Gravel floor - crushed or round?

[Number22]

I have a gravel floor in my barn, where I work on things the same as a garage. Right now it's regular crushed gravel like you find on any gravel road...but it's not the most comfortable thing to sit/lay/rest/kneel on when you're working on something. (it's sharp!)

I need to bring in some more gravel anyway, probably another 2" on top of what is there now. I wonder if small rounded type "pea gravel" (3/4" or so) would make a nicer work surface?

I'm thinking it would be more comfortable to work on but will not compact down nearly as well or tight as the crushed gravel does.

 

[Bull]

I'm thinking it would be more comfortable to work on but will not compact down nearly as well or tight as the crushed gravel does.

I believe you are correct here.

You know what some guys on here said they have used for a floor in sheds and barns? Thick rubber mats like what are used in big agricultural/industrial conveyors. I don't know where I'd get something like that in my neck of the woods, but maybe you have a source? Sounds comfy, insulating etc.

 

[Identaltech]

while every one else sweep he floor you will be racking it all the time if you use pea gravel. It doesnt pask down good and when you pull something in it leaves ruts.
I have used limestone gravel use a compactor and you can get it half way smoth and rock hard. (get it unwashed)

 

[glennm]

I have what they call "screenings" in my shed. Id packs down very hard and is easy to spread (it is a bit like sand but more coarse)

 

[BigK600]

See if you can get a load of crushed concrete. Its about the same sized rock as class 5 gravel, however it compacts much harder than class 5. So you'll have the closest thing to a concrete floor without concrete. Pea would **** to work in if you drop a nut or bolt it will be gone forever. Rubber mats are a good idea also, I use cardboard lay it down the work area before working.

 

[ghnl]

I use 'crusher run' for our driveway. Crushed rocks with the dust included. It packs down well and the dust washes down to make it even tighter. One time I had a truck load of roundy stones delivered. That stuff never packed down and cars would not even roll down an incline...

 

[Number22]

See if you can get a load of crushed concrete. Its about the same sized rock as class 5 gravel, however it compacts much harder than class 5. So you'll have the closest thing to a concrete floor without concrete. Pea would **** to work in if you drop a nut or bolt it will be gone forever. Rubber mats are a good idea also, I use cardboard lay it down the work area before working.

Hmmm...I like the idea of crushed concrete, I just chiseled a hole through a 12" thick floor, ended up with a bucket of hand made crushed concrete. I mixed it in with my gravel but a whole load of that stuff would be interesting...(I also noticed that the really powdered stuff at the bottom of the bucket re-hardened after it sat in water for a while - not like new concrete but I was surprised it happened at all...

 

[NUTTSGT]

The local quarry here has a berm mix here, I believe they call them 104s. It's smaaler gravel with dust in it. If you put an inch of that down, wet it and run a tamper(compactor) over it, it will get hard. repeat for the 2nd inch.

You wont believe how hard it'll get.

 

[Cryptic1911]

yep, use some crushed type stone (not round) with the dust included and pack it down.. it'll be like cement

 

[s_morrison57]

Yep do the un-washed crushed limestone, it will pack down like concrete with time.

 

[rick danger]

Yep do the un-washed crushed limestone, it will pack down like concrete with time.

+1........

 

[Number22]

What do you guys think about "asphalt millings" as a surface for both in my barn and the gravel outside parking area? This is the stuff they grind off of roads before they lay down new asphalt. There's a local place selling it for $4/TON! Apparently if you compact it down you have the next best thing to ashpalt, for cheaper...or so google says.

 

[1chicken]

I used crush-n-run in my barn and my skid loader continued to keep messing it up, I added a bag of portland for every 100 sq ft, tilled it to mix it in, compacted it with a plate, then misted it with water over the next few days. Looks and acts like concrete that someone with no clue about finishing did... Works good though!

 

[lazyazz]

Good idea with the portland mixed/tilled in. I'll keep that one in mind, come in handy around the farm!!

 

[ghnl]

dirt crete

 

[Joe69]

Millings will turn into fine stone over time. Potholes that develope will have to be patched, you can't re-grade it like you can stone. It won't stay in the holes.
Around here, you can't hardly buy the stuff, we recycle it. I work for a paving contractor and my boss refers to it as gold.

Joe

 

[D.J.]

Number22 the Asphalt Millings can be used for parking areas and a little known trick is to mix some diesel fuel in with it, but not too much. You can't have it running out of finished product or you won't have any lawn and the EPA police will be pissed. Then compact it (large steamroller works best) and get it perfectly level the first time. OK everybody jump on! Don't use for flooring! Just my $ .02










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