Gravel Drive Base

[Blind Lemon]

Sorry if I missed it in my search.

For a new gravel drive, how deep does the base need to be dug down? Would you put a couple inches of cruncher run down and then washed gravel/milled asphalt on top?This is on flat ground with an yard that has been established since the late 70's.

Thanks for any suggestions.

BL

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Local soil conditions will trump any advice you get here, but I like a few inches of #2 stone after stripping the topsoil down about 6 inches. Then 53s on top of that. Dress it with #7s as it settles and wears.

Some like the geo cloth, but I've never seen that do anything but turn into a mess on our clay soils.

 

[6768rogues]

I went about a foot down because we have about a foot of topsoil. If it is on top of topsoil it will get squishy. Then I put down #2 crusher run for a base. After using it for a while to pack it down, I put clean #1 crushed limestone on top. I have had semi trailers and trash packers back in and not even a slight depression in the driveway.

 

[willymakeit]

Local soil conditions and final use. Normal use residental drive or heavy wheel loads dictate different base treatments.
What is normally done in your area? Do you know a soils engineer?

 

[Blind Lemon]

As far as traffic and load, just normal home traffic. No heavy loads or big equipment. Cars and pickups. Nope no soil engineers, don't even know a concrete contractor. Was just going to rent a skid steer and have at it, though I have seen people just dump a couple of loads on the ground it it just becomes a mess.

I figured, dig down 8 to 12 inches to pull the loam and start layering and compacting.

BL

 

[matt_i]

If there were any spots which won't hold up during rains I'd use the woven geotex fabric. Its an extra step but imo pretty cheap insurance. Have to have it all opened up at once to put it in properly...

 

[6768rogues]

In our area it is easy to tell when the topsoil is off and you are into subsoil. Make sure you are at least down to subsoil and it will work. I would build it to be strong even if all it will see is residential traffic. Eventually a large delivery truck will show up, you will decide to do some work and a concrete truck will back in or a truck will simply turn around in your driveway and leave ruts. I never thought I would have heavy truck traffic but I have had several concrete trucks in here and a few tractor trailers delivering equipment for my shop. Since putting in my driveway my son grew up his dumpster trucks weighing over 12 tons and his big tractor have been here. You never know.