Gravel Driveway Base

atw58 · 09-19-2008, 07:50 AM

Hi all,

The paving company has removed the ashphalt on the driveway and will be installing interlocking pavers. The contractor says since the driveway has been there for 25 years, it is alraedy compacted and better to leave the dirt and gravel base undisturbed rather than dig it up to put in new gravel.

I have 2 questions:

1) The base appears to be only 40% gravel and 60% dirt or fill. Is the non-100% gravel acceptable.

2) The base is 6'-8" deep not the 12" recommended for a driveway. Does it need the full 10-12".

Other than costing the contactor time and money, should I insist on a new base.

Thanks for your input.

Art

handy man88 · 09-19-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atw58

Hi all,

The paving company has removed the ashphalt on the driveway and will be installing interlocking pavers. The contractor says since the driveway has been there for 25 years, it is alraedy compacted and better to leave the dirt and gravel base undisturbed rather than dig it up to put in new gravel.

I have 2 questions:

1) The base appears to be only 40% gravel and 60% dirt or fill. Is the non-100% gravel acceptable.

2) The base is 6'-8" deep not the 12" recommended for a driveway. Does it need the full 10-12".

Other than costing the contactor time and money, should I insist on a new base.

Thanks for your input.

Art

Personally, I would not dig up the existing base, but I would put new gravel/dirt on top of existing.

atw58 · 09-19-2008, 09:25 PM

Having a closer look, it is more like a sand/gravel mixture rather than dirt/gravel. Should I be worried about keeping this as the base.

Thanks,
Art

concretemasonry · 09-19-2008, 10:29 PM

With your revised description you should be OK with the stable, well established base.

Make sure it it graded to parallel the finished grade for the paver surface. Contour the base for drainage and compact any minor filled areas.

Make sure the contractor uses the required 1" sand setting bed (uncompacted) that also is screeded to the parallel the final grade, just as the base is so you have a uniform, uncompacted 1" sand setting bed.

Your contractor will the lay the pavers tight, install edge restraints, spread some fine surface sand and then vubrate. The vibration will even out the finished surface and draw sand into the joints for an interlock that gives more strength.

mark942 · 09-20-2008, 07:15 AM

I am wondering how it is that by the removal of the asphalt he/(your contractor) didn't disturb the base? With that being said, I would insist he lay down the recommended 10" to 12" required ( or do a build up to 10" to 12") and compact it down. New is new no matter how you slice it. Good Luck to You..........

downunder · 09-20-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

I am wondering how it is that by the removal of the asphalt he/(your contractor) didn't disturb the base?

Maybe he's that good!

I would break it up, take a bobcat, bucket level, and scoop it up.

mark942 · 09-21-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downunder

Maybe he's that good!

I would break it up, take a bobcat, bucket level, and scoop it up.

Has not seen that good in years...........

But your right, New is New!

KUIPORNG · 09-22-2008, 04:01 PM

One way to test the job, is to have a super heavy vehicle to part on your driveway for a few minutes then pull out... see if any track left behind... I heard people's driveway got that after a big truck parked over... although it would be a sad story to see... if you are going to do that exercise, make sure you do it before issuing the check...

09-19-2008, 07:50 AM	#1
atw58 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 30	Gravel Driveway Base Hi all, The paving company has removed the ashphalt on the driveway and will be installing interlocking pavers. The contractor says since the driveway has been there for 25 years, it is alraedy compacted and better to leave the dirt and gravel base undisturbed rather than dig it up to put in new gravel. I have 2 questions: 1) The base appears to be only 40% gravel and 60% dirt or fill. Is the non-100% gravel acceptable. 2) The base is 6'-8" deep not the 12" recommended for a driveway. Does it need the full 10-12". Other than costing the contactor time and money, should I insist on a new base. Thanks for your input. Art

09-19-2008, 09:25 PM	#3
atw58 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 30	Gravel Driveway Base Having a closer look, it is more like a sand/gravel mixture rather than dirt/gravel. Should I be worried about keeping this as the base. Thanks, Art

09-19-2008, 10:29 PM	#4
concretemasonry Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota - Latitude 45.057 Longitude -93.074 Posts: 3,357	Gravel Driveway Base With your revised description you should be OK with the stable, well established base. Make sure it it graded to parallel the finished grade for the paver surface. Contour the base for drainage and compact any minor filled areas. Make sure the contractor uses the required 1" sand setting bed (uncompacted) that also is screeded to the parallel the final grade, just as the base is so you have a uniform, uncompacted 1" sand setting bed. Your contractor will the lay the pavers tight, install edge restraints, spread some fine surface sand and then vubrate. The vibration will even out the finished surface and draw sand into the joints for an interlock that gives more strength.

09-20-2008, 07:15 AM	#5
mark942 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NEPA Posts: 555	Gravel Driveway Base I am wondering how it is that by the removal of the asphalt he/(your contractor) didn't disturb the base? With that being said, I would insist he lay down the recommended 10" to 12" required ( or do a build up to 10" to 12") and compact it down. New is new no matter how you slice it. Good Luck to You.......... __________________

09-22-2008, 04:01 PM	#8
KUIPORNG Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,861	Gravel Driveway Base One way to test the job, is to have a super heavy vehicle to part on your driveway for a few minutes then pull out... see if any track left behind... I heard people's driveway got that after a big truck parked over... although it would be a sad story to see... if you are going to do that exercise, make sure you do it before issuing the check...

Gravel Driveway Base