Gravel Parking Area over Old Burn Pile

[CurlyDave]

Is there any known downside to putting a gravel parking area over an old burn pile?

How about a paved parking area?

I need to burn off a fair amount of small downed trees and the beast place to do it is in an area where I will later want to put a driveway/parking area. Is there any reason not to do the burn there?

 

[Combustix]

I don't see any reason why not. The fire in my avatar now has a gravel pad and a large goat house sitting on top of it now. I just spread the pile of ashes around the area and the grass has grown quite well there, I pulled the grass to put the gravel down. It has had no ill effects on the goats.

 

[dmccarty]

I had a spot where I did a couple of burns. I dug a trench with the FEL, stacked up the small trees over the trench and eventually did the burn. After I was finished burning I filled in the trench and smoothed it out. You cannot tell that anything was done on that spot today.

I drive over it all of the time when mowing and moving more wood with the tractor. I would put gravel on that spot and never worry about it. I don't know why the spot would settle because of the burn but worse case just add more gravel.

Later,
Dan

 

[aczlan]

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you dont leave any nails behind.

Aaron Z

 

[magicheater]

The only downside I could see is that if you are burning stuff with nails in it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Are you removing all the ash and debri? Compaction and ongoing decay would lead to movement in the pad, and become a location where potholes will start to happen. With gravel, you have more flexibility for movement and repair. Concrete and asphalt will crack if the base isn't solid.

Are you going to have another burn location? I would hate to think of life without a burn pile!!!

Eddie

 

[CurlyDave]

Are you removing all the ash and debri? Compaction and ongoing decay would lead to movement in the pad, and become a location where potholes will start to happen. With gravel, you have more flexibility for movement and repair. Concrete and asphalt will crack if the base isn't solid.

Are you going to have another burn location? I would hate to think of life without a burn pile!!!

Eddie

Initially, I was more worried about the potash in the wood ashes, but the more I think of it, the more I start to believe that it is very unrealistic to expect everything to burn completely, and what I am going have is a fair amount of charred wood mixed with ashes. As you say, this is not a good base for a parking area.

Since I will eventually need a new burn location, I should bite the bullet and develop it now.