Crushed rock driveway laying technique?`

[amg7319]

I live near McGregor, TX. That is about 10 miles west of Waco.

 

[flusher]

Newbie question here. Pretty soon I will be installing a culvert and then laying a 500ft+ crushed rock construction driveway. I want the driveway to eventually be permanent (havent decided if I will leave it as crushed rock or put blacktop on later???).

I was intending to the use the boxblade to take off the top surface of grass (having second thoughts on this part) and then put cloth on the dirt. Then I was going to spread the crushed rock along the length of the driveway and then compact it.

Anyway, this thread is to ask the "pros" what is the best way to do all this. The ground is level with loose grey sand covered with a very light layer (if you can call it that) of bahia grass. Grass is so sparse that wheel ruts can easily cause the grass to "disappear" if that makes sense?

1. Will piling crushed rock onto loose sand be okay? I just had a thought that leaving the light layer of grass might be a good thing (adds compaction) since the sand is so loose...what do you think?
2. How neccessary is the cloth underlayment?
3. Was thinking of 4" to 6" of rock...is that enough?
4. What is the best techinique for having the dump trucks delivery the rock...where should they dump and how should I move it....looking for specifics here...even photos if you have them.

I look forward to the replies, thanks guys!

My 20-ft wide x 330-ft long driveway is 6" thick, road base gravel (3/4" crusher run, the stuff my local county roads guys use). Minimum for Tehama County is 10 ft wide, 4" thick.

Excavate about 4" deep.

Lay 2" thick gravel, hose it down and roll flat with a vibratory roller.

Repeat twice more.

Driveway has been in place now for about 30 months. No maintenance required. No ruts or potholes (yet).

 

[RTLowery]

Just had 60 yards of 'hard pack' delivered as they call crushed granite here in the Granite State. It has 3/4 inch stone and then various smaller sizes of stone down to the stone dust. As its name implies, it packs HARD and lasts until heavy rainstorms rut it up.

The best tip ever given to me was by the guy who did the original driveway for me about 25 years ago: "NEVER drive down your driveway in a straight line? ALWAYS weave side to side so you don't leave the tire ruts, this will help keep the driveway flat and minimize runoff down the tire marks.

I had the driver drop it via a 'tailgate spread' by him hooking up the truck tailgate chains so it would drop about 4" as he drove down the driveway as he lifted the bed. Worked great until the wet hardpack jammed and we had to dig it out a bit so the rest would fall out as hoped.

I used my little Kubota to level it out as best I could but am trying to figure out what to use to level it out better - anyone have any ideas? My Kubota only has a loader, no rake, etc. I am going to the dump today and hope to find an old steel bedsprings to drag down the driveway and hope it will level it out.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[PILOON]

First thing is to remove any vegetation.
Geotextile now is the desired 1st application as it prevents migration of muds and loam or topsoil to the surface.
Next is coarse crushed followed by fine crushed for a finish.

I know one chap that used old carpeting as a substitute for geotextile.

Also if you have frosts you want to 'pluck' any large stones otherwise frost with time will heave them to the surface.

Another newer technique being used is to lay foam boards under and over any drain pipes that cross the roadway. This seems to help water flow as well as deters heaving of the pipes. For sure you are suggested to cover any water supply lines with foam boards that cross under a drive as frost will go much deeper under a plowed roadway.

 

[Egon]

Sand base and not that much rain I'm assuming??

Rough out the roadway to make sure the drainage is good. Vibratory compact the sand roadway, add your crushed gravel and compact again.

No need for fabric or sparse grass removal.

Back blade with gauge wheels will do a good job of levelling and maintaining the gravel driveway.

 

[JimRB]

The gravel road from my driveway to the street is in better shape than past my driveway. I drive the path less traveled. It appears that the 4 families past my driveway always drive the exact same part of the road. Maybe not but the road does get worse past our driveway.