Gravel driveway construction

[ArtisanFarms]

I'm planning on putting in a driveway to my new shop. It will be ~100' long and have an apron at the shop door. It is a level approach and the soil is very sandy. I've pulled all of the stumps already and am planning to use a loader and backblade to clear off the remaining grass and top few inches of soil. I'm planning to put down a layer of landscape fabric (free for the hauling) and use #2 Crusher run stone for the driveway.

Any tips/tricks from someone who has built a similar style driveway?

 

[Sumboodie]

You already explained it. Use a roller compactor for a real nice job.

 

[stevenwick90]

You already explained it. Use a roller compactor for a real nice job.

Yes that will be the best way

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[Bighead38]

Are you talking about landscape fabric meant for weeds or Geotextile fabric?

https://www.mainlinematerials.com/b...g-driveway-fabric-a-helpful-illustrated-guide

 

[ArtisanFarms]

Are you talking about landscape fabric meant for weeds or Geotextile fabric?

https://www.mainlinematerials.com/b...g-driveway-fabric-a-helpful-illustrated-guide

Landscape fabric. There is a lot of it at the farm that is too damaged for continued use, but looks like it would do an OK job in separating the stone from the sand base. I've used geotextile before on clay soils, and it worked great, but for this project, the free landscape fabric seemed like an OK idea.

 

[dmdc411]

When I was 20, I was the laborer/learning to run a skid steer. Dad was learning to drive a D8 cat. We were spreading 6" rock as a driveway base, using the d8 to push the rock in the dirt. Was spring, the ground was wet, so it wasn't difficult. About 8 inches crushed limestone to finish it off. A few springs of muddiness, but after that for many years, it's been perfect. We both learned to use the equipment, followed the excavators advice, he made a bit doing the dirt work for the house, dad saved some cash on the driveway. 35 yrs later, its still holding up very well!

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[Bighead38]

Landscape fabric. There is a lot of it at the farm that is too damaged for continued use, but looks like it would do an OK job in separating the stone from the sand base. I've used geotextile before on clay soils, and it worked great, but for this project, the free landscape fabric seemed like an OK idea.

I don’t see landscape fabric holding up but might be worth a shot.

 

[65ranchero]

If there is enough how about 2 or 3 layers?

 

[lkempf]

Buy more rock than you think you will need

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I have about 400 feet of gravel drive built 32 years ago that has held up really well. Good top soil about 24" deep. Had about 6" of top soil removed for the driveway. No fabric used. Had 3" crusher run put down and followed that with 1.5 inch crusher run. When the gravel started sinking below the surrounding soil, we top dressed with 3/4 inch crusher run. Since then, I have added 3/8 inch clean chat as the surface wears/is tracked away.

 

[landlord30]

No way would I use landscape fabric, even 10 layers of it. Do it once, do it right. Geotextile is the way to go. Last year I needed to uncover some Geotextile I put in almost 20 years ago and it looked in excellent shape.

 

[nadogail]

I think you have reinvented the Mcadam Road.

Heavy rock, followed by large crushed rock, followed by small crushed rock and topped by fine crushed rock. Heavy rolling on every layer.

 

[ArtisanFarms]

No way would I use landscape fabric, even 10 layers of it. Do it once, do it right. Geotextile is the way to go. Last year I needed to uncover some Geotextile I put in almost 20 years ago and it looked in excellent shape.

Serious question. For this application, what is the difference? Technically, landscape fabric is a geotextile. I have 20+ year old landscape fabric in several greenhouses that is holding up just fine, both uncovered and underneath pea gravel, so lifetime doesn't seem to be an issue.

My objective with this driveway is to keep the crusher run separate from the soil. My soil base is level sand which is stable and not expansive. If I was on a clay or some other unstable substrate and trying to stabilize or otherwise manage the substrate, I can understand using a specialty fabric, but in this application, what do I gain?

 

[ArtisanFarms]

If there is enough how about 2 or 3 layers?

There is more than enough. My son has lots of fabric with holes punched in it that he can't use anymore, so whatever I take won't be going to a landfill.