help picking a gravel

[BeezFun]

Is the fabric similar to tyvek house wrap?

No the fabric is porous and is made of something incredibly tough, maybe something like kevlar. It's kind of like that stuff you put down under mulch to keep the weeds from growing through, only much tougher. The water will drain through it but the stone can't cut it, so it prevents the stone from being pushed down into the dirt and disappearing. They also make a version that's very heavy for use under highways, but that stuff is about 1/4" thick and expensive.

 

[Ken45101]

I don't know. In a previous property, the prior owner had started a driveway by digging down. That took a lot of rock to fill in and was still a clay bowl to hold water.

I gave up with that idea and just put down #2 (3-4") crushed limestone right on top of the dirt. After that was well pounded in (by concrete trucks, etc.), I finished off with 304 (3/4" plus fines). That seemed to hold up just as well as the dug out section. I know it's not the "way you are supposed to do it", but it seemed to work out fine.

Ken

 

[VA MTN MAN]

No it looks lke the silt fence you see on construction jobs. A woven plastic that will let the water through but not tbe dirt.

 

[abbie8084]

thanks everyone this was very helpful

 

[dennis52]

The deeper you dig the better and the base you want large rock, then smaller rock, then the limestone. You want to tamp every layer, with water as a lubricant. As suggested have the level a little higher than the final level you want. Even them you want extra to fill and level after a year or so.
Just a thought!

Is the limestone to firm up the top layer?

 

[EagleTDL]

No the fabric is porous and is made of something incredibly tough, maybe something like kevlar. It's kind of like that stuff you put down under mulch to keep the weeds from growing through, only much tougher. The water will drain through it but the stone can't cut it, so it prevents the stone from being pushed down into the dirt and disappearing. They also make a version that's very heavy for use under highways, but that stuff is about 1/4" thick and expensive.

Picked up on this thread this AM, I too am putting in some additional driveway. Anyone got a brand name on this fabric or what type of retailer would carry it?? Very interested in this, and thanks!

Eagle

 

[Ken45101]

Anyone got a brand name on this fabric or what type of retailer would carry it?? Very interested in this, and thanks!

Check with your county Soil & Water Conservation Dept. They may have recommendations and local suppliers.

Or your county road department.

Ken

 

[EagleTDL]

Check with your county Soil & Water Conservation Dept. They may have recommendations and local suppliers.

Or your county road department.

Ken

Thanks Ken, appreciate it! :thumbsup:

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I have a VERY long driveway with steep hills and it was in pretty poor shape (no maintenance in YEARS).

I recently had good luck the recycled concrete.

I dropped 3 22.5 ton loads and then did massive backdragging.

The biggest problem is it will not tailgate neatly, and I don't have a rear blade or box blade yet.

I ended up with some spots that are too wide (spillage out the sides of the tailgate) and spots that are too thick (similar reasons). I had planned to havesome for parking spots, but that material is in the above mentioned spots.

The nice thing is it packs down VERY NICELYand still has excellent drainage. I am MUCH less concerned about my Harley's on the gravel. Before this the "57" stone in places was like riding a motorcycle on a floor covered with marbles.

I have at least a couple spots were I just dropped 4-6" of it ontop of mud and they are holding firm still.

Best of luck!
Be well,
David

 

[greasemonkeyok]

The above posts relate to the traditional re-surfacing methods.

There is another alternative for a parking area in what are loosely called "grass pavers". There are many different kinds. For example, see:
Grass Permeable Paver, Grass Porous Pavement, Turf Paver - Grasspave2 drivable grass