Clamshell driveway

[toppop52]

I'm about to do a clam shell driveway at my new house, there is an old gravel base that's over 60 years old there so it's a firm foundation. I've looked at others and I like the white look and the firm feel for driving and walking on vs the loose feel a lot of gravel drives, including my old one had. My supplier is very reputable and has very clean smell free shells that he spreads and crushes to my design and liking for $550 a tandem load. Any experiences would be appreciated.:thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

All the Shell roads I ever drove on got realy realy dusty!

 

[tallyho8]

Clam shells were used in the New Orleans area for all unpaved driveways and parking lots for over 100 years until dredging was halted in Lake Ponchartrain. They packed much better than the limestone rocks which now replace them.

I have not found them to be as dusty as river rock or limestone. In the 1950s the parish maintained unpaved streets were covered with river rock and the private ones with clam shells. I well remember the oil trucks spreading used oil on the river rock streets to keep the dust down. None was needed on the shell streets.

I wish we were still able to get clam shells here because I would love to use them on the driveway to my barn. They would be much better than the limestone and crushed asphalt that I now have.

 

[sailorman]

I wish we were still able to get clam shells here because I would love to use them on the driveway to my barn. They would be much better than the limestone and crushed asphalt that I now have.

I miss those clam shell roads and drives too . Best stuff for a good country road . I remember that many public and private parking lots also had them . Had to be careful doin ' teacher parking lot duty at the school I taught . The sun would reflect off the white shells so intensely you had to wear sun screen and glasses .

 

[Pete Judd]

Up at the family cabin, we have a "clam shell" drive just from dumping all the steamer clam shells there for over 45 years. Many buckets a year.

 

[two_bit_score]

I miss them. When I was a kid a lot of people I knew had shell driveways. Many businesses had shell parking lots.

 

[toppop52]

Cool, scheduled to get ours this weekend.:thumbsup:

 

[toppop52]

My guy got sick and so just started yesterday, but wow what a great job he's doing! He leveled it and packed it and did a little water management leveling for me elsewhere at no charge. He as but about 1.5 loads in place and it sure beat going out to a muddy mess this morning in the rain!:thumbsup:

 

[jonnyc1999]

Make sure you take pictures! :thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

Love to see it!

 

[toppop52]

He's finishing this afternoon I hope, I'll snap some pics.

 

[toppop52]

Some poor late afternoon shots, I'll try to get better pics soon. And no, my flag post is not crooked, must be the photographer!

Turn around/parking area for guests.

Apron

All 160' plus half my house, which is really yellow in the daylight.

 

[two_bit_score]

Looks really nice. Growing up spending a lot of time along the Texas Gulf Coast I have a lot of good memories of shell driveways and parking lots.

 

[toppop52]

Thanks, I grew up in northeastern NC and we had many shell roads, lots and driveways as well. There is no downside to using shells if they are properly dried and crushed. They hold up and resist weeds better than gravel, in my opinion they look better, especially after a years or so, they don't bog you down driving or walking on them. A few hours after he finished I rolled my garbage can from the house to the road, you could not have done that on fresh gravel.:thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

Looks great!

 

[EdgeWater]

Hi-we live on the eastern shore and just had our done this weekend-looks great-but the guy kept changing how many loads it would take after he started and gave a quote verbally. It makes our house look totally different, we do like it. He charged us $875.00 per load He used Ocean Sea Shells

 

[jimmyj]

Wow, I never knew there was such a thing. It looks really nice and tidy and it makes sense regarding the packing and so on.

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[toppop52]

Hi-we live on the eastern shore and just had our done this weekend-looks great-but the guy kept changing how many loads it would take after he started and gave a quote verbally. It makes our house look totally different, we do like it. He charged us $875.00 per load He used Ocean Sea Shells

Well, my guy is from Princess Anne area as well and he did a great job for $475 a load, spread, crushed with a great little track loader and he did an hour plus of water management work for us at no charge. Plus he did all the leveling and prep work before hand included. Ours are primarily clams, but a few others get in, they were dry and clean as a penny and no smell at all. His name is Tom and I'd recommend him to anyone!:thumbsup:

 

[GotTheFarmNeedTheTractor]

Well, my guy is from Princess Anne area as well and he did a great job for $475 a load, spread, crushed with a great little track loader and he did an hour plus of water management work for us at no charge. Plus he did all the leveling and prep work before hand included. Ours are primarily clams, but a few others get in, they were dry and clean as a penny and no smell at all. His name is Tom and I'd recommend him to anyone!:thumbsup:

I just called this guy to do our farm lane! He seemed knowledgeable and he's coming out Saturday! Thanks for the tip!

 

[RDrancher]

Wow, I never knew there was such a thing. It looks really nice and tidy and it makes sense regarding the packing and so on.

Very interesting. Thanks.

Me neither...I gotta get out more...