.7Slim gabion fences and screens Post footings 8–16 mm

Gabion stone

75–150 mm 100–200 mm

Used in

• 9.2Choosing gabion fill stone Fill stone 100–200 mm, 75–150 mm
• 9.4Filling a gabion basket Fill stone 100–200 mm
• 9.5Freestanding gabion walls Fill stone 100–200 mm
• 9.6Low retaining walls with gabions Fill stone 100–200 mm
• 9.7Slim gabion fences and screens Fill stone 75–150 mm, 100–200 mm
• 9.8Gabion benches, planters and pillars Fill stone 100–200 mm

Cement

Used in

• 4.1Casting a concrete floor Cement
• 4.2Foundation concrete Cement
• 4.3Setting posts in concrete Cement
• 4.4Casting in formwork Cement
• 5.1Laying bricks and blocks Cement
• 5.2Rendering a wall Cement
• 5.3Laying a floor screed Cement
• 7.8Edging a driveway Cement

Hydrated lime

Used in

• 5.1Laying bricks and blocks Hydrated lime
• 5.2Rendering a wall Hydrated lime

Ready-mixed concrete

0–16 mm 0–32 mm

Used in

• 7.7Concrete driveway Concrete, cars 0–16 mm, 0–32 mm · Concrete, heavier vehicles 0–16 mm, 0–32 mm

Topsoil

Used in

• 9.8Gabion benches, planters and pillars Planter soil
• 10.1Filling and levelling with soil Topsoil
• 10.2Soil for lawns Topsoil · Loam or sandy loam · Topdressing
• 10.5Soil for raised beds Topsoil
• 10.7Levelling an existing lawn Topdressing · Topsoil

Dug soil and subsoil

Used in

• 2.1Pipe and duct bedding Backfill
• 2.2Backfill against foundations and walls Dug soil
• 10.1Filling and levelling with soil Fill
• 10.3Soil for trees and shrubs Backfill

Compost

Used in

• 10.3Soil for trees and shrubs Compost
• 10.4Soil for flower beds Compost · Manure or manure compost · Later years
• 10.5Soil for raised beds Compost

Mulch

Used in

• 10.3Soil for trees and shrubs Mulch

Geotextile

Used in

• 2.2Backfill against foundations and walls Geotextile
• 2.3Structural fill Geotextile
• 6.2Permeable layer Geotextile
• 6.3Drainage against walls Geotextile
• 6.4Drainage trench Geotextile
• 6.5Soakaway Geotextile
• 6.6Filter layer B · Geotextile
• 7.2Loose gravel driveway Geotextile
• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Geotextile
• 7.5Reinforced grass parking Geotextile
• 8.1Loose gravel path Geotextile
• 8.3Decomposed granite path Geotextile
• 8.5Path edging and weed control Geotextile
• 9.3Base for gabion walls Geotextile
• 9.5Freestanding gabion walls Geotextile
• 9.6Low retaining walls with gabions Geotextile
• 9.8Gabion benches, planters and pillars Planter liner

Plastic sheet

Used in

• 5.3Laying a floor screed Separating sheet
• 6.1Capillary break Membrane

Drain pipe

Used in

• 6.3Drainage against walls Drain pipe
• 6.4Drainage trench Drain pipe
• 9.1Base for block retaining walls Drain pipe
• 9.6Low retaining walls with gabions Drain pipe

Steel mesh

Used in

• 4.1Casting a concrete floor Steel mesh
• 7.7Concrete driveway Mesh (optional)

Pavers and slabs

Used in

• 3.1Base for patios, paths and sheds Slabs or pavers
• 3.2Base for driveways Pavers
• 7.6Block paving driveway Pavers

Bricks and blocks

Used in

• 5.1Laying bricks and blocks Bricks or blocks

Edging

Used in

• 3.2Base for driveways Edge restraint
• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Edge restraint
• 7.6Block paving driveway Edge restraint
• 7.8Edging a driveway Edging · Spiked edging
• 8.5Path edging and weed control Steel or aluminium edge strip · Recycled plastic edge

Grid panels

Used in

• 7.4Gravel grid driveway Grid panels
• 7.5Reinforced grass parking Grid panels