Recycled Asphalt Millings for Driveway

[LukeDuke30]

We are wrapping up our new house build, and had the opportunity to try out recycled asphalt millings as the final layer of our driveway. The base is compacted clay with a typical gravel driveway - 3-4 inch base with a few inches of smaller stone on that with a final "crushed stone with dust" as the final layer. Over the past few months, it has been packed down well. We had the final top layer done with a few inches of recycled asphalt millings last week.

With the deep freezing we are seeing right now, it will no doubt need some attention in the spring. It was slightly less expensive than gravel. I will probably have another load brought in this spring, and rolled. All experimental, but so far it looks good. The second picture shows a mix, but that area will end up as concrete this spring for the last 50 ft up to the garage door. If you look at the picture, there is a low spot where the land is naturally sloping in that first left turn looking toward the road. Water runs from left to right. Decent rains wash over the driveway in that area, so I will probably install a small culvert in the spring.

 

[oosik]

It does look like it's packing down nicely. Asphalt millings, or whatever its called, aren't available in my area. I've asked. Anything such as that gets recycled back into new roadway surfacing. I've seen the big weird looking machine that one contractor has. Chips it, picks it up, heats it, squirts new asphalt on it, lays it back down.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Keep us updated on your progress. I hopefully will be getting several loads in the next couple of weeks. They are not as easy to come by around here. I was quoted $375 for a tandem load which is substantially lower in cost than crush run or #57's.

 

[Ford850]

There's a big difference between standard grindings/millings, and truly recycled and re-crushed asphalt. We had a 3" layer of the good stuff that was re-crushed or ground and very fine. Nothing larger than 3/8" and down to fine dust. We tried it on a whim instead of getting 411 crushed limestone this time, only on a hill portion of our long driveway. This stuff was applied using a paver just like hot asphalt, and rolled afterwards. It seemed loose though, even after rolling, but after a good soft soaking rain it packed to a very nice surface. Unfortunately being on a hill it is still washing out so it won't be our final solution there. On a more level surface it is an excellent alternative between stone and asphalt.

 

[LukeDuke30]

There's a big difference between standard grindings/millings, and truly recycled and re-crushed asphalt. We had a 3" layer of the good stuff that was re-crushed or ground and very fine. Nothing larger than 3/8" and down to fine dust. We tried it on a whim instead of getting 411 crushed limestone this time, only on a hill portion of our long driveway. This stuff was applied using a paver just like hot asphalt, and rolled afterwards. It seemed loose though, even after rolling, but after a good soft soaking rain it packed to a very nice surface. Unfortunately being on a hill it is still washing out so it won't be our final solution there. On a more level surface it is an excellent alternative between stone and asphalt.

Agreed - this material is refined fairly well. The material size was very consistent and I did not notice any foreign material or large pieces. This also had some of the dust in it which has allowed it to firm up a bit.

I know with the amount of moisture in the ground and extreme temp changes we are seeing will cause some problems areas that will need fixed in the spring. But for the cost, I am happy to have another layer put down. I am curious to see if a box blade will fix low spots like gravel. I may have to keep a small pile and fill in spots individually depending on how firm it gets.

 

[shooterdon]

I tried to get some when I did my drive and it was not available in my area. I think it is a excellent alternative and hope you have good luck with it.

My main reason was to eliminate road maintenance and to allow use of a snowblower without having gravel lunched all over.

 

[Paystar]

I do driveways with this all the time. If you wait until it is warm in summer, have it graded and rent a steel drum roller.

Now the trick.....water the heck out of it as you are rolling/packing it. When you use lots of water as you do it, it will end up just like a paved driveway.
I just use a little one ton dual drum roller.

 

[Diggin It]

Yeah, I was thinking they just grind it, heat it and add it back into new pavement.

But if I can get some, I'm thinking about doing my shed floor. Maybe a walkway or two that are both reasonably level..

 

[LukeDuke30]

I do driveways with this all the time. If you wait until it is warm in summer, have it graded and rent a steel drum roller.

Now the trick.....water the heck out of it as you are rolling/packing it. When you use lots of water as you do it, it will end up just like a paved driveway.
I just use a little one ton dual drum roller.

Awesome! Thanks for the tip. I will definitely wait until it is warmer for another layer.

 

[Eddie1955]

We are wrapping up our new house build, and had the opportunity to try out recycled asphalt millings as the final layer of our driveway. The base is compacted clay with a typical gravel driveway - 3-4 inch base with a few inches of smaller stone on that with a final "crushed stone with dust" as the final layer. Over the past few months, it has been packed down well. We had the final top layer done with a few inches of recycled asphalt millings last week.

With the deep freezing we are seeing right now, it will no doubt need some attention in the spring. It was slightly less expensive than gravel. I will probably have another load brought in this spring, and rolled. All experimental, but so far it looks good. The second picture shows a mix, but that area will end up as concrete this spring for the last 50 ft up to the garage door. If you look at the picture, there is a low spot where the land is naturally sloping in that first left turn looking toward the road. Water runs from left to right. Decent rains wash over the driveway in that area, so I will probably install a small culvert in the spring.

View attachment 588702View attachment 588703

Depending on how hot it gets in the summer it will actually tend to bond making it like a paved driveway, I am in Fl and put a couple loads on my driveway with no roller and it is packed like pavement. The nice thing about it is that it has far less dust that gravel or crushed concrete. Once spring gets here I think you will like it even better.