How much gravel do I need?

[Sir Henry]

I’ve completed the lowering and leveling of my driveway and circle for turning around. I removed about 100 yards of clay and dirty gravel from the area and another 20 yards of clay/dirt from the backyard and placed it on the hill as a berm.

My turn around area is 50’ by 50’ and with the backyard I figure 60’ by 60’. If I want the clean one inch gravel to be four inch deep I figure I’ll need 46 cubic yards. How is my math?

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The gravel was about two inch above the concrete and made a two inch puddle last spring when the snow melted. It’s now about four inches lower.

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[Sir Henry]

It just started to pour. Looks like I need to add an inch of dirt in a small area so it doesn’t puddle under the gravel.

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And I need to add a small drain channel at the bottom end.

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[DsGrouse]

Sorry my question didn't go through. What type of matting are you going to put down?

My drive way is a double layer of 3 to 4 inch rock, topped with 4 inches of 1". underneath it all are two layers of driveway matting that keeps all that rock from sinking into the virginia clay.

I'd also suggest dropping some french drain piping in there across your driveway and to the lawn. It will help track that water out. Looking at those puddles, you might have some serious moisture issues if you do not.

[DsGrouse]

Now, this is a highly techinical drawing based on my many years of experience and BS degree. No, that is bull sht degree not bachelor of science.


I had a similar pad when i lived in ct that our previous owner put in. They dumped 1.5" rock with pea gravel on it to show the house. It was four inches thick at the lowest point and about 6 in the middle. By the end of the year the soil and rains had caused it all to sink in. I put more on the following year with he same result. I ended up putting french drains in, and matting down over the top. With a new gravel layer on top of that. No more disappearing gravel and no more clay soup.

[BigAl52]

If it was me. Id put some road base in first then put the gravel on top. I bet that gravel will go away quick in that soil.

[Sir Henry]

The clay locks to the gravel and won’t keep sinking in. It might need some touching up the first year. This is what the locals are telling me.

[markiver54]

At the cabin, we used what they call road bond, up there. Probably the same stuff Al mentioned. That stuff packs down over time and becomes almost as hard as asphalt.

[BrokenolMarine]

We take measurements, pictures, then go the quarry and tell them what we want to accomplish. They usually have someone there with a good idea what we need, how much of each, and in what order. At least we have been really lucky that way so far.

[BrokenolMarine]

We have never been asked to pay a consulting fee if we were just asking for advice on how much and with what do I fill THIS. They might charge if you got into:

I want to widen my driveway, how wide should I go...
Which side do you recommend expansion...
Do I need a culvert here and buildup....

You know... Design.

[Sir Henry]

At the cabin, we used what they call road bond, up there. Probably the same stuff Al mentioned. That stuff packs down over time and becomes almost as hard as asphalt.

I have several inches of road bond down in the existing driveway. It’s the widening where I’ll need some. Or the crushed rock will do as the road bond is just gravel and the local clay.

The bottom or lower spot perked out in about an hour as the top six inches is top soil.

My only concern is if four inches of gravel will be enough. From what the neighbors tell me it’s marginal. This rain that I had was brief and I doubt I would have problems. It’s the spring thaw that concerns me. This spring I had a river in my driveway and while it was mushy my van didn’t get stuck. The motor home was parked on the lawn and sunk in almost to the axle.