Beatsons MOT Type 1 Sub Base

Beatsons MOT Type 1 Sub Base is a crushed rock aggregate, graded from roughly 40mm down to dust, for building a solid, level foundation under patios, driveways, paths, block paving and shed bases. When you compact it with a plate compactor or roller, the mix of stone sizes and fines locks together into a dense, load-bearing layer. That layer spreads weight evenly and stops slabs rocking, blocks sinking and tarmac rutting.

It comes in 850kg bulk bags for larger jobs and 25kg bags for repairs, small bases and hard-to-reach gardens. One bulk bag covers about 5m² at 100mm (4 inch) depth loose, or about 4m² at 100mm (4 inch) depth once compacted. Lay it in layers, compact each one, and allow extra depth for driveways or soft ground. Available for delivery or Click & Collect.

MOT Type 1 Sub Base: Foundation For Your Patio or Driveway

Most failed patios and driveways don't fail at the surface. Slabs that rock after the first winter, block paving that dips where the car parks, and shed bases that tilt usually point to a weak or thin sub-base. Beatsons MOT Type 1 Sub Base fixes the problem at its source by giving you a dense, compacted platform that spreads loads evenly across the ground beneath.

What Is MOT Type 1?

MOT Type 1 (also called DoT Type 1) is a crushed rock aggregate that contains a continuous range of particle sizes. It's sold as 40mm to dust. The larger stones form a load-bearing skeleton, the medium stones fill the gaps, and the fines fill what is left. When you compact it, the particles interlock into a hard, stable layer with very few air voids. Because the stone is crushed rather than rounded, the angular faces lock together far better than gravel or sand.

Ideal Uses

• Sub-base for porcelain, natural stone and concrete patios
• Block paving and tarmac driveways
• Garden paths and footpaths
• Shed, greenhouse, summerhouse and log cabin bases
• Hardstanding for bins, oil tanks and garden buildings
• Sub-base beneath concrete slabs
• Filling and levelling ruts and potholes on tracks

Size Options

• 850kg Bulk Bag: Best value for patios, driveways and larger bases. Covers approx. 5m² at 100mm laid loose, or approx. 4m² at 100mm compacted.
• 25kg Bag: Easy to carry through the house or down narrow side passages. Ideal for small shed bases, repairs and topping up. Allow approx. 8 to 9 bags per m² at 100mm compacted depth.

Colour and Appearance

Grey crushed stone with a mix of angular chippings and fine dust. Colour and texture vary naturally depending on the source rock. Type 1 is a structural layer designed to be covered, so it is not intended as a decorative finish.

How Much Do I Need?

Type 1 compacts down by roughly 20% once you've wacked it, so always order for your finished compacted depth, not the loose depth. As a guide:

• Garden paths: 75 to 100mm compacted
• Patios: 100mm compacted, or 150mm on clay or soft ground
• Driveways (cars): 150mm compacted minimum
• Shed bases: 75 to 100mm compacted, depending on the building's size

Use our Aggregates Calculator for an exact quantity, and add around 10% extra for levelling and wastage.

How to Lay MOT Type 1

• Dig out to the required depth, removing topsoil, roots and soft spots.
• Compact the exposed ground and lay a geotextile membrane on soft or clay soils to stop the sub-base mixing into the subsoil.
• Spread Type 1 in layers of no more than about 100mm, raking to your planned falls.
• Compact each layer with a vibrating plate compactor, making 3 to 4 passes until the surface no longer moves underfoot.
• Lightly damp the material in dry weather to help it compact. Avoid laying it waterlogged.
• Build in a fall (typically 1:60 to 1:80) away from buildings, because compacted Type 1 does not drain water downwards.

Safety Information

The crushed stone itself is not classified as hazardous. However, the fine dust may contain respirable crystalline silica, which can damage the lungs with prolonged or repeated exposure. Avoid breathing dust when tipping, raking or compacting in dry conditions. Dampen the material to keep dust down, and wear an FFP3 dust mask, safety glasses and gloves. Always lift 25kg bags with correct manual handling technique, and never stand under a bulk bag being lifted.

Technical Details

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bulk bags of MOT Type 1 do I need?
One 850kg bulk bag covers approx. 5m² at 100mm depth, or approx. 2.7m² at 150mm for a driveway. Multiply your area by your compacted depth, then add around 10% for levelling and wastage.

How deep should MOT Type 1 be for a patio or driveway?
Most patios need 100mm of compacted Type 1, rising to 150mm on clay or soft ground. Driveways for cars need at least 150mm compacted, laid and compacted in layers of about 100mm.

Please note all prices are website prices only! They may vary from the branches.

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