Anoyher driveway ?

AHNC · Dec 18, 2011

This is an addendum to the current driveway post, which was very helpful. I'm meeting with the excavation contractor this am to discuss some options. My plan is to remove the current 6-8" of top gravel/dirt and possibly use the geo-tex fabric. One of the biggest problems we have here is the dust. When it doesn't rain for months at a time the dust from even slow moving traffic is maddening as the house sits right next to the drive and you can't keep it out.. What would you recommend to eliminate or reduce the dust. It would seem the fines are the dust, correct? I can't pave as I have two big English walnuts, a 5' black walnut and a 5' Sequoia right on the drive and permeability is important.

salopez · Dec 20, 2011

well you could use pervious asphalt or concrete....

or you could try mixing up a little liquid calcium cloride and monthly spray the drive that will help.

KentT · Dec 20, 2011

Not sure you'd want to use a lot of calcium chloride (a salt) if you're trying to preserve the trees. Ground asphalt tailings perhaps, from where they grind up old roads in preparation of re-paving...

bigtiller · Dec 20, 2011

Have a professional company come twice a year to spray your gravel driveway with one of these products. I have used either the tree sap or calcium for many years and they work very well.

Lignosulfonate (Lignin or Tree Sap)
Calcium Chloride
Glycerin (soy based product made up of sugars from soy beans)

Craig Clayton · Dec 20, 2011

I have become interested lately in English Estate houses in the exterior layout of the drives and fences. A look that I have seen is a gravel vehicle turning circle at the Main House. My understanding of the look is from TV in a very detailed historical mystery show
Now to the point.
If you have a layer of crushed and screened gravel of maybe 1/2" there will be no dust on the top layer.

Several years ago a friend did me a favour and performed some excavation for trade for my help at his property. Everyone had a geat time. There was some 1/4" pea stone left from the excavation. He brought in a tandem truck of this 1/4" stone because he bought it from the pit as fill. He told me this kind of stone is (1/4" pea) not wanted so therefore it is cheap to buy.
I have 700' of B Grade gravel drive so I spread the remaining 1/2 tandem load of 1/4" in my parking areas. The father of the children that my wife was sitting commented the 1/4" stone managed to even get into his truck. My entire parking area was like mini ball bearings. As time went on the 1/4" stone went into the B gravel. The good part was the water drained through.
I now know why 1/4" pea stone from the screening is considered waste.

Back to the look so I believe a layer of 1/2" crushed should be fine because the facetted stones should interlock.

Craig Clayton