grass drive way systems-- any experiences here?

[mburrus]

whats the most immovable object in the world? a forklift stuck in the dirt.

during the construction process here, there has been some grass that has died... and getting my forklift in to the back yard has become pretty impossible over the dirt. im looking for a perminant solution that is permeable, and may even allow grass to grow.

i have been looking at
https://www.ndspro.com/images/stori...ack-grass-pavers-residential-applications.pdf

but its not sold locally down here (that i know of). other options include compacted 3/4" limestone, and the concrete turf blocks.

im looking for ease of installation, and a cost thats not astronomical! has anyone done anything like this before?

 

[bp460]

I have considered these, but have no experience with them:

http://www.belgard.com/products/pavers/turfstone

Menards sell them for $5.90 each

-Brad

 

[velocipede]

I think you are looking in the right direction. If you Google 'ground reinforcement mesh' you will find a variety of products suitable for your use. I have spec'd many of them for fire lanes around apartment buildings and they do the job nicely. Should work for you too. Just make sure it is pegged down and installed per mfgr instructions. I've seen them torn up by mowers and they are a pain to reinstall after the grass is already growing.

 

[kbs2244]

The stuff I have seen is concrete with grass in the open spaces in the web.
Due to weight they would be local mfg.
Do a search on permeable drivways.
They work well.
Dig deep, gravel base, the blocks, fill in with dirt, smooth off the top, and seed.
I have seen it used on a fire department driveway.

 

[The Wart]

Lbs hinted at some important info. It isn't as simple as just putting any of these products down onto the existing dirt. They all need a properly compacted sub-base, normally 12in of crusher run, but the spec varies by manufacturer. Just something to be aware of.

 

[rsanter]

I have installed and specified a bunch of that stuff.
The NDS tufftrack is the best plastic one on the market bar none.
It is not specified for forklift use but I have run forklifts over it.
Do not make sharp turns with the forklift on it as it is very hard on the cells.

The concrete grass pavers are tough to keep the grass growing in epically in hotter climates but may be a better option for you with the forklift.

With anything you go with it is the compacted base that is more important than the product many times. Without a good base what ever you put down will sink under heavy load

Bob

 

[Off-Street Parking]

I've been looking into these myself... not for forklifts, but as an option to gain some grass back on a house with a 3-car garage and associated driveway stuffed into a small backyard.

I'd love to do something like this:

(edit: and a picture of the final product, with the grass grown through it. Now changed to a link, as the picture has huge dimensions. )
https://mmhague.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/p1000282-2.jpg

 

[fourjeepin]

HUGE picture. Man that looks strange, but great. I would love to do something like that as I have soo much impervious surface here. Ranch house, pool house, circular drive pool deck.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

HUGE picture. Man that looks strange, but great. I would love to do something like that as I have soo much impervious surface here. Ranch house, pool house, circular drive pool deck.

Whoops! I thought that was just on my end. I changed the picture to a link.


I would think that drainage would be great with something like this... (or Turfstone, or any of the other options.). The only thing I wonder about... What happens in the winter? Do you just scrape across the top with the snowblower? Do the plastic options get brittle?

 

[mburrus]

winter is not a problem for me, in sunny south florida!

id like to use a plastic option, but they arent available around here locally, and unless i can find some for a decent price, shipped, its likely going to be turf block... though heavy, that stuff is very plentiful down here... and i have a forklift to unload it from the truck

looks like either way i go i am going to have to rip everything up to do a compacted base... i was thinking the plastic stuff i could drop in and drive on... we have solid rock about 4" down... my problem is really just getting traction in certain spots of the yard...

 

[kbs2244]

The first install I ever saw of this idea was in a well shaded church parking lot outside Tampa.
Heavy use 1 or 2 days a week and then some rest.
I don't think the climate change between Tampa and Miami is enough to worry about.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I've seen these pavers used frequently at commercial buildings and have personally witnessed a 200T crane and multiple hard tired forklifts drive on it with no problems. I have no idea about the cost:



Tommy

 

[nograin]

I've looked at Grass Pave2 a couple of times, but haven't had a chance to personally try it or see it in action. First time was the wrong type of solution for what we needed, the other time the project went a different direction. See if any dealers are in your area if you like what you see on the website.

 

[8man]

We've used a similar product on our developments with good results.

 

[600SL]

I can figure out why these all require 6 to 12" of gravel making them much more expensive than concrete.

 

[zkdiesel]

I've seen these pavers used frequently at commercial buildings and have personally witnessed a 200T crane and multiple hard tired forklifts drive on it with no problems. I have no idea about the cost:



Tommy

Ive destroyed several sections of this style on comed easements(comed install a 8' path along with the towers as a lane where it is normally
To wet to drive on just grass
Holds up good TILL I put down my 30k wreckers stiff leg outriggers and start winching on the truck/mower they have burried off the path. Once my truck starts weight transferring to the back with the boom up high it usually punches straight through a 2x2 square

 

[WhiffySpark]

I can figure out why these all require 6 to 12" of gravel making them much more expensive than concrete.

Drainage

You're talking a lot more money than concrete. Probably $12sqft+