Grading Teeth Virsus Blade

[Whitey]

In reply to teg.......my driveway is sort of rectangular in shape. The length is about 125' in length and about 80' wide. The southern length is split between 1/3 against grass, 1/3 increase in elevation up to my shop and 1/3 decrease in elevation to my temporary garade. (New one next year) This entire driveway is located below my house which is at the base of a large ag field. Water collects and turns dirt into mud. I want to eliminate this mess for right now by removing 4" - 6" material and place free draining limestone for now untill I put a new garage in next year and concrete the entire area. Long term plan short term fix. Happy wife happy life.

 

[Whitey]

By the way teg....if your drive way is rough you may be experiencing the sub-base pumping. If your base pumps you need to remove that material and replace it with a more suitable mix. In my area we have sand and gravel ( glacial eskers everywhere) and it compacts like a champ. We bought this place even though it had not been lived in for over five years (potential) and the previous owners mowed the driveway. Since we have been here grass has been replaced with ground dirt thus turnith mud. One more point in our area there are various sizes of limestone. 2B limestone is generally washed without fines therefore does not compact as readily as 2A which has fines and compacts tighter than a bull's............which is what I will use for now and then reclaim it when I backfill my foundation and do my slab.

 

[teg]

Actually, the road is very solid (and dry) but it has 3" and 4" rock with some smaller smaller rocks holding everything in place. I was thinking of putting down crusher run to smooth it out but since the road "works"... money will be spent on a cabin by the creek instead.

 

[RFB]

Whitey,

The best method to eliminate the hydraulic pumping you mentioned is to add one more step to your process. After you remove the organic material, install geotextile fabric and then lay the aggregate on top of that. You will no longer see the pumping or the rock sinking.