Driveway and Gate Question

[ChevyHDGert]

I've read a few of the other driveway threads....but I have a few other questions.....

We've been in living in our newly built home for about 2 weeks and the sand blowing around everywhere and everyday is getting to us. I'll be putting down some sod down soon too.

Which type of gravel is best to use and which makes the least amount of dust?
And how much money am I looking at for approx. 300 feet long by 10 feet wide?

And how much would a gate opener on a solar panel cost me?

 

[TigerfaninAR]

We just had 7 loads of river rock put down about 2 weeks ago. It was packed down with a dozer afterwards. Many said the river rock would not pack but ours is like a concrete drive already. Our drive is almost 300 ft but need one more load. Cost 245 a load.

 

[saltbranch]

A friend of mine has used a by product of one the steel manufacturers in the Sequin Tx area. Think he called it slag, but it does not look like the slag I'm used to from cutting metal with a torch...anyways it packs down and looks alot like pavement now. It was brought in by trucks and he spread it out with a tractor.

 

[CurlyDave]

You may want to go wider than 10'. I know our county required 12' for emergency vehicle access, with turnouts every 250' for vehicles to pass each other.

Check your county regulations before you start.

 

[Western]

Up here in N. Texas the most widely used is #1 road base, around $200 +/- a bobtail load or 10-12 yards. Make sure they don't bring it with a "Pup" trailer since the bobtail will leave an empty space (where the trailer is hitched to the bobtail), extra work. Most of the haulers can pretty accurately drop the load while driving to spread it real close to what you need, then you just dress it up.

I would start with 3 loads and go from there, or ask them, they can give you a pretty accurate guess on how much you will need.

One tip on that base. It's good to let it get rained on if possible before you drive on it. It feels slightly soft, get it wet, it gets like concrete.

As far as the gate, I'd say between $400 to over $1k, depending on what model you want/need. You can see and price the Mule series at Tractor Supply and Home Depot, among other places.

 

[beeforty]

I agree with CurlyDave on the checking with the powers that be. With me it is the Fire people that want a certain width of driveway and minimum radius for turn arounds for their rigs. Also with a gate you need certain widths, no or very high crossbar/signage over your gate and you need to provide them a key or other means of getting through to your place or else they wait for you to open in an emergency