Asphalt Millings Driveway Site Visit Needed

[tremartin]

I am considering utilizing asphalt millings to cover one of my driveways (840' x 12'). Does anyone know of a driveway in the Atlanta, Ga. area that I can visit to see the finished look/product? Thanks in advance for your assistance!!

 

[Egon]

Just remember that the look of the driveway may depend a lot on how it is finished.

 

[deereman75]

I have seen a driveway like that, they just dumped the millings like gravel, spread it out, and drove over it with a roller. It looked just like brand new pavement, but if you use a leaf blower on it, it will tear it up a bit. (some driveway sealer might help that)

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We did our driveways early this summer. They look nice but you have the loose millings on top that make it look like loose stone but the bottom is adhered together well. We spread it with the loader and just used the truck to pack the millings by driving back and forth with the F-250. It didn't take too long and the truck was heavy enough to do a decent job without having to rent any equipment.

My biggest concern is going to be this winter with snow clearing. I don't think that is an issue for you in your area but thats about the only concern I have. I have been told if you spray diesel fuel on the millings it will reactivate the ashpalt mixture and allow it to lock together. If you want to put a good finish on it I would try that trick first so bind everythign together then try and put a thick layer of blacktop sealer on top of everything. It will take a lot because it will not be as smooth as new ashpalt but the first coating will be the worst as far as needing a lot of material.

I am looking forward to how the driveways hold up over winter then I will decide what I want to do next year. We had 2 triaxle loads and 3 single axle loads dropped at our places and I used the TN65 to spread them all without any trouble.

 

[Bilko]

My dad did this a few years ago here in Michigan! He spread it and just drove over it. It's solid but not glass smooth like a new one. I will get a pic of it today or tomorrow and post a pic for you. My dad has plowed and snowblowed and it's held up great.

 

[EddieWalker]

Be sure that your base under the millings is solid. There is no strength in asphalt, so it will move on you quite a bit unless there is a very solid base under it, and you have good drainage. Fabric will help a questionable area with road base rock, but it wont do anything for ashphalt.

Once you have a solid base, the only reason for ashpalt is to make it smoother and nicer looking then gravel.

The road base rock needs to be at least four inches thick. More if you have poor soil or frost heave. If you box blade it, then it will get thiner and fall apart on you, giving you pot holes.

Road base is rock of different sizes with jagged edges from several inches across mixed in with everything down to fines. Once spread and compacted, it locks together to form a solid, water tight surface.

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Be sure that your base under the millings is solid. There is no strength in asphalt, so it will move on you quite a bit unless there is a very solid base under it, and you have good drainage. Fabric will help a questionable area with road base rock, but it wont do anything for ashphalt.

Once you have a solid base, the only reason for ashpalt is to make it smoother and nicer looking then gravel.

The road base rock needs to be at least four inches thick. More if you have poor soil or frost heave. If you box blade it, then it will get thiner and fall apart on you, giving you pot holes.

Road base is rock of different sizes with jagged edges from several inches across mixed in with everything down to fines. Once spread and compacted, it locks together to form a solid, water tight surface.

Eddie

Good point, on our driveway it was already gravel. We added the millings to make it nicer and a little cleaner during the 10 month rain and snow season. There is one edge that the millings went over onto the grass (a curved section where the drive widens out to cover both garage doors on the barn) and that spot is a soft area during the wet season.

My friend who does road construction suggested for me to use oversized rock instead of fabric for the base on my farm drive. He said the fabric does work but if the base still isn't solid below it then heavy equipment will still walk the driveway. He suggested using oversized rock 8-10" thick first then build the final layer on top of that. The oversized would allow good drainage but also wouldn't let the driveway walk as I run heavy trucks, tractors and equipment over it.

 

[Egon]

I have been told if you spray diesel fuel on the millings it will reactivate the ashpalt mixture and allow it to lock together./QUOTE]

Ah yes; spray the diesel!

The diesel will act as solvent and dissolve the asphaltines in the millings leaving one with nice plain rock. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Asphalt road crews use diesel to clean the asphault of the tools and the machines.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I agree with the importance of a good base.

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but my second hand experience has not been stellar. So my advice is to manage your expectations.

I know someone in Michigan who did this but I don't know if he used a good base or not. I suspect not. It did not hold up any better than gravel and is full of chuck holes. But the new owner has neglected maintenance.

Even with good base, I suspect it will be much looser than pavement and may need to be finish graded from time to time.

In other words, I don't think it will be a "poor man's" blacktop, but it probably will still be a nice driveway topping if you can get it cheap enough. And if it bonds together better than that, I would consider that a bonus, but not expected.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have been told if you spray diesel fuel on the millings it will reactivate the ashpalt mixture and allow it to lock together./QUOTE]

Ah yes; spray the diesel!

The diesel will act as solvent and dissolve the asphaltines in the millings leaving one with nice plain rock. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Asphalt road crews use diesel to clean the asphault of the tools and the machines.

So your saying a light coat of diesel would peel the asphalt off the stone and wouldn't bind any of the layer together? As I said, I've been told by a couple people about doing this but I have never tried it as I didn't need to.