Recycled Asphalt

[Anonymous Poster]

Has anyone used Recycled Asphalt on road or driveway, local gravel dealer has tons of it and it is cheaper than road gravel. Would like to know how it compares to gravel. Live in Northern Michigan and what effect does cold have to it..

 

[Bird]

Don't know what effect the cold would have on it, but it sure was nice on my brother's circle drive down here in Texas. It compacted better than gravel, stayed in place better, and was cleaner.

 

[Ozarker]

I haven't used it myself but the county is putting it on some rural roads around here. Works a lot better than just gravel.

 

[MDSteve]

I use it on my drive way (3/4 Mile). It works great. I am getting ready to add more to the drive because I have slacked in the past 3 years. I think a key to is heat an compaction. I usually do it in the summer time when it is warm and then drive on it until it is compacted with my truck. It takes a little while for everything to get settled but once it is set up I can plow snow on it with out taking all the gravel off the road.

 

[dummy]

Yep, after this coming Sunday, I'll have moved and spread 340 tons of the stuff. It does pack together well. I made the mistake of getting the "regular" single grind for the first couple of loads, then one of the drivers pointed out that the "double" grind was only $30 more per load. The single seems to be best for laying a thicker base layer. If you have a good base then the double grind is almost like laying cold asphalt; spread, roll and done. Best thing for us, is that it's almost dust free. We were getting single grind for free, but like everything else, as of yesterday they want $70 a load (single to triaxle) and $100 for double grind. Plus hauling fees.

 

[JonLeonard]

I just had a load delivered about 2 weeks ago. Its more expensive here I guess, as the 18 ton load cost $160 delivered. I had a few big chunks left in it, but overall it worked well.

One trick that I heard through the grape-vine is to spray the surface with diesel fuel using a garden sprayer. That will cause the remain tar to "melt" slightly and as it dries it will set up as a solid surface.

I know that this is probably a violation of regulations in some states, and the person who told me about it, said to do it at night. Just providing information, so use this information with caution /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Jon

 

[Bird]

Jon, the guys my brother got his recycled asphalt from also told him to wait for a hot day, spray it with diesel, and roll it, and it would be just like any other asphalt driveway. He intended to do that, but then later decided it just wasn't necessary.

There's also a sign on the side of the road on I-35 that's been there as long as I can remember saying that section of I-35 (18 miles, I believe) is recycled asphalt. It's as good a stretch of road as any on either side of there.

 

[JonLeonard]

The truck load that I spread has already become "crusty". I wouldnt think you would need to roll it if it was added to an established road. The place where I put this was on soft dirt, so I need to get another load and then compact it somehow. Think driving over it repeatedly with my truck would work?

Jon

 

[dummy]

A lawn roller filled with water works somewhat. When you have the next one delivered, ask the driver to run up and down a couple of times. This works better if your offering him a cold beverage at the same time.

 

[Bird]

Jon, what my brother had put down was on top of pretty good road base material that had been there awhile. He did have one low spot with soft dirt that caused some problems right at the culvert at one end of the driveway. I think putting it on soft dirt might not work too well.

 

[TerryinMD]

All -

Do a search of TBN with the work "millings" and you will see my remarks on using this material.

1. We have 5-6 miles of roads in our subdivision that we have maintained using this material. Mixed results.
2. Sunlight areas are the best for this material.
3. Shaded or moisture ridden areas should be avoided. Unless you can get it to bond with tar, used oil, or diesel/kerosene. Even that has mixed results.
4. Depends upon the age of the material. We have gotten some that has bonded well. Gotten other loads that does no better than gravel.
5. My 200' foot driveway is paved with it. The top half gets a lot of sun. It is stable. The bottom half is on a hill and is shaded. I will have to have it redone in the next couple of years. The materials are flaking away and are now a part of the road!!!
6. IMHO - I would think twice about using it in Michigan. Unless it can be compacted, "rewetted", and rolled.

In fact, our community is having a "pot-hole" party tomorrow (depending on the weather) to fill in some pot-holes and correct some badly eroded areas. I saw the millings and they seem to be dry and not well grinded. Have to see how they hold up.

Terry

 

[Kodiak]

I have used this material in Alaska, it has held up on rural roads, in -25 winters, for 3 to 5 years the secret is mix it with a heated oil water solution (i.e. cutback). Usually available cheaply through driveway or road paving contractors. Make sure its mixed into the material not just sprayed on top. Lay it out to grade, and compact it in with a vibratory compactor. The result will be a surface almost as hard as asphalt. It will be more porous though , so make sure your subbase alows for drainage. Once it finally unravels you can break the rest of up and redo it again the same way. Its also flexible enoughto hold up to some fairly substantle frost heave.

 

[TerryinMD]

If it lasts 3-5 years in Alaska with it's colder climate, then I would think it could last longer in the lower 48.

Cutback???!!!??? This is done by the contractor I would imagine and mixed at the contractors site. We typically just get the millings delivered as is and have them spread and rolled. What is the cost differential?

Terry

 

[Soundguy]

That is cheaper than in florida, which is about 18 bucks a ton. Good material, we have made quite few driveways and parking lots out of it, and it compacts well.

"I just had a load delivered about 2 weeks ago. Its more expensive here I guess, as the 18 ton load cost $160 delivered. I had a few big chunks left in it, but overall it worked well."

"One trick that I heard through the grape-vine is to spray the surface with diesel fuel using a garden sprayer. That will cause the remain tar to "melt" slightly and as it dries it will set up as a solid surface.

I know that this is probably a violation of regulations in some states, and the person who told me about it, said to do it at night. Just providing information, so use this information with caution "

I would advise against this, whether it works well or not... Diesel doesn't evaporate appreciably. For what you are thinking of, probably asphalt paint ( for fences ) or driveway sealer will do about the same thing, but it's volatiles will evaporate, and it is designed to be used without control measures in the open environment, etc.

Soundguy

 

[tdenny]

esalasimi,

We used recycled asphalt on our 628 foot driveway for the last couple of years until we were able to save up and get it done with "real" asphalt. The recycled stuff worked really well. It was not as dusty, stayed in place much better than 5/8 crushed rock, and almost makes a solid surface. The only drawback we had was the fact that there were chunks of asphalt in the truckloads. We got the stuff for nothing so we didn't complain at all.

 

[Mike Staples]

I have a chance to get recycled asphalt road base at a really good price. I want to use it like gravel around a barn. Is it toxic to my horses feet? Is it toxic to feed hay on the area its laid down on? Thanks.