best 'recipe' for the parking pad?

[oifla]

hello all

our driveway is made from what (at least around here in Indiana) is called 53s: same as #4 gravel but with limestone dust for easy packing 1″-2″ in size with half lime dust. it works well as a driveway and is generally resistant to pot holes, wash out, etc. especially in the areas i used road fabric under it.

the 'recipe' question: i'm adding on a parking pad to the drive. i'd like this area to be a little tougher than the rest of the driveway (meaning more permanent and compacted than i can get from packing the 53s in place). i'd like to be able to use a jack or jack stands without it sinking into the ground. what are other options for forming a hard/compound surface for driving and parking?

the short version: i'm looking for an alternative to poured concrete (which i can't afford at the moment), thoughts?

thanks!

O.

 

[Cat385B]

Dig it out 12” deep, lay out 6-8” of 3” clear limestone, (no fines) then bring in the 53s. Less prone to be affected by moisture.
Above and beyond: crushed asphalt (recycle) instead of the 53s.
Install and compact top layer in 2” lifts.

 

[ponytug]

You don't mention what your subsoil/soil and drainage are like. Assuming they are OK, I would second Cat385B's recipe, with perhaps the addition of geotextile underneath everything, and doing compaction on each layer. The heavier an object that you want to park on it, the deeper, and larger you need to go in rock.

Lots of YouTube videos on how to.

All the best,

Peter

 

[TheMan419]

I am in north central Indiana. We looked into extending our drive way back to the barn. The contractor said the same as above. 4 inches or so of larger rock followed by 2-4 inches of #53's. We have not done it yet because some other things came up that took priority so can't tell you how that will work out.

 

[deezler]

If you have a plate compactor handy, compacting your same #53 mix in 1-2" lifts should make a very tough surface - however: During the spring thaw it can still get mushy, especially once it has mixed in some organic bits over a few years. Crushed or milled asphalt will definitely pack harder and resist freeze/thaw.

 

[oifla]

i'm in South Central Indiana. the soil is not great (significant clay content) but i should be able to control water on the spot in question. i have equipment (dump truck, tractor, plate compactor) so hauling stuff is not a problem, neither is compacting.

what i am looking for is something that will allow me work on my equipment and truck without having to pour concrete. at worst i can pour a small 'work' slab and do the rest of the space with compacted material but i would prefer to have one even surface throughout.

i've been reading about people's experiences with soilcrete (dirtcrete), geogrid (or the varying types of cell type plastic forms), and even considering buying some road plate to put down in the spots i want to use for work. not sure if there are any other viable options but i'd really want to look at everything before sinking a bunch of cash into concrete. thanks all

O.

 

[Egon]

Just build a thicker pad using well graded crushed gravel. Then pack with a drum vibratory packer.

For a dedicated work area a few bags of Portland cement spread around on top and wet down might give you a harder surface to work on.

 

[ponytug]

Given the clay soil, you might want to look into mixing lime into the subsoil, adding water, and compacting. It changes the soil chemistry, and stiffens the soil.
If you have time, here are some videos on building a road to support timber trucks. It might give you a few ideas.

All the best,

Peter