Sandstone gravel driveway

[BustedThumbs]

I'm working on a plan to build a sandstone gravel driveway from the gate to the shed, boxed in with hardwood sleepers. Having never done anything like this before i'd appreciate any advice from people who have.

Is $88 cubic metre a good price for sandstone gravel and how deep should it be?

Is there a cheaper (but resilient) alternative to treated hardwood sleepers for boxing in the driveway?

What sort of base should i put down? Can i get away with laying a semi permeable membrane then dumping the gravel on top?

Thanks,
Mike

[Bleedin Thumb]

Mike I wouldn't worry about permability of the gravel, its more a case of getting your falls right. This means you dont want a fall greater than 1:100 for a start and you dont want long runs with your fall, ie, you want a cross fall as opposed to a fall along the length of the drive.

If you can't meet those criteria then you will have to go to solid paving or stabilize your sandstone with cement.

Sleepers are good, just pin them very well so they wont move.

$88 seems rich to me. If I use sandstone its due to budget considerations as its the cheapest. Sometimes you can get your crushed sandtone free if there's an excavation site happening near you. Ring all the local demolision/excavators mention that you'd be saving them tipping fee's

Usually when you build gravel drives you build your subbase with compacted road base and compact a thin layer of gravel over, less than 25mm, otherwise you end up with the dreaded crunchy gravel syndrome. Its a PITA to walk on.

With crushed sandtone you dont need to do that as compacted sandstone is good for your base as well, but you will have to wet it down and compact it with a ride on vibrating compactor - a flat plate wont do.

EDIT just reread your thread when you say sandstone gravel I assume you are taking about crushed sandstone. If you are refering to quartzite gravel disregard my post. Different beast.

[BustedThumbs]

The fall won't be an issue. The land is almost flat and i can get a mate to put any level on it with the bobcat when he makes the cut.

I wasn't worried about the permeability of the gravel. I'm concerned that the gravel may work its way into the dirt over time. Will this not be an issue if i put enough gravel down, or would it be worthwhile putting a barrier in.

i am indeed talking about crushed sandstone gravel - 30mm. Can you reccommend something better/cheaper/more user friendly?

What'll happen if i don't compact it down?

[bsrlee]

A barrier will make it easier to remove weeds as they won't get their roots down as far, as well as making sure that soil won't work its way up thru' the gravel. If you compact the gravel well then the soil working its way up will be even less likely to happen, and one day when it finally rains, there should be less wash-away.

$88 sounds a bit much - time to do a ring around to a few landscape suppliers for some prices. You may also want to consider some other gravel material - unless the sandstone is particularly hard then it will eventuially breakdown into coarse sand. I don't know your local geology, but think about what sort of rocks are common within a days drive, or are stocked by the various garden/landscape dealers. Quartz gravel is pretty common as are river stones/gravel - generally a product of metamorphosed sandstone. Crushed granite and blue metal are volcanic products often associated with quartz veins.

[Bleedin Thumb]

Hi Busted,
If the bearing capacity of your subgrade is not too hot ie doesn't compact well use a geotextile blanket over it. I'd go 500 - 650 gsm.

As far as user friendly it doesn't get much more simple than crushed sandstone (CS), the rollers are easy to drive and hire - freaky when your on a slope though:eek: One issue with CS is that it contains a high clay content that will wash out and stain and you will leave white tyre marks exiting from your drive after rain. Decomposed granite is the same.

If you go for other non compactable gravels you have to use roadbase (recycled) under.

Why dont you look at crushed roof tiles, if you like red then the stuffs cheap and compacts well - get the very fine stuff.

[BustedThumbs]

After three months away i'm finally back home! Here's a couple of pics showing the are i've got to work with for the driveway. The ground is pretty flat and, though sandy, compacts well. As i'm also building a deck (See this thread: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=41787), i'm waiting to finalise the plans on that one before getting my mate out with his bobcat to dig the holes and make the cut for the driveway.

I'm not so keen on the crushed sandstone now. My parents picked up a cube of quartz gravel for $30 and i don't like the idea of tracking dust everywhere from the sandstone.

I'll be in Mooloolaba for a week to make making sure the pacific ocean is still where is should be.

Have a good Christmas all,
Mike.