Gravel Drive

[Moreteyne]

Well leading up to my period property is a driveway that also goes 3/4 around the Mill. Our soil is a light fenland soil which sinks very easily in places.
I need to gravel the drive and it makes sense to compact some hardcore underneath to spread the load of a 20 ton telescopic boom that is needed from time to time for renovations.

So my question is , bearing in mind loamy soil and the need to spread 20 tons of weight. What depth of hardcore is needed , then what depth of gravel ?

 

[Penners]

In your situation, I think I would wait until the cranage work was finished before I gravelled the drive. It seems a pity to have to specify the construction of the drive to suit a 20-ton crane, when the need for that vehicle's access will be finite.

Why not just bung down a load of hardcore during the time that the crane is using the drive? The crane will undoubtedly make it sink bit by bit, and as it does so you can just keep adding more. Then, when the crane is no longer needed, you'll have a well compacted hardcore base for your gravel.

If the hardcore is too lumpy for the crane, you could blind it with a bit of hoggin.

 

[Moreteyne]

The boom is required every few years as the Mill is lime washed, also the walls are at an incline ( cone shaped building ) hence the 20 ton load will be needed.

 

[Penners]

Sorry Moreteyne. I misunderstood.

 

[NT]

Shame you cant stick a long spray nozzle out of the windows & do it that way.

NT

 

[geoff]

Go to http://pavingexpert.com and look there - there's not much about driveways and landscaping that isn't there. You'll find enormous detail about necessary construction etc and if you are unsure a message on the forum or to Tony who runs it will almost certainly get you an answer. It's one of the best sites on the net.