Need Gravel driveway advice

[Lovthebass]

I am doing a gravel driveway for my new detached garage. I wanted to get some advice on what is a good geotextile fabric to use as will as what type or types of stone to put on top of it. I was told I only need 6" of stone on top of the fabric from a certain manufacturer. Part of the driveway will be brand new and the rest will be redoing the existing gravel driveway that is in bad shape, in total it is around 500' linear feet. I am in New Jersey and the driveway is only used for a car and an SUV, no trucks.

 

[Channing81]

What are your soils like? Gravels and sands act much differently than an old peat bog or clay.

Something that meets AASHTO M288 if the subsurface soils are ok

 

[Lovthebass]

It’s hard soil, I’m pretty sure it’s mostly clay.

 

[Firebrick43]

Geofabric keeps mud and muck from pumping. Use the thickest fabric you can. I can’t say I would only recommend 6” though. I would do 4” of a number 2 or number 4 minus base and then 4” of 73’s. After that has packed for a year or two choose your top dressing of choice.

If you just put 53’s or 73’s down it will always be soft in the rainy season.

 

[Lovthebass]

So what would be a good way to build the driveway? How far should dig down? Do I need to use a base stone or can I use the same stone if I use geotextile fabric?

 

[Crawlin]

Dig down to native clay or hard ground removing all organic material. Could be 6-8" or more, just depends how much topsoil is there. Place 8oz non woven fabric. Usually 12' or 15' wide and 300 and some long if you buy a roll. Here in NC we would just put ABC or "crusher run" over the fabric at least 6" thick. That will be plenty for a base over fabric. If it's muddy or soft for what ever reason, use surge or 3" clean size rock first then ABC layer. If it is a flat road and you want it to drain and be dust free you can spread a thin layer of 57 clean stone over the ABC.