Better than Asphalt and easier to apply ?

Mosey · Feb 12, 2002

I read through their web site and I'm still skeptical. Three things bother me. One is that no where on their site could I find anything about how long it will last. It says when the soil starts to show signs of wear and loosening up, then you need to apply another coat of their stuff, but it doesn't say how often that typically would be. I don't see any reference to how long this stuff has been around. The other thing that bothers me is that it said if your soil has a lot of clay in it, then it will be hard to work with and will crack. The last thing I’m concerned about is how well will it hold up to plowing snow off of it? They claim it’s better to use a snow blower than a snow plow, which gives me the impression that they’re not confident it will hold up to snow plowing. I’m not trying to put them down, I’m just naturally wary. Actually I hope this stuff is as good as they say it is, since I could pave my drive for less than half what asphalt would cost and maybe even be able to afford to build a combination tennis/basketball court! And brown would be much better than black in the summer sun.

PS: The moles around here manage to chew through the hard clay in my yard (which can get about as hard as concrete during dry spells from the hot sun), so will they be able to chew through this stuff?

PTRich · Feb 12, 2002

It says it lasts 5 to 10 years with application method 1 and 1 to 5 years with application method 2. There is also talk about spraying that states, after a period of time the sun breaks down the top of the application. The treatment will still work well but will become rough. In order to keep smooth you must periodicly spray. I believe snowblowers are the best way to clear pavement also to reduce wear. I think if you read the section about patching you will agree it is easy to patch.

I am only going to put down a 5 gallon bucket to see how well it works, when I do this I am going to ask them about putting driveway sealer on it to block the sun.

When I first talked about getting a Power Trac a lot of people where skeptical (I used to use "WillingtonPizza" as a screen name). But I think my fellow Power Trac owners will agree there are a good investment.

My thought after printing and reading all the information is the more you follow there instructions the better your final product will be. If you follow there instructions it is not as cheap as it appears at first, you still need a good base and drainage for longterm use. The basic idea is you are glueing the soil into a hard surface, I think concrete and asphalt are very different but they work on the same idea.

After putting the proper material (unwashed sand, topsoil or screened fill?) on my gravel to mix and buying there product I am going to estimate about 75 cents a square foot. Not a substantial savings (or is it? 30%) but I can do a little at a time myself wich would fit my wallet a little better than shelling out $12,000.00 all at once. My wife and I take pride in doing things like this ourselves and if this product is good it will definetly fit us well.

PTRich

utahmule · Feb 12, 2002

Rich,

If you're intersted, I can get you a couple of other companies that supply similar products.

Here's one: http://www.ncaonline.org/trails/surstudy.htm,
has done a study on different surface modifiers and stabilizers that you might find interesting.

Around here we've found that the longevity is somewhat relative to the amount of moisture it gets. And good compaction,(more than driving over it) it essential.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you do..

Hillbilly · Feb 13, 2002

You bring up a lot of good points very worth of consideration /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifthat is one of the great things about a forum like this....you get a lot of different opinions from a lot of people with different experiences etc from all over.

BBearden · Apr 9, 2002

How did it come out?

I was wondering how that polypavement project ended up?

hwp · Apr 9, 2002

After quicily looking thorugh the website it looks what was referred to as "soil cement" when I was in engineering school forty years ago. I can't remember working with it in any Strength of Materials labs. I remember that the Department of Highways was interested in it then but I don't know if they ever used it.

Charlie_Iliff · May 20, 2002

Hillbilly:
Have you had a chance (and warm enough weather) to try the PolyPavement? I have a fair amount of fence that is a collosal pain to keep free of grass & weeds. I'd love to spray a wide stripe of something that would stop the growth without going to Roundup.

Mosey · Jun 14, 2002

I just thought some of you might be interested in this email conversation I had with a guy at Polypavement. It starts with me asking some questions:

If I use polypavement for a pole barn floor and then
later decide to pour a concrete floor, can I pour the
concrete over the polypavement or would I have to remove it first?

Can you provide a list of some installers in my area?

I live in Columbus, Indiana, 47201

Thanks,
Danny

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Hello Danny:

Yes, you can pour concrete on top of PolyPavement without having to
remove it first.

We do not maintain a list of contractors. Any competent paving, grading
or landscape contractor can be shown how to install PolyPavement.

Ron Reed

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OK, sounds good. When you say "Any competent paving, grading or landscape contractor can be shown how to install PolyPavement", who will show them how to do it if no one in this area has ever done it?

Thanks,
Danny

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We explain the method to them verbally and in written form.

Ron Reed

utahmule · Jun 14, 2002

Re: How did it come out?

They turned out well for the most part. They are for pedestrian / wheelchair user traffic, not vehicular, so I can't guarantee results.

Again, it's largely dependent on the soil properties of the native material you'll be using.

Hope this helps,
eric