[Splais]

we have an old (1947) concrete driveway (about 8-9x50) that is all cracked up into dozens of pieces. Cost is a factor in our planning. We want a larger double driveway and are considering a gravel replacement. There are a couple of other houses on the street with crushed rock driveways so it would not be something odd. The current owners of houses with gravel drives haven't been there that long and don't know if they like it or not.

Question: Did you go with/change to gravel and are you happy with it?

PS: sorry about the sideways picture, can't seem to fix it.

 

[jimn]

If you live in an area where it snows and from my experience a gravel driveway is a nightmare. Snow removal is tough .

Other problems. You have to add new gravel from time to time. You have to keep the weeds out which will invariably pop up after a couple of years. I don't like using herbicides but after a while you may have no choice. And keeping the gravel out of the lawn presents another weekend maintenance task. The gravel driveway is more maintenance work and requires some new stone every few years to keep it looking good.

 

[ZTMAN]

If you do gravel , you will also be shooting rocks all over the place when you mow your lawn. (Gravel will migrate into the lawn) You could probably do an asphalt overlay for about the same cost to rip out the concrete and install gravel. It seems like cost is a factor. I would prefer to have one side done right before expanding to a double drive.

 

[ChuckTin]

Have you considered Asphalt tailings (the stuff they grind up from existing roads for re-use)?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[Splais]

I hadn't heard of asphalt tailings/millings. Going to do some more research into it.

 

[Yodaman]

My first choice would be asphalt, then concrete and last would be gravel. But if that's what the budget allows it is better than mud. Snow plowing shouldn't be a issue in Florida but containment still is. That can be remedied with landscaping timbers or blocks. I have a long drive way with a large parking area that is all compacted gravel. It's a step up from mud!

 

[Oso954]

I find the terms "crushed rock" and "compacted gravel" to be a little generic.
A compacted pea gravel and çompacted 3/4 crusher run (aka 3/4 minus) would be very different surfaces. Crushed rock could be anything.

While you are looking at the asphalt tailings, you might also want to look at permeable asphalt. Letting the water drain thru keeps it dry, even if minor depressions develope in it. The other benefit is reduction in run off from your property, which is becoming an issue in some locations.

 

[Splais]

There is one thing that isn't agreeing with some of the comments here about gravel. And keep in mind when I say gravel I am not talking about pea gravel. Mostly crushed marble is what I think is used around here. Both the gravel driveways across the street from me have been in for several years and are very solid. I don't know if the type of soil we have here in South Florida is a factor or not. But we don't have dirt and mud. We have pure sand only and it compacts very hard. So I have a lot more looking to do and trying to find a good honest local contractor.

 

[Bondo]

There is one thing that isn't agreeing with some of the comments here about gravel. And keep in mind when I say gravel I am not talking about pea gravel. Mostly crushed marble is what I think is used around here. Both the gravel driveways across the street from me have been in for several years and are very solid. I don't know if the type of soil we have here in South Florida is a factor or not. But we don't have dirt and mud. We have pure sand only and it compacts very hard. So I have a lot more looking to do and trying to find a good honest local contractor.

Ayuh,.... There ain't much more than sand, 'bout anywhere in Florida,....

Yer gravel is probably imported from afar,...

Anyways,... Ya, you'll be just fine with rippin' out the concrete, widen the hole to where ya want, 'n then backfillin' with whatever structural "Gravel" available down there,....
Aka; Driveway gravel,.....

'round here it's crusher run limestone, graded to 3/4" Minus,....
The Minus, the smalls allow good compaction,....

 

[Splais]

'round here it's crusher run limestone, graded to 3/4" Minus,....
The Minus, the smalls allow good compaction,....

Now that I think about it, that may be what is across the street

 

[ktkelly]

Had gravel and hated it. Moved before doing anything.

Had concrete that was in poor shape. Had it removed and replaced.

Have gravel at the beach house. Installing concrete pavers.

I really do hate a gravel driveway.



Friend of mine had his concrete driveway covered with pavers. But his driveway wasn't in terrible shape, just had a lot of surface spalling

 

[Fix'n it]

easy .....

 

[Fix'n it]

even though it is ugly. i would rather park on that than gravel.

 

[ktkelly]

Regardless of how you resurface, I would remove the part up against the house in a manner like this:



In my opinion, noting looks worse than a driveway going to a converted attached garage.

 

[dd57chevy]

That isn't a very nice driveway . Too skinny & the concrete is shot .

If it isn't the only one on the block with gravel AND gravel is all you can afford , it might be prudent .

I will say this : I own a glass repair business . Even if you installed a TWO FOOT HIGH BORDER , gravel will end up in the yard . The mower takes it from there . All you can do to minimize the projectiles is set your mower's cutting height up higher .

Gravel drives , or river rock/pea gravel beds (instead of mulch) are a Glass guy's best friend !!!
:devil3:

 

[Bondo]

'round here it's crusher run limestone, graded to 3/4" Minus,....
The Minus, the smalls allow good compaction,....

Now that I think about it, that may be what is across the street

Ayuh,.... Are ya gonna have this done, or do it yerself,..??

Have ya dug an edge on the concrete to see how thick it is,..??

 

[SeniorSitizen]

You could probably do an asphalt overlay for about the same cost to rip out the concrete and install gravel.

I'd consider a serious look into this overlay approach. We have a 4 lane ( imagine that with only 2 traffic lights in the county and both in the same town ) in which I occasionally drive my pickum up truck on and a section of about 5 miles is asphalt overlaid on concrete that was poured in 1928. The opposite side needs reworked quite frequently but the old overlaid road stays solid with its clickity claclity joints.

 

[landfillwizard]

If you find a contractor, find out if there are any concrete recycling plants in your area. If the recycled concrete is placed and compacted thoroughly, you end up with a very durable surface. One secret to having a hard surface, is to thoroughly wet the material before compacting. I don't mean to by having the material floating but have it so that when you take a handful, it will compact in your hand.

 

[KevinEF7]

Gravel really is a nightmare for driveway surface, that driveway will last a few more years, save for asphalt, $2-3000 for your size