Geotextile question

[PorkyCat]

Hi All,
I'm about to rip up my old improperly laid asphalt driveway and replace it. There will be a new base of crusher-run and 4" of asphalt. I happen to have access to some free geotextile fabric....would it be a good idea to place that under the crusher-run and/or the asphalt? Or is that just a waste of time?
Thanks for the advice..

 

[6sunset6]

I am a strong believer in Geotextiles. That said your price is certainly right.
How long has you driveway been in place and has it developed depressions and or potholes. IF yes use it. IF no do you have another use where you want to make a road or a trail or a turn around or a log landing or a patio.
I am currently building 2500' of 7' wide trail over wet clay. The geotextile lets me use 6 inches of bank run and drive over it right away with a tractor to continue the trail. If I did not use it I would have 2' deep ruts in a day.
If you are going to use it , it goes under everything, I think

 

[tatra805]

2cents


get the info between which of your layers to put it. We had an area that would simply not stabilize because of the geo textile preventing soil penetration of a crunch layer. That resulted in a "matress" behaviour when driving on it.

Worst was that water which could not penetrate the clay soil was standing in the layers on top of the textile and enhancing a particle sorting process whereby all the smaller ones sank and the big parts came up, even through the top soil layer. within a couple of months.

So be advised before you start. I resigned from using any but i would be ignorant to say they are a bad thing.

 

[PorkyCat]

The existing driveway is 1.5" of asphalt directly over clay. It has cracked up and is moving around on the clay, which is squeezing up through the cracks.
Since the price is right for the geotextile I could put it under the crusher-run and under the pavement too...but I wonder if that is that too much of a good thing?

 

[Mculby]

The best situation for Geo grid is to place a base layer of gravel then lay the grid on top of that. Then place another layer of gravel over the top of the geo grid. This way it gives you drainage below it and it is not just sinking into the mud.

The gravel on top is because that is what geo grid was designed to do was to support gravel above. If it were below the asphalt, one it would probably melt, two the asphalt already supports itself because of the tar.
Think of it like plywood the layers are what make it strong.

Your best bet is to get a layer of #2 stone then a layer of #53's on top of that for about 2-3" of base, place the geo grid on that then 3-4" of gravel on top of the grid then asphalt on top of that.