Boat, Trailer and Plant Storage Yards
Compound surfacing that carries concentrated point loads from trailer jockey wheels, props and stands without sinking.
Why reinforcement matters here
Storage compounds are punished by point loads rather than by movement. A trailer jockey wheel or a boat cradle leg concentrates the entire weight onto a few square centimetres, which punches straight through most surfaces. Confined stone spreads that load into the surrounding cells instead of letting it drive downwards.
Where this works well
At a glance
| Sub-base | 150-250mm MOT Type 1, designed to the heaviest point load on site |
|---|---|
| Infill | Angular 20-40mm crushed stone, filled level |
| Typical loading | Concentrated point loads from jockey wheels, cradle legs, props and container corners |
| Permeability | Fully permeable. Normally treated as a SuDS component in a drainage strategy. |
| Design life | 25 years, subject to documented installation. |
| Material | 100% recycled polypropylene, made in the UK. |
How it goes in
- Mark out the area and excavate to the depth of your sub-base plus the grid depth plus your infill blinding.
- Lay a woven geotextile across the formation, lapping joins by at least 300mm. This stops the sub-base and the subsoil mixing.
- Lay and compact the sub-base: 150-250mm MOT Type 1, designed to the heaviest point load on site. Compact in layers rather than all at once.
- Blind the sub-base with a thin layer of grit sand and screed it level. This is what gives you a flat finished surface.
- Push-fit the grids together across the area, working from one edge. Cut around obstacles with a jigsaw or fine-tooth saw.
- Fill the cells: Angular 20-40mm crushed stone, filled level. Work the fill in with a stiff brush so no cell is left hollow.
- Check the finished level. Nothing should stand proud of the cell walls, and no cell should be left under-filled.
Most installations are straightforward groundwork. The grids themselves push-fit together and need no fixings, adhesive or specialist tools.
Which grid depth?
The 30mm heavy duty grid. Point loads from jockey wheels, cradle legs and container corners are the governing case, and they need the stronger grid.
If you are between two options, take the heavier duty one. The cost difference across a typical project is small next to the cost of lifting and relaying a surface that was under-specified.
The mistake we see most often
Designing for the gross weight spread over the footprint. The load actually arrives through four small contact points, and that is what has to be designed for.
Common questions
Will jockey wheels sink into it?
Not when correctly built. Load spreads into adjacent cells rather than punching through, which is the usual failure on gravel.
How deep a sub-base for a storage compound?
150mm of compacted MOT Type 1 as a starting point, more where plant or containers are involved.
Is it suitable for a commercial compound?
Yes, and the permeability often helps considerably with the site drainage strategy.
Can vehicles be manoeuvred on it regularly?
Yes. Confinement is what prevents the rutting that repeated manoeuvring causes on loose stone.
Do we need spreader pads as well?
For boat cradles and container corners, yes. The grid spreads load into adjacent cells but very high point loads still benefit from a pad.
Is it suitable for a commercial storage business?
Yes, and the permeability usually helps considerably with the site drainage strategy and any planning condition attached to it.
Ask our engineer
Questions about depths, sub-base, edging or which system fits your project? Ask below.