Sudpave Installation Guide
How to install Sudpave permeable paving grids for both grass and gravel finishes, covering sub-base build-up, laying sequence, filling and edge restraint. The guidance below suits most domestic and public driveway and parking applications; heavier or higher-frequency traffic should use a gravel fill finish.
DIY domestic lay over an existing lawn
Where a grassed area is already used for parking and has developed rutting, a “middle mannetjie”, or turns muddy in the rain, Sudpave can be laid with minimal digging:
- Remove all alien vegetation and level the site, then compact it lightly.
- Lay a geogrid for added stability, especially in very soft ground.
- Follow with a coarse grit sand and soil mix.
- Lay the Sudpave pavers, secure them, fill with topsoil and seed.
- Feather the edge pavers down to the surrounding level so vehicles cannot drive over the edge.
With regular watering the existing grass grows through in a short period during the summer growing season.
General installation, step by step
- Install edge retention as specified – tanalised timber boards, wooden sleepers, concrete, steel or plastic kerbs as appropriate.
- A geogrid is recommended where the sub-base is very sandy or soft.
- Spread the aggregate bedding layer evenly, to a correct and uniform thickness, level and well consolidated.
- A geotextile fabric is recommended to separate the layer work. This adds stability while still allowing water to permeate the layers.
- Grass finish: spread, level and compact a 70 mm layer of
topsoil and river sand mixed at roughly 70:30. With the 40 mm paver
thickness this gives approximately 110 mm of good growing soil. Consult a
horticulturist if you are unsure of the growing medium.
Gravel finish: spread, level and compact a 50 mm layer of clean river sand. - Place the paver units with the two sets of edge loop connectors facing the direction of laying. Press firmly so the ground spikes seat fully into the bedding and the base of the paver sits flat. Connect adjacent pavers by slotting the edge cell connectors into the edge loops – loops always lead – and work across the area in rows. Pavers lock together with snap-fit clips.
- Pavers can be offset in single-cell increments, or cut with a hand or power saw to fit curves and obstructions. Avoid using cut pieces that no longer have integral snap-fit connectors wherever possible.
- Grass finish: fill with a selected topsoil and fertiliser mix,
then seed, plant, or lay thin-cut instant lawn. If using instant lawn, only half
fill the cells to allow for top dressing; compact the sods into the pavers, top
dress and water.
Gravel finish: fill with the specified angular decorative gravel to finished level. A light whacker plate may be used to consolidate the pavers and settle the fill. Top up after settlement, but do not overfill. Rounded pea gravel is not recommended. - For equestrian use, it may be preferable to cover the surface with 50–100 mm of fine sand or bark mulch.
- The surface may be trafficked immediately.
- Maximum slope gradient to minimise wheel slip on wet grass or gravel migration: 17.6% = 1:5.67 = 10°.
Separation of pavers, if required, can be done by dislocating the clips with careful, firm hand or screwdriver pressure. Wear protective gloves to avoid abrasions.
Base course thickness by traffic type
| Traffic type | Typical base course thickness |
|---|---|
| Pedestrian / bicycles | 50–100 mm |
| Light vehicles | 75–150 mm |
| Heavy vehicles | Greater than 150 mm |
The base course must be designed for the projected loading, traffic volume, soil conditions and any other factors specific to the project. Design of the sub-base depends on the loads to be carried and on prevailing ground conditions – the figures here are an indication only.
Sub-base and drainage notes
- If a geogrid is omitted, the total granular sub-base thickness must be increased by at least 50%.
- A G5 sub-base may be used provided adequate drainage is installed. Alternatively a permeable, open-graded, reduced-fines sub-base may be specified as part of a SUDS design.
- Where construction traffic axle loads exceed 60 kN (approximately 6 tonnes), minimum sub-base thickness over the geogrid must be 150 mm. Maximum sub-base particle size should match the minimum sub-base thickness but not exceed 75 mm diameter. For sub-base thicknesses around 100 mm, a minimum 37.5 mm particle size allows effective geogrid installation.
- Where drains are omitted and a reduced-fines sub-base is specified for SUDS, the sub-base may be covered with a geotextile fabric.
- Typical drainage detail: 100 mm diameter perforated pipe drains laid at a minimum gradient of 1:100, bedded on gravel in a trench backfilled with drainage aggregate, the trench covered or wrapped with geotextile fabric, leading to a suitable outfall or soakaway. Drains run down the centre or one edge of areas up to 5 m wide; wider areas may need additional lateral drains at 5–10 m centres.
- SUDS applications vary by site, but generally avoid the need for extensive pipe and trench drainage within the sub-base, and may need an additional geotextile layer at the base of the construction.
- Gravel fill and bedding should be clean, free-draining, angular material within the specified size range. Gravel filling is typically 6–10 mm angular stone.
Kerbing and edge restraint
Sudpave requires kerbing to stop traffic riding over the edge and to retain the paving. For light domestic use, a 300 mm wide, 12–16 mm laminated shutter board is sufficient. For high traffic areas, brick or concrete kerbing is recommended.
Questions about a specific site?
Sub-base design depends on your ground conditions and expected loading. For advice on a particular project, contact us, review the technical specifications, or read the frequently asked questions.
