Best drainage material?

Road base is normally packed down to form a solid (ie not easily water permiable) surface which can either be left as is for a cheap trafficable surface or used as a base for paving or whatever - but not drainage.

Gravel or blue metal is available in different sizes depending upon what it is to be used for, which includes for drainage...hope that helps

Yes thank you that does help - I don't think we want the road base - unfortunately, as it is cheaper !!

Originally Posted by bianca3920

What is the better material to use for drainage - blue metal or road base? What is the difference? or should we use something else.

We plan to put a 10-20cm layer of 'something, then turf underlay, then turf on top - of an area about 100m2

Thanks

road base = no.
20mm agg/scoria/anything open, no fines.

I use screenings. Some say scoria is not so good as it comes with some fines and continues to decompose.

Originally Posted by varpy

I use screenings. Some say scoria is not so good as it comes with some fines and continues to decompose.

20mm scoria is fine, just don't use it behind light coloured masonry walls

Originally Posted by bianca3920

Yes thank you that does help - I don't think we want the road base - unfortunately, as it is cheaper !!

Consider recycled aggregate. I recently dug some drainage and laid some pipes in my backyard and found that the recycled aggregate (20mm) was less than half the price of new blue metal.

Consider recycled aggregate. I recently dug some drainage and laid some pipes in my backyard and found that the recycled aggregate (20mm) was less than half the price of new blue metal.

Simo - where is the recycled aggregate available - thanks.<!-- / message -->

I would never buy from them again because they royally screwed up the delivery, but it was ordered from Bunnings. The actual delivery itself came from Materials in the Raw... next time I'll go direct to them.