Advice needed-crushed stone? Processed Gravel? for damp area and as a base.

1523 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Nuke, Sep 13, 2021

Nuke

Discussion Starter · Sep 10, 2021

I need advice on what to use to cover/fill this area. About 20' x 20'.
I want to level the grade which will take about 12" of stone/gravel on the low side. This wet/muddy area has been there since we moved in in 97. It is on the down slope side from the leech field but I have never seen any running water. I get the septic tank pumped about every 5 years.
Anyway, I want to fill and level and then top with a gravel product for a fire pit area.
I was thinking 1 1/2" crushed stone for the base?
- I would use crushed stone for the topping but I understand it will track into the house = no go.
My other choice is processed gravel or Septic Gravel?
My local quarry is about 2 miles away and I will be getting this with my 5x10 dump trailer/5K payload.
- I want to stay away from Rip-rap as I think it will damage my dump trailer bed?
Thanks for any advice.

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The Satch

· #2 · Sep 10, 2021

@Kbar will have great advice, as he does this professionally.

I personally would put down 2-3" rock in 3" courses and compact it until I had 10" of base, then top with 5/8 minus.

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Kbar

· #3 · Sep 10, 2021

First scrape off any organics. Topsoil etc.
The 1 1/2” for base is fine as long as there’s no water present or future seeps. If there is a chance of water getting in there then a 2” clean with no fines quarry rock works and it will ensure any water will run through the rock and out from under the top course. As Satch said a 5/8” minus (minus means it has fines in it around here) is a great top course. Easier on the dogs feet and kids. The fines will lock it together and be harder than a loose round septic rock. I would put down a fabric under all this to keep the weeds from growing through it. And yes compact it in 6” lifts if you can. If your wheel rolling it with tractor take your time and make sure it had adequate moisture so it will compact better. A plate compactor can be rented for around 50 a day or borrow one. That way you’ll not have settling over the years. And whatever you build for your ring won’t seperate. Looks like a fun project. Keep us posted and don’t be afraid to post lots of pictures

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Leo_K

· #4 · Sep 10, 2021

you could do like I did earlier this summer, for a neighbor. we used regrind/ recycled concrete as a base, compacted every 2 " of lift. then top it off with your choice of topping.
the area we did this in looked similar to your photo or as @Kbar said he'd know best

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Old Machinist

· #5 · Sep 10, 2021

I have used <3/4" grade crushed concrete for road toping and it worked great.

Under my barn I had clean sand hauled in for the leveling then put a heavy tarp over that and topped with 4" of crushed red brick. I like the crushed brick a lot. BUT water seeps in under the frame and shows up as wet areas around the perimeter inside. I might install some gutters some day but so far it drys out during dry conditions so I may not worry about it.

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Leo_K

· #6 · Sep 10, 2021

whatever you use as the base make sure its wet down and compacted in small lifts that way its solid and stable
when doing that much lift its very important

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Nuke

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 10, 2021

Kbar said:
First scrape off any organics. Topsoil etc.
The 1 1/2” for base is fine as long as there’s no water present or future seeps. If there is a chance of water getting in there then a 2” clean with no fines quarry rock works and it will ensure any water will run through the rock and out from under the top course. As Satch said a 5/8” minus (minus means it has fines in it around here) is a great top course. Easier on the dogs feet and kids. The fines will lock it together and be harder than a loose round septic rock. I would put down a fabric under all this to keep the weeds from growing through it. And yes compact it in 6” lifts if you can. If your wheel rolling it with tractor take your time and make sure it had adequate moisture so it will compact better. A plate compactor can be rented for around 50 a day or borrow one. That way you’ll not have settling over the years. And whatever you build for your ring won’t seperate. Looks like a fun project. Keep us posted and don’t be afraid to post lots of pictures

Kbar/everyone,
Thanks for the advice/glad I asked.
Looks like I'll go for the 1 1/2" base over fabric and go from there.
I have a little more prep to do first.
Plate compactors here are 87/hr at home depot. I have a list of projects where I'll need one so maybe buying one will be better in the end.
Thanks again, I'll keep you posted!

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Old Machinist

· #8 · Sep 11, 2021

When I prepped for my barn I leveled with sand and drove my backhoe over it repeatedly. After I added the crushed brick I hand tamped it with a 2' square piece of plywood screwed to a 2x2. Maybe not as effective as a metal tamper but seemed to pack pretty well. Barn has been sitting level for over a year and no signs of settling.

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ttazzman

· #9 · Sep 11, 2021

kbar is spot on....

the 1-1/2 clean angular rock doesnt require much if any compacting and driving on it should be adequate .......if you put a product that is what we call a 3/4 minus that has fines in it ......it will require compaction with moisture which you can do by driving on it and watering it if you dont have easy access to a vibratory compactor

clean angular rock will allow water to flow thru it and since its angular will bridge and be supportive .......a " (?) minus" product will after compaction seal out and run off most any water that falls on it

i would put in a layer 4-6" of the 1-1/2 then Top it with the "(?) minus" product ...as minus products are much easier to grade and work with and will seal out water

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ClydeLogan

· #10 · Sep 11, 2021

Nuke said:
Plate compactors here are 87/hr at home depot. I have a list of projects where I'll need one so maybe buying one will be better

I learned in a previous thread that buying a plate compactor performance equivalent to the HD rental would be quite expensive. Machines under $1000 will do the job. It will take more passes over thinner layers.

But having your own makes sense if you are working alone and need to spread and compact and lay down fabric in stages over days. Lighter duty ones usually have fold down wheels. Better machines are much heavier and will take two to lift and move. Look for one with a lifting bar so it can br moved with the tractor. And make sure you can maneuver it into your planned storage spot.

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Nuke

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 11, 2021

ClydeLogan said:
I learned in a previous thread that buying a plate compactor performance equivalent to the HD rental would be quite expensive. Machines under $1000 will do the job. It will take more passes over thinner layers.

But having your own makes sense if you are working alone and need to spread and compact and lay down fabric in stages over days. Lighter duty ones usually have fold down wheels. Better machines are much heavier and will take two to lift and move. Look for one with a lifting bar so it can br moved with the tractor. And make sure you can maneuver it into your planned storage spot.

I agree and I guess they are like most any other tool, quality/price/how well it does the job.
I have time and was thinking I could use a lighter unit using thin lifts.
Since I am bringing in the material 1-2 tons at a time in a small dump trailer I can easily control the amount I put down each lift.
It seems I might be able to use water and drive on it to compact if I use the right material.
Also, touching it up over the first few years would be ok