Road planings for drive - Re-doing old gravel drive

[andyfr]

I am planning on sorting our drive out this year. It’s 300 foot long and with a steepish incline. I originally put gravel down but due to the Highland weather most of the fines have washed out leaving us with a “beach� at the bottom. I need to use something which will last better so I have been searching the web for ideas. As we live in a very rural area we don’t want something which looks too out of place.

I have seen several forums where the use of road planings has been used with a high degree of success. The main thing I have seen is that once the plainings are down and rolled. A light spray of diesel is used which softens the asphalt and then it is rolled again to compact it. Has anyone done this and if so what were the results?

Thanks in advance.

[lutonlagerlout]

we have always been taught never to use road planings
however if you live in somewhere like that with heavy weather it may work
I know various agencies (balfour beatty) spring to mind that reheat and reuse road planings
the diesel definitely breaks down tarmac
i suppose cost is a massive factor
concrete or bitmac would be better but with 100m by 3m , that could cost around 15 grand
the choice is yours andyfr but we cannot endorse it
let us know how you get on
pictures please
LLL

[Dave_L]

Unless you are lucky to get some fresh sticky planings your plan is flawed.

[Pablo]

what part of the highlands are you in. I'm from the north west and have never seen planings used mainly due to the fact that bear never shave the roads they either over lay them or chip them. If you're very remote it's unlikely you'll have access to them anyway.

[andyfr]

We are just off the A9 near Inverness, I see them planing quite often.

I thought the light spray of diesel would make it sticky, at least that's what they do in the states and on some farm tracks over here according to the forums.

I can't think what else to use in our situation.

[Pablo]

ach you're not a proper highlander then



Edited By Pablo on 1303417608

[andyfr]

No, originally from South Yorkshire!

[lutonlagerlout]

if you dont look like this

your not a real highlander

LLL :laugh:

[seanandruby]

How did you get that picture of me? Those where the days i did look like that.

[GB_Groundworks]

The diesel myth is a load of bollocks, we use plainings for farm tracks field gateways etc it's one of those urban myths that's spread by I'll informed morons. Simply lay and roll well and it'll last a bit but if you have heavy rain run off it won't last.

Also your open yourself up to a huge fine, all diesel tanks have to be bunded and your talking about spraying it on the rd to be washed into the surround soil to kill everything. Hello environment agency and a 50k fine

Have a look in the Craig there's a thread of mine last few weeks in pictures we laid a plainings carpark few weeks ago. You'll see what results you get, about page 16 ish I think



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1303471085

[msh paving]

myself and other contractors in norfolk have laid miles of farm tracks light roads with plainings ,slow rolling with small overlaps slow as you can go full vibe you will have no problems at all,over time they will firm up on top, never use diesel,norfolk council highways dpt. regually use them on new work,in 15 years of using them ive never had any comebacks. MSH

[andyfr]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Okay, so no diesel. What depth of planings would do the job, 100mm?

[GB_Groundworks]

what you running up it? just cars or trucks tractors etc? we normally use 70-100mm to blind 200mm of brick hardcore

[andyfr]

Mainly cars, just the oil tanker once a year.

Had a look at the photos, doesn't look too bad! Better than what we have at the moment.