Driveway prep suggestions

[onthehill]

I'm looking for a little advice. The construction of our new house is almost done and our driveway has taken a beating to say the least. The driveway is about 900 ft long and had a layer of slag applied (big + fines) before the construction started. We'll, from all the work being done, the driveway now has a layer of dirt/mud over the gravel. I've tried to scrape it off with my rear blade but I can't come anywhere close to getting it all off. What I end up with is something slightly better but not very good. I figure that we'll have to get it topped again this year (I guess with some more fines) but I'd like to try to scrape the mud off to buy me some time. Do you folks think that using a box blade over the driveway would be any help? I was thinking that maybe it would dig into the dirt/gravel and bring some of the gravel to the top. Or, do you think that's a waste of time? I don't have a box blade so I hate to rent one if it's not going to help.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

 

[timswi]

Depending on the debth of your base, I would think you would just chew up more mud..I have a similar problem on my right of way. I churned it up and ended up with the mess I had 2 weeks later....I'm going to be getting a couple of tri-axles in the spring to re-coat...Part of new home building in the sticks I guess.

 

[rsewill]

Yes, don't mess with it until it dries out. Then blade off the dirt, next add four inches of inch and a quarter minus 100% crushed limestone. Your driveway will get hard and it will stay that way. It will also be paveable in the future without need of anymore base.

 

[bucktaker]

without pics it hard to even guess but I would simply add more large stone and allow the construction equipment to press it further into the ground building a solid base. After you move in grade it smooth and fill low spots. top with lots of 411 crushed limestone. two years later add screenings to that .then Pave...

built my house in 96 paved my 350 gravel drive in 08 best thing ever did no more gravel tracked in.

 

[Diamondpilot]

without pics it hard to even guess but I would simply add more large stone and allow the construction equipment to press it further into the ground building a solid base. After you move in grade it smooth and fill low spots. top with lots of 411 crushed limestone. two years later add screenings to that .then Pave...

built my house in 96 paved my 350 gravel drive in 08 best thing ever did no more gravel tracked in.

I agree. I battled gravel for 10 years spending about $1000 every two years to maintain it. I used #53's. Have no idea what you guys are talking about with your local gravel system. Ours are all in #'s

Anyway I paved it 3 years ago, $7500 for 4600 sq ft of pavement. 2" heavy undercoat and 1" top coat. I am good for 20 years. Screw the gravel.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

sweepster rotary broom..

most pavers have one.. might be able to rent one.


soundguy

 

[babypp2]

Very very cool, and thanks for the lesson! I love your unique ink!

 

[Army grunt]

Grade it an ask the guys that are driving up an down to split their wheel tracks. We never have frost here in Ga., But lots of rain. I have a 1,000 ft, drive Its raised so all water runs off, its got #57 that's a mix of 3/8 to 78" stone, I have a box blade to grade with then a drag. It works great an only have spent $1,000 over the last 16 years. Don't use what they call crush& run except for the very top, an only a dusting this will bind everything in.Also as you use it, split your wheel tracks. an fill any low spots that appear with #57 by hand so as not to disturber the stone that's compacted.
Army Grunt

 

[Mark Page]

Gotta' agree with Diamond and Army. Before construction I got a dozer in to level things out and put down a 6" layer of 2s then a layer of ground cloth and then another layer of 2's. After construction was done I put down a layer of CR 6's. I kept working it smooth when ruts would start and after the first winter I had it paved.

 

[Soundguy]

i'm amazed no one has bitten on the soil cement ball I tossed out.

I've used that to stabilize roads across marshes before... places where when you drive down the road, the standing water 1' away from the road makes a ripple wake...

soundguy