Concrete driveway do-able??

[chim]

Like Dodge Man said, the asphalt prices are getting awful high. When we finally had our driveway (approx 300 fet w/ parking areas) done in asphalt back around 1996, the bill was pennies less than $3,000. Although we had a solid base, they tore it up and repacked it. They showed up with a grader, a couple different vibratory rollers, trucks, etc. Fast forward to when we had a new course of asphalt laid two years ago - maybe 1-1" thick for $7,000. They didn't bring half of the equipment or manpower they brought for the initial install, used much less material and were gone in 1/2 day.

The same contractor did both jobs after I received prices from 4 outfits. Although they came in second by about $500, I chose to use the original installer because of the previous experience.

Anyhow, in the passage of time it cost more than twice as much for less material, equipment and manhours with the asphalt. Bare costs for concrete here have not changed that much. When our driveway was originally done, we were paying $76 / yard for concrete at work. I saw an invoice for concrete last week and we are now paying $94 / yard.

 

[dodge man]

Oil and chip is not bad. They can also just turn around a do a second coat after the first one so you get a double layer. Its not as smooth as hot mix, and depending on the rock they use it can be dusty at first, but that goes away after a couple of rains. Oil and chip can also be kind of self healing. Meaning if you get a bad spot, on a hot day it will almost fix itself. Whats important about oil and chip is that the base is very good to start with. Hot mix will fill in uneven spots and make them smooth as long as they aren't to bad. Oil and chip will not do this. Oil and chip would be the cheapest route and can look pretty darn good. Its also very fast. If they have enough rock trucks, your driveway could be done in less than an hour.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Oil and chip is not bad. They can also just turn around a do a second coat after the first one so you get a double layer. Its not as smooth as hot mix, and depending on the rock they use it can be dusty at first, but that goes away after a couple of rains. Oil and chip can also be kind of self healing. Meaning if you get a bad spot, on a hot day it will almost fix itself. Whats important about oil and chip is that the base is very good to start with. Hot mix will fill in uneven spots and make them smooth as long as they aren't to bad. Oil and chip will not do this. Oil and chip would be the cheapest route and can look pretty darn good. Its also very fast. If they have enough rock trucks, your driveway could be done in less than an hour.

Do you thing a giant vibratory roller would help compact, flatten, and smooth the base and top layers? I really wouldnt want them to tear up any base that has already settled and packed together. However, I do know there are areas that need to be graded beyond the capabilities of a boxblade. I think the drive needs a more definitive crown or have it shed water off to the downhill side.

tyler

 

[Egon]

Compaction is a definite bonus. Just remember that different types of material require different methods.

Compaction will not shape the road surface.

 

[Misfire]

We built a new house a couple of years ago. I put the gravel driveway in myself before we built. It's about as long as yours and includes three water crossings. I hired a guy with a big Cat to push down the tress and move most of the dirt. The specs for the new house included a large concrete parking pad which adjoins the house, shop, and garage. The pad added $10K to the house build. It was worth every penny.

I suggest, as others have, that you have a concrete parking pad poured next to the house.

As for the rest of the driveway, this is just my opinion, but I don't think a long concrete drive looks right in the country, unless it belongs to an "estate'' with manicured everything. Concrete winding by itself through what is otherwise a natural environment just doesn't look right, while gravel looks fine. There is no way we will ever concrete our drive.

.

 

[big daddy ray]

if you get with a local road contractor a lot of the time you can get ground up blacktop for next to nothing and when this is leveled out and roled it will stick back together in the suns heat works well

 

[jonnyc1999]

My parents have been doing exactly what you propose for the past few years. The first, and IMO most important pour was the parking area. This made a HUGE difference as to the aesthetics of the driveway, as well as improving the ease of working on vehicles/plowing/etc. Every year they add a new section, with the rest of the driveway being recycled asphault. They really like the recycled asphault over gravel; it seems to pack better. The concrete has not cracked except at the joints, and it has been a rewarding and affordable project for them over time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

A guy in my area concreted his driveway over the summer, doing a section about every other weekend. He started at the house and worked his way to the street. Looks real nice.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

I checked at a mason & concrete supply store for reusable metal forms today and they said to just grease some boards up. He also said to just grade the drive and compact/roll it, then pour directly over the gravel. Would a plate compactor work at all? I would hate to keep renting a roller for each section.

 

[crbr]

Thanks for the pictures