What should I fill a hole with

[JJThrasher]

So long story short some people can't be bothered to turn a wheel and like to cut the corner in the driveway. I dug out the nice rut which is now a 2' x 7' hole about 5" deep. I used what little dirt was there for a bit of fill elsewhere. Now I need to decide what to fill the hole up with. I have debated gravel or using a couple bags of concrete (cement?) mix to fill it up with. The hole is a half moon shape. The driveway surrounding it on three sides is concrete.

What does the garage recommend? Fill it up with some concrete? Will I need any prep work for this to hold up? Should I just dump some gravel in a call it a day? I could dump some pothole filler in I suppose. Other parts of the drive are asphalt.

 

[matt_i]

One alternative is to look up via google "grassroad pavers" there are multiple competing products, basically its a plastic honeycomb which buries into the soil and is overseeded. It distributes the wheel load and holds the soil laterally so it doesn't get smashed out of the way....which is probably worse as it gets lower than the surrounding area and becomes a small pond full of mushy topsoil which holds even less load...

Its worthwhile to make sure the area isn't low, no matter what solution you use.

 

[JJThrasher]

Not a bad idea, but I'd have to fill it back in with the dirt that I already used elsewhere. Although I could use a truckload of dirt.

 

[HOTFR8]

A photo of you problem may give us a better idea as to what you are trying to deal with.

 

[PelicanPines]

You can dig another hole and fill your hole with its contents.

I'm joking...

My ocd would require a hole that had dirt in it... should be filled with dirt...

Or

Make a foundation for a new shed.

 

[roblouvasz]

Tell people to park in the street!

 

[stikman56]

I was thinking some concrete and a steel post. Now when they're too lazy, they can proudly wear the scar on their vehicle.

 

[Shawn S]

I was going to suggest your mother-in-law after reading the title, but now that I read your thread I am not sure that will work. And technically, you wouldn't want to use her to fill the hole, just to take up some space at the bottom of the hole.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I was thinking some concrete and a steel post. Now when they're too lazy, they can proudly wear the scar on their vehicle.

I was going to suggest a couple of fence posts.



Problem is, doesn't matter what you fill it with, they will keep doing the same thing after the repair. I believe you need some type of deterrent to keep them out.

 

[jhelrey]

Put a boulder on the corner...

 

[JJThrasher]

So is a couple bags worth of concrete a bad idea then? I'll try and grab a pic in a little bit.

 

[JJThrasher]

Here's a couple pics. I need to straighten up the line where I was digging. This is the folks property. They own the houses on both side of the drive. I suggested a large rock before but they were against it. I really just want to stop it from becoming a mud pit again this winter. I usually do their lawn work and snow removal.

 

[SARG]

I bet you're surprised at how many 60 pounders it takes to fill that up.

 

[JJThrasher]

I bet you're surprised at how many 60 pounders it takes to fill that up.

Around 20? I think.

 

[readhead]

Make it deeper. They won't do it again after the tow and repair bill.

 

[csp]

I wouldn't fill it with concrete. It's going to move with frost and more folks driving over it and end up cracking/falling apart.

Use a road base type of material that compacts well and includes both gravel and the fines that result from crushing the gravel. The soil below it will likely compact more over time and you'll have to add more eventually.

 

[JRC3]

Fill it in a bit, tamp the dirt down, and use 6-10 bags of cold patch as directed. Just a thought.

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...44444993395-c-5644.htm?tid=579237903973533441

 

[HOTFR8]

After seeing the photo I suggest you fill it with a mix of concrete dust and crushed rock and let it set as you will never stop people cutting the corner.

 

[JJThrasher]

Fill it in a bit, tamp the dirt down, and use 6-10 bags of cold patch as directed. Just a thought.

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...44444993395-c-5644.htm?tid=579237903973533441

Not a bad idea.

 

[JJThrasher]

After seeing the photo I suggest you fill it with a mix of concrete dust and crushed rock and let it set as you will never stop people cutting the corner.

I have a large mess of playground sand left over from another project. I wonder if I could mix that with some rock to fill it up?

 

[Hobbit]

What ever method you choose involve the guilty parties in the repair. That's how I stopped my wife & boys from doing the same at the base of our driveway.

 

[Zeke]

I have a large mess of playground sand left over from another project. I wonder if I could mix that with some rock to fill it up?

You have nothing to lose but it won't last but for maybe the season. A burm made from concrete might be a permanent answer. Dig down and make it about 12" thick. Let the frost heave it. Works in your favor.

