Paving in Brackenfell: Grey Sand and Firm Edges
For paving in Brackenfell, the City's Northern district plan describes the ground near the town. It says the south-eastern portion of the district, in the vicinity of Kraaifontein and Brackenfell, consists of well-drained grey to light-grey regic sands. This page sets that next to the CMA's guidance on edges, the base and the bedding layer. Paving for Africa lays paving across Cape Town and surrounds; put your suburb in the request.
- Near Kraaifontein and Brackenfell: well-drained grey to light-grey regic sands (City Northern district plan)
- CMA: kerbs are essential to stop paving spreading and losing interlock
- Verge hardening and crossings: listed under the City's Miscellaneous Permit
- Gate for cars: no building plan approval, unless partly on the pavement or the City's land
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Grey regic sand and the edges
The Northern plan's soil description is district-scale. The same plan says the majority of the district is covered by shale and granite clays and loams, and that red-yellow freely drained soils, shales and rocky soils occur in the higher lying areas. A map describes a district, not one erf.
The CMA's homeowner guide calls kerbs essential to stop paving from spreading and losing interlock. It says kerbs are always required, even where there is no traffic, and that no kerbing is required where walls act as edge restraints. All kerbing goes in before the bedding sand is levelled or pavers are laid.
For a residential crossing, Table 6-1 of the City's roads standard names a brick stretcher on edge or a 150 x 75 mm "E1" precast concrete edging as the edge restraint.
Brackenfell paving and the compacted base
The CMA's earthworks note says natural ground will normally give a domestic driveway enough strength, subject to three conditions. Fill must be compacted to avoid settlement. The ground must not be saturated by sub-surface water or ponding. Its surface must be free from weeds and tree roots, and finished smooth.
The bedding layer is thin. The CMA's homeowner guide uses 25 mm of uncompacted bedding sand, which compaction typically reduces to about 20 mm. It asks for good quality, well-graded, washed river sand for that layer.
No vehicles go onto new paving until all joints have been filled with sand, under the CMA's specification extracts.
Toward the Bottelary Hills
The Northern plan says minor tributaries in the far south of the district drain the slopes of the Bottelary Hills in the vicinity of Brackenfell, and that the northern flank of those hills reaches 350 m. On an erf toward the hills, the CMA's homeowner guide asks for slopes and levels to be checked during site preparation.
The plan lists part of Protea Heights in Brackenfell among the newer private developments where building activity concentrated in the five years before it was written.
The kerb outside your gate
Brackenfell lies in the City of Cape Town's Northern District. The City's RIM Wayleave Standards list the construction or alteration of a carriageway crossing, and the hardening or surfacing of the road verge, among works that need no wayleave and form part of a Miscellaneous Permit.
The City's guide to minor works lists a gate for cars among minor works that need no building plan approval, unless it is partly on the pavement or the City's land.
What Brackenfell paving costs
Cement paving supplied and laid for paths and patios is quoted per job, as fewer than three Cape Town installers publish an independent price for it. A driveway that carries a car daily is quoted per job too. The prices that do have three installers behind them are on paving prices in Cape Town.
The base for such a driveway is covered on our driveway paving in Cape Town page. The same soil description in the Northern plan covers the vicinity of Kraaifontein. Nearby town pages are paving in Kraaifontein, paving in Durbanville and paving in Goodwood. Paving for Africa's services are on the paving contractors in Cape Town page. The other towns are listed under Cape Town paving areas.
Brackenfell paving questions
My Brackenfell driveway has sunk in two tracks. Does it all come out?
Not necessarily. The CMA says block paving that has settled can be lifted, the problem addressed, the level reinstated and the pavers re-laid. The CMA names the causes of settlement: an inadequate subbase or subgrade, subsoil water, overloading, or a bedding sand layer that is too thick.
Is sand a good base for paving?
Yes, once fill is compacted and the ground drains. The CMA's earthworks note says natural ground normally gives a domestic driveway enough strength, provided fill is compacted, the ground is not saturated and the surface is clear of weeds and roots. Edge restraint is needed on any ground.
Do I need City permission to pave in front of my gate?
Yes, for the verge and the crossing. The City's RIM Wayleave Standards place hardening or surfacing of the road verge, and a new or altered carriageway crossing, under a Miscellaneous Permit from the RIM district office.
Does a new driveway gate in Brackenfell need building plan approval?
No, not usually. The City's minor-works guide lists a gate for cars among works that need no building plan approval, unless it is partly on the pavement or the City's land. A change to the crossing is a separate Miscellaneous Permit matter.