Question for the rock and gravel guys

[gregfender]

I need to get my parking pad in front of the shop squared away. I'm planning on just a gravel pad. The topsoil is off and the soil is stable, I just need to know the order for my gravel. Planning on two layers. Is it crush and run on bottom and 3/4 on top, or do I make the 3/4 the base and finish with crush and run on top?

Thanks!

 

[s219]

I'd put #3 (not 3/4) on the bottom and then crusher run on top. Assuming you want a smooth surface that is -- hard to tell based on what you're asking.

 

[Baby Grand]

I'd put #3 (not 3/4) on the bottom and then crusher run on top. Assuming you want a smooth surface that is -- hard to tell based on what you're asking.

I just spread a tri-ax load (44,700 lbs) of ASTM #3 (2") down to stabilize a high clay area that gets soupy in wet weather.
Hoping the freeze/thaw of winter and frequent driving over it will help pack it in.



I'm pretty sure it's going to take additional filling and raking each time we get a thaw and the gravel sinks in.
About 1/4 of the stone remains in the pile to be used as filler for any low spots that form.

 

[oosik]

I don't know about all these weird gravel names, but for my yard - - I put 2" crushed & screened rock down for a base(6" deep) and rolled the crap out of it. I followed this with 3/4" minus (screened - nothing bigger than 3/4" and including down to 10% sand & silt mixed in) spread and rolled. This has provided a very hard stable surface.

 

[LD1]

#8, #57, and #304 are all top coats IMO

#2's and #4's are base material.

#8's are 1/4" -1/2" stuff. Common for alot of driveways. In the "gravel" variety, it is the size they use in asphalt.

#57's are ~3/4". Also common in driveways. Especially for heavier traffic or heavier equipment.

#304's have a few names. Crusher run, 3/4 minus, etc. It is just a mixture of gravel down to dust with nothing larger than 3/4". Creates a nice smooth topcoat, but does get kinda muddy on top when wet. That limeston dust sticks to your boots and tracks everywhere.

So you have to decide on what kind of top coat you want.

But for base, #2's are bigger. 2"-3" stuff. And #4's are ~1"-2.5" or so. And can very by reigon but some places have mixes fo bases that may include #2's AND #4's.

But either way, you need a base of #2, or #4's or whatever you choose. THen do the topcoat. What you are looking at now is both top coats, and arent the best for bases.

 

[LD1]

I don't know about all these weird gravel names, but for my yard - - I put 2" crushed & screened rock down for a base(6" deep) and rolled the crap out of it. I followed this with 3/4" minus (screened - nothing bigger than 3/4" and including down to 10% sand & silt mixed in) spread and rolled. This has provided a very hard stable surface.

Sounds like you used #4's topped with 304's

 

[crackerjack222]

Around here, south central texas, they use 2-3" to fine for the roads and well pads but some companies will then roto-till cement in to make a more firm base on the drill pad. They will use bull rock (3-8") to fill in soft spots and anywhere they expect erosion. they will normally make the base about a foot thick.
The pad in front of my shop (see avatar photo) is made with 2-3" to fine and it has held up well now for over a year.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Greg,

I have a asphalt driveway and large asphalt pad but added a large gravel pad beside the asphalt. If your ground is as hard as mine the crusher run by its self would work fine. Save a few $$ also. But if he ground is soft you may need the larger washed stone first.

My crusher run pad is several inches thick and I packed it with the F250. I had it put down 2010 and had no issues. I have had several tandem trucks on it with no movement. It has held up great, smooth and hard.

I did box blade it and re-packed it over the summer just because of the dead weeds and grass from the round-up. You know crusher run has fertilizer and weed/grass seed in it :laughing: I am thinking about spreading some on my yard where the grass won't grow!!

If I can get home before dark I will snap a picture of the pad.

 

[bcp]

I don't know about all these weird gravel names, ...

It's all strange to me, too. All I've ever heard of is by screen size.

I looked it up to see what people are talking about. Here is a table of standard sizes. Save it so you can translate those numbers.



Bruce

 

[LD1]

There certainly are alot of different sizes and different mixes. But not everywhere calls them the same thing and not everywhere has everything.

IE: on that list, #5, #6, and #56 stone isnt even heard of here, and are all VERY similar to #57's

Here are lists of what we have here:

Limestone http://www.natlime.com/Portals/0/Limestone Products.pdf
Gravel http://www.natlime.com/Portals/0/Limestone Products.pdf

And I'll admit, I dont even know what some of them are.

Point is, you need to call your local place and see what they carry. If you tell them you need ~3/4" driveway stone, they will know what to bring you. And for your area, that may be #5's, #6's, #56's, or #57's.

IF you need driveway base, tell them the ~2.5" or so sized stuff for base material. They will know.