Driveway refurb question

[ehellis]

Hello folks,
Time to re-work the driveway and add new finish gravel to it. The existing gravel is very compacted. Do I need to loosen it up with my scarifier or is it best to just add the new stuff on top of the compacted layer?
Thanks

Emil

 

[dirtworksequip]

ehellis, really won't matter. Put the new stone right over what you have. Unless you really want to play with your tractor and regrade the whole driveway before you put down the new stone.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[davkir]

If you get it level first, a GOOD dump truck driver can spread it so evenly that it's ready to use.

 

[Bobcatter]

I have a 300 ft driveway that was formed out of the forest floor. Pretty flat. I really re did it a couple of years ago. Put 40 ton of 2 B on it, once I dug it out and reshaped it. That includes a turn around area by the garage.

Since then, every spring, as soon as the frost goes out, I have been using my bucket teeth as a scarafier to scratch up the gravel driveway. It seems to raise the gravel above the dirt that builds up (mud) and gives an appearance of freshly spread gravel. So far, I haven't had to add any.

I would suggest you scratch up the old gravel to see how much you really need. Plus, it probably needs reshaped a bit, keeps the ruts from forming where the tires run.

Make sure you keep a crown to it, and scrape dirt away from the edges to keep water from ponding on the driveway. Every time I drive through it when things get soft, I try to go a different path on the "edges" to pack it in. My next step will be to add limestone, since it really packs hard. Have fun!