You can leave off the red and white stripes

 

[JJThrasher]

What ever method you choose involve the guilty parties in the repair. That's how I stopped my wife & boys from doing the same at the base of our driveway.

Not going to happen. This would be an older sister of mine that is about to loose a good job our mother got for her. Has dropped out of several schools. Never held a job more than a year. Doesn't pay rent or hardly any bills. Lives in one of the parent's houses. Drives the parent's car while complaining that its old (2008 Escape) and she wants a new one. Parents pay her gas and insurance. Parents are probably the primary care providers for her soon to be 4 year old. Get the idea? Plus she's about 400lbs and would probably have a heart attack.

 

[JJThrasher]

You have nothing to lose but it won't last but for maybe the season. A burm made from concrete might be a permanent answer. Dig down and make it about 12" thick. Let the frost heave it. Works in your favor.

You can leave off the red and white stripes

I like the idea, but is 12" thick needed? I thought driveways were 5-6" usually?

 

[PT Doc]

Plant a boulder in there. They will figure it out.

 

[JRC3]

Plant a boulder in there.

His sister?

 

[JJThrasher]

His sister?

She'll probably get in a hole soon at the rate her health is. She tries to give me hell when I'm a bit over 250 and I'm just like at least I've dropped over 30 pounds this years and try to be somewhat active. I just figure she has to mock others to make herself feel better.

 

[bczygan]

Here's what I would do.

For future prevention I would plant as big a boulder as I could manage to place there. Something decorative but big and light colored but do not paint it. House numbers could be installed on it.

The rest of the damaged area is problematic. The damage is that the soil and subsoil has been compacted, so that whatever you do, you will never get grass to grow and match the rest of the adjacent lawn completely.

So I would create a planting area and plant some low evergreens. But first dig up the compacted soil and fluff it up. Then amend it and plant.

Bill

 

[HOTFR8]

I have a large mess of playground sand left over from another project. I wonder if I could mix that with some rock to fill it up?

It would but I would still add some cement dust to it and crushed rock to make it firm.

 

[JRC3]

I'm gonna keep this short:

1. 25 years ago when I first moved out it was into a rental my parents owned.
   
2. Old house in the city built in 1910, houses closely spaced side by side and close to the narrow street.
   
3. After hours parking on my side of the street. Narrow grass strip between curb and sidewalk and to keep out of the narrow street my neighbors always parked in grass strip killing grass and rutting out.
   
4. In the grass strip I installed field-stones in cement at each property line and at walk in the middle sticking up about 5" to deter parking, and re-sodded.
   
5. Worked great until one day I came out and found one stone halfway broken off, laying in my yard.
   
6. I was cussing and bitching about it...Then I realized it was covered in red paint scuffs and metal marks.
   
7. ...Then I just laughed and felt a feeling of accomplishment.

 

[ozyborn]

I would dig it out some and pour a deep curb there. Scare the heck out of some non driving corner cutter.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Nails.

 

[larry_g]

I would dig it out some and pour a deep curb there. Scare the heck out of some non driving corner cutter.

I was thinking similar but us a RR tie to establish the break between yard and drive. If the RR tie is high enough it will give them a jolt back to where they need to be. Fill the gap between the tie and drive with whatever suggestion you like from the previous posters.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[drmarkr]

Brick/ block pavers...

 

[Al Bundy]

Plus she's about 400lbs and would probably have a heart attack.

Sounds like problem solved.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Why not dig it out some more, build some forms and pour concrete on both corners to make it look uniform? Many of the concrete driveways I have seen were built that way to start with.

 

[steveo1o9]

I think I would dig back to the other expansion joint and line the drive with blocks to create a curb, then just fill with dirt and re-plant grass. Level the area with the sand you have and tap in the bricks. If you go this route you might want to mortar in the blocks so they don't come loose during the re-learning process.

 

[Crusarius]

2 options.

1: Heavy steel post like at the gas stations protecting the pumps.
2: Dig it deeper. Fill it with water. Then cover it with something that will float on the surface.

I hate ppl that can't stay on the drive paths. And my driveway is not others personal turn around either.



p.s. The post deters other ppl using it as a turnaround

 

[abachman]

Use round rocks to fill in the space. Sized about the same as a softball. Most landscapers and home centers have them for around gardens or this use. Many of my neighbors have done this. They can be driven over without messing up the car.

 

[Blk88GT]

Roofing nails.