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Old 28-03-2003, 01:20 AM
Joe
 
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Default Coarse gravel driveway

Pity. Did they lay the rubble just before you bought the property? If
so, they probably didn't bother with compacting it (typical), which you
should try as a remedy. You'll need to make 3-4 passes with the WACKER.
Wet it down beforehand (like, REALLY wet it down).

Problem is you don't know what's UNDER that rubble, and the ground may
be variable.

No worries, you'' get there, although the 2" stones seem large, and may
be difficult to compact without an aggregate - you really need something
to consolidate and form that aggregate. You could try a fine(r) grade of
dolimite sand on top, then compact, water, and compact again. This
should set very hard.

Put your drainage in first, naturally! Might like to use buried PVC
seepage pipes into stormwater or a sump. If Drainage is not good enough
you will get subsidence and 'ruts' with the winter rains - no doubt.

Like most things, if you do it right once you should have a good result
for years, then you can top up the rubble occasionally and compact again.

Good luck. Please post the results, whatever remedy you try, as I'd be
interested to know.



Ron Kelly wrote:
The front driveway of the house we bought has been made with coarse
granite-type grey gravel of 1"-2" pieces. It is not stable and will
rut when - say even a garbage bin is wheeled over it. Perhaps the
previous owners never finished the project...

Can anyone suggest what can be added as a layer over it which will
bind it and make it solid, stable and less painful to walk on in bare
feet! :-) Crusher-dust was one suggestion, should it be watered in to
fill the gaps around the stones or what?

Ron


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Old 28-03-2003, 11:32 AM
Andrew G
 
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Default Coarse gravel driveway

"Ron Kelly" wrote in message
m...
The front driveway of the house we bought has been made with coarse
granite-type grey gravel of 1"-2" pieces. It is not stable and will
rut when - say even a garbage bin is wheeled over it. Perhaps the
previous owners never finished the project...


Could be 2 things:
1) The base was badly prepared and the actual ground sinks when weight is
run over it
OR
2) The gravel has been put on too thick. Check it out and see how deep the
gravel goes. If it's deeper than say 20cm, try taking some out and see how
it goes. The thicker it is the more things will sink when run over it. A
good depth would be 3times the depth of one piece of gravel, so say 6inches.
Could try experimenting though.

Can anyone suggest what can be added as a layer over it which will
bind it and make it solid, stable and less painful to walk on in bare
feet! :-) Crusher-dust was one suggestion, should it be watered in to
fill the gaps around the stones or what?


If it being too thick wasn't the problem and the base sinking is, then you
need to firm the base up.
A good base would be whatever your ground is, add crusher dust to a depth of
about 2inches, consolidated it using a wacker packer, then put your gravel
on top. This would be the best option.
Not sure the situation is with drainage there, but you might have to look at
that too.
So in other words nearly starting all over again.

There isn't much else you can do with it. You could try some sand spread
over it, with the excess brushed off, watered in, then do again.
Crusher dust filling the gaps may work too. Spread all over it to "set" the
gravel in. But this will be real messy, and you will have crusher dust
eventually getting everywhere, including sticking to your shoes/feet if you
walk on it.
Obviously a concrete mix poured over it would work too, but wouldnt look the
best, and you may as well do away with the gravel.
If the rock is course granite, and kinda sharp then nothing you can do about
it in regards to being uncomfortable to walk on. That's the nature of the
rock unfortunately.

Good luck

Ron





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