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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
I have a choice of crushed rock or a mix or crushed rock and clay called "base" to use for my driveway and ramp up to garage. What would be the best to go with? Both are the same cost at $5 a ton. I am leaning towards the crushed rock as it allows water to drain down through it whereas the crushed rock/clay base mix will pack down and not allow water to drain through it but wash off of it. Both have some advantages and disadvantages. The clay mix I like that it will pack down hard but I am concerned about it becoming muddy and soft in the event of a large amount of rain or snow. Any ideas, comments, or suggestions very welcome.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
I like the rock clay mix but it'll be nasty until it gets packed down good.
There's another mix that would be good. I can't remember what the guy called it now but it's a rock sand mix. It'll stay where you put it and it's great for potholes.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
Chief; My best results seem to be using 2" crushed rock for about 2/3 if the total height needed then the last 1/3 one inch washed crushed rock. the big rock gives about the best support base then the one inch washed rock doesn't track out like crussher run with the lime in it does. I've never used a crushed rock/clay mix. Unless this is a diffrent type of clay than I'm used to the clay I've used for fill under a drive seemed not to pack very well and got real slimy when wet. Might be good to ask around the neighborhood what others have done with similar topsoil and subsoil types. Best of luck. Frank.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
If it's the same price, no question, leave the clay out of the recipe.
There's a reason the call it "base" material. It is great buried, but expose it to water, and it will suck it up like a sponge.
If you want to make a nice top coat leave it slightly lower than finished grade and add some fine crushed limestone on top.
Billy, there are two that fit your description. They are "Pit Run" and "Crusher Run" the differnce being the Pit Run is just the way they dig it out, stones are round, and it is usually a little cheaper, not so much handling involved, Crusher Run is put through a primary crusher to reduce the rock down to smaller, more jagged pieces. Crusher Run is better near surface since the sharp edges tend to lock together better. Round stones only stay packed when they are buried, on or near surface they tend to act like ball bearings.
Best of luck.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
The clay they use around here to build dirt roads is red clay. That's all I've ever heard it called but I'm sure it has a technical name. It's a clay gravel mix but mostly clay and messy as heck when first put down and after a rain until it gets packed down. This stuff sits up hard as pavement and well enough to support 40+ ton log trucks, day after day.
Murf, the stuff I'm talking about has 1 and 2" flat river rock mixed with river sand. Once it's down it holds it's place.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
Billy, that's Pit Run, it's just your rocks are flat, ours are round.
Best of luck.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
I think the crushed rock is the route to go. I agree with Frank in using 2" crushed in the bottom 2/3 and then 3/4" or 1" in the top 1/3. The only draw back to the washed rock is that it well move on you with sort of like marbles unless it has some fines to help bind it together. Too many fines though especially clay material will seal it off and as you mentioned water will not drain. You might ask your supplier where they have put down each type so maybe you could look at and see what it looks like when it is dry and when it rains on it.
Early in my highway career I was involved with the regraveling of many miles of county roads in Montana for the Air Force. These were farm to market roads but were also access roads to the Minute Man Missile silos and control centers. The primary users were the local farmers and ranchers with grain trucks and horse trailers and of course the Air Force. You talk about trying to come up with a gravel road that would hold up under all conditions. About 80% of the time there was either complaints about the gravel raveling from not enough fines or bing muddy when it rained from too many fines. Most of the bitching was from the farmers and ranchers seldom from the Air Force. On day I was out on the road and was talking to a rancher who happened to be a County Commissioner. He told me "don't me too concerned with all the bitching about the roads. IF we ranchers and farmers didn't have something to bitch about we wouldn't be happy". From my experience I concluded there is no such thing as a gravel road that pleases everybody.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
I'd opt for the mix as long as it does not have more than 13-15% -200.
I do not know what other parts of the country call the same things "clay". Clay is usually refered to as any -200 material. If the sieve anayalisis has a broad range of material in it from -2" or 1.5" down to -200 and the -200 is not more than 10-14% I would get that.
Our state specs call for less than 10% -200 and that material usually is around 6% and when used on dirt roads it will come apart. Not enough fines to hold it together.
The towns here are using a blend around 12% -200 it makes an awesome road surface.
Biggest problem is overworking it and seperating the materials.
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
I guess I should have asked this question a lot sooner. My neighbor showed up with the dump truck and off we went to the rock quarry. I ended up going with the crushed limestone rock/clay mix. We spread about 20 tons and are going to let it set for a few weeks and then start packing it down good with the tractor and my truck. We will then spread a top layer of crusher run on the top. I'll post how it all turns out as we go along. Thanks for the replies guys! I appreciate your help!
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Crushed rock or crushed rock clay mix for driveway and ramp to garage
Here in Wisconsin they call it "Road Base" when it has the binder in it, usually clay. This is what my 1/2 mile long driveway is made from. After the first rains go through it the clay sinks in leaving a locking layer of rock on the surface. In general it works pretty well if it has enough drainage. If it collects water (low spot ect.) it turns into mush and is a mess.
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