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Gravel driveway construction
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Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 10:11 am    Post subject: Gravel driveway construction Reply with quote
    

Our driveway is gravel and needs redoing. We did it about seven years ago, but the gravel has gone, sunk into the mud, and greenery is growing through it. We park on it, and, obviously, drive on it. Our soil is wet and the water table is often not far below, sometimes above.

I'm assuming a water permeable membrane would prevent the mud coming up, and the gravel going down, and keep it more gravelly, longer. Or do I want the plastic grid type things?

Any experience here, please?

Area to be covered is about 30m x 6m.

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Personally i would`nt bother with the membrane after seeing a drive that had been done a few years previously,

Dig out and replace with hardcore,get a layer of big stones in the base then a layer of fist size to level with,roll down ,then lay your gravel.

oldish chris



Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport
PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ty Gwyn wrote:
Personally i would`nt bother with the membrane after seeing a drive that had been done a few years previously,

Dig out and replace with hardcore,get a layer of big stones in the base then a layer of fist size to level with,roll down ,then lay your gravel.
I'm sure I've come across this idea before: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Roman-Roads-in-England/

and I have! Sometimes drives made as Ty Gwyn suggests last for quite a few years

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yeah, time and budget doesn't really allow for that method, and weeds would still grow.

Back to the question, then.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I reckon plastic grid things then. The membrane pores will just clog up.

Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 14 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

When constructing soakaways or French drains or hardstandings on site we always use Terram as the containing envelope.

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Dec 29, 14 1:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

On soft/wet ground lay matting first to stop mud mixing with base material. Then as deep a base as you can be bothered/afford. On good ground, that's at least 4 or 6 inches of hardcore. Roll. Then add an inch or two of MOT(crushed granite). Roll. Add a THIN layer of gravel and roll into MOT. Then another THIN gravel layer.
Ideally the gravel should be 2 pieces of gravel deep - first layer rolled into Mot , the second layer to fill the gaps.

Regardless of construction, gravel drives will get weeds. Seeds land, they grow.

kGarden



Joined: 01 Dec 2014
Posts: 178
Location: Suffolk, UK
PostPosted: Mon Dec 29, 14 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I don't know much about it, but we too have a gravel drive. There is some hardcore under it, but the gravel disappears over time, and as it gets thinner more weeds grow and have to be tackled.

We top up the gravel every few years, and the thicker layer reduces the weed seed germination.

If yours has lasted 7 years since last topped up maybe all it needs is a top-up?

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Mon Dec 29, 14 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
Yeah, time and budget doesn't really allow for that method, and weeds would still grow.

Back to the question, then.


Quick and cheap ?

Don't lay membrane over existing and chuck gravel on. That will be easy to keep weed free, but you will wheelspin and tear or ruck the membrane.

Suggest pull out weeds (I don't like weedkiller as you leave organic matter behind for future weeds), rake off loose gravel, dig out soft spots, fill holes and 're-level' with MOT(couple of ton?), hire 'wacker' or roller etc. etc
Get 10ton(?) loose tip gravel delivery - far cheaper than dumpy bags - and get the driver to tip as he drives down drive.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Dec 29, 14 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was planning on using a mini digger to remove the top 3-4 inches off,which is gravel, with mud and greenery, and throwing it in and around a field gateway to firm it up a bit, popping down membrane and covering in 3-4 inches of gravel. But you reckon some MOT might be better? And roll it flat.

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 14 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you are a boy racer and want to wheelspin and drift down your drive then 3-4 inches of gravel is cool.
If you want a more sedately entrance then a well compacted base with a minimal covering of gravel rolled into it, is what you want.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 14 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just make sure the gravel has plenty of sand in it and add a few bags of cement

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 14 2:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rob R wrote:
Just make sure the gravel has plenty of sand in it and add a few bags of cement

My drive is made like that. I still get weeds growing through it...

RichardW



Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 14 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I thought that adding lime was the standard method for keeping weeds down?

onemanband



Joined: 26 Dec 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: NCA90
PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 14 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

RichardW wrote:
I thought that adding lime was the standard method for keeping weeds down?


Not heard of that. Makes sense. I have an old bag of lime and a weedy area (despite a foot of hardcore, the lack of traffic means the adjacent planted area soon colonizes it)
I shall report back next year

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