Driveway Help

[15w40]

I am looking for some help in driveway construction and hope someone in TDR land has some experience with asphalt. This spring I will be replacing my broken-up driveway. It looks like the asphalt is only about 1 to 2 inches thick and below the asphalt is a mix of sand and topsoil. I am guessing that I will need to put down a good base and then 4 inches of new asphalt. My questions are, what should the base material be and is a 4 inch compressed thickness enough to handle heavy trucks (10K pounds)? What should the base material be, and how deep?



I have seen driveway-paving crews put down two layers, where a layer of course asphalt is applied followed by a layer of fine asphalt. Is this what I should ask for?



With Diesel at $2 a gallon, I wonder how much asphalt will cost.



Thanks in advance.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I worked for some paving companies years ago mostly hauling. We used what they call modified or roadbase depending on the type. It is stone with certain amounds and kinds of dirt mixed in so it compacts solidly. You need to ask around your area to find what is commonly done with your soil type and climate. Proper drainage is very important. If water collects and freezes, it will push even the best base and blacktop. Four inches should handle 10k. Private drives are more apt to be just one layer rather than the base and top coat due to the extra labor costs.



Call up the paving crews in the phone book and get some estimates and maybe a little education. Sometimes if a crew is working in your area or if they can pick up work next door, you can get a break.

 

[midwestdually]

do it in concrete

 

[illflem]

Concrete driveways are best, check out the price difference while factoring in concrete is forever, asphalt requires maintainence.

Besides diesel fuel melts asphalt.

 

[parcher]

My house was built in 1952. I will be replacing the original concrete driveway this summer. If it needs to be done in another 50 years it will be someone else's problem!

 

[pathaymond]

Concrete is better But the key in your area of the country is as has been said drainage under the surface. if water gets trapped under the surface and the ground freezes and Heaves. Your hard earned money will be wasted. spend the extra money for your base and drainage and enjoy the finished products for years to come. Get references and estimates in writting and look at the jobs they have done then supervise the whole process so YOU know whats under your drive.

Good luck and hope I have helped in some way Patrick

 

[Whitmore]

15-40, I dont know how many sq. ft the drive is but others are right that concrete is better and will be more user friendly, for a 10k service you need 5. 5 to 6 inches of concrete, use 6 bag mix with fibermesh added for strength, figger the length x the width to get the total sq. ft. and divide by60 and that will give you the cubic yards needed then you could figger if you have a contractor do it double that amount for the labor and then add 30% on top of that for profit. Also you can figger a dollar per sq. ft. to tear the old drive out. This will get you close to what the bids will be. First figger the total yards of crete needed and when the contractor is on scene mention to him that you have a xxx cubic yard job for him and he will know that you have done some reasearch on the deal and he will also be aware that you know how much the materials cost, this will help you to get a cheaper bid. Also call you local ready mix place and ask how much for 6 bag with fiber delivered to your location.

If you talk like you know your business than he will be less likely to jerk you around or cut corners. If you do go thru with concrete let me know and I will give you many more details as I contracted and have poured about 6000 sq yds and never had to come back or give discounts for shoddy work, I had a crew of 11 during peak times. Driveways are cake and are very profitable.



Concrete gives me wood



Make it hard baby, Kevin

 

[Mike Ellis]

Whitmore,



Here's a question from the doofus corner, I can diddle with electronics all day long but all I know about concrete is it's gray and hard when dry



What's a "six bag mix"? Six bags of concrete mixed with extra sand / gravel to get the full yard ?

 

[15w40]

I would love to put down a concrete driveway but one thing worries me. I use a lot of salt in the winter. Living on the coast, the winter storms start as rain then turn to sleet and finally snow. As the storm moves out to sea the cold Canadian winds freeze everything solid. Unless they have come up with concrete that doesn’t dissolve in a layer of salt I think I am out of luck. I have never seen anyone use concrete around here.



Today I measured how many square feet of area I have to cover and came up with 2,272. If oil prices keep rising, it might be cheaper to use granite cobblestone.

 

[Camara]

Talk with a ruputable contractor. I put down a foot of crusher run which is a mix of stone dust and 3/4" crushed stone. I compacted it and watered it every day for about a month. I like it when it's hard. Then I called a paving contractor to lay the asphalt. They put down 2" of binder and then 2" of top. The only advantage asphalt has over concrete is that is somewhat flexible. The only problem with concrete is that it will crack. I myself prefer concrete. When I set equipment I use a 8 bag mix or 5000psi mix with fibermesh and I generally lay a 6" wire mat in it. Then I let it set for 28 days before I touch it.



No offense to anyone, but an old timer told me: " concrete is like a woman - it takes 28 days to cure"



You know what they say "Keep it hard - do it in concrete"

 

[Whitmore]

15-40 according to my calculation above you will end up in the $6500 range if your crete costs $70 per cu. yd. this is not bad for turn key also another $2270 for the blacktop tear out. As far as the salt issue you are correct that it will distroy the driveway, even the ice melter will do it too unless you distribute it per recommended values, if any clumps come out it will spald the pad. I have never done black top before but I had heard it costs about 70% of what crete is , your area may be alot different mostly pending on how far they have to truck the materials. After thinking about you cituation I would look into the possibility of a patch job and then another 2or 3" overlay of new stuff, this can be done with success if you get all the bog areas or soft spots out.



Mike Ellis 6 bag mix stands just for that ... ..... 6 bags of cement per cubic yard.



Camara, you are somewhat correct about the 28 day cure, concrete has reached its rapid cure in 7 days and then slows down a bit up to the 28 day range and then it still cures and gets harder forever. I would not hesitate to drive a 10,000 lb vehicle on a 6" slab after 7 days but wouldnt allow any heavier rigs on it till after 28 days.



cheers, Kevin