Best material and practices for 2000' driveway

   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Well, Just had the 3rd contractor out today and to be honest I'm really not sure what to do at this point. Seems they all say to use sand as fill (vs here and on other websites I've read that say to use #4,#57, trap rock or similar assuming I can get it). All 3 said they thought geo fabric was not needed (vs here and other sites that say I should). They all seem to agree that crushed concrete would be the best choice for the top coat but that may not be able to happen for another year or 2 until we have more funds to do it.

So with that said what would be better-

1) ~4-5" of sand as fill with ~4 inches of road gravel on top

2) ~2" of sand and ~3" of #4 gravel as fill with ~4" road gravel on top

3) ~ 4" of #4 gravel with ~4" of road gravel

4) ~ 7-8" of strictly road gravel with no other fill

5) something else?

To use the geo fabric is another question as well and will add about $2000 to the price.

crushed gravel or similar top coat to go in at a later time but I want to make sure I put down a good base for it now.

I guess the big thing to keep in mind is the soil I have now is strictly sand- no rock or clay what-so-ever. The main reason for the thickness of the products listed is to make sure it's higher than the surrounding area which is also 100% pure sand except it has a top coat of pine needles leaves, etc as it was a forest to begin with.
 
   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway #22  
hmmm, i just added 6" of crushed gravel 3/4" to my roads and left it at that. i add another inch every 2-3 years. has worked well for 14 years now. i looked at the mat also, but too expensive. i get no weeds thru rocks.
 
   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway
  • Thread Starter
#23  
That may be a good option as well. Do you think if you put the geo fabric in you wouldn't have to add more product every few years? That's kind of what I've read about it but you are right- it's pricey but so is gravel every few years. Maybe just a pay now or pay later situation?

My next step is to call the gravel yards as this is shaping up to be a DIY project :). I'll have to see what is even available here as trucking it in gets expensive with the cost of deisel lately. I think the closest pit is about 15 miles from me so I may be somewhat limited by distance and what that yard has.
 
   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway #24  
well here, i have the truck spread the gravel. they latch their rear gates about 3" open, and drive forward. i get about 80% of the product spread that way. I rent a rock rake for $50.00 at the local tractor equip shop, and spread the rest. takes no time at all.

im not sure if the mat would save any rock. mine spreads out sideways over the years. that, and natural settling. it only costs about $200 per truck and transfer load for the rock, and one load every 2-3 years does wonders. Last time they dumped from the truck and i didn't even need to work the stuff with the tractor. it came out perfect. i have about 600 feet of roadway from main road to house and barn, and another 400+ feet of secondary road. it holds up pretty nicely here in idaho. we have a decomposed granite base. i guess alot depends on your subbase and if your ground pumps with moisture
 
   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway #25  
If you want to start out inexpensively, I would cut the banks down on the sides. Then put a ditch in on both sides, crown the road properly and have water run off areas where you have a low spot. You can do this with a tractor.


Lots of time but can be done. Start with your bad areas first where water is accumulating.

You can always hire a pro and spend money later :)
 
   / Best material and practices for 2000' driveway
  • Thread Starter
#26  
I think the trucks here spread the gravel as well (how you mentioned)....or at least I hope they do although I'm sure I'll still be doing the final grading just not having to move tons of product from one spot to another. Some have worried about getting the trucks in because of the soft sand but I think they were talking gravel train trucks that haul like 40+ tons at a time- not just 10-20.

Cutting the banks down is what i plan to do but there are some low spots that need more than just that and fill is the best/only option. I don't mind spending some money on it now or doing it myself- I just don't have $15k to spend on it and most importantly I don't want to waist the money doing something that gets me back where I am now in another year or so because I used the wrong product.
 

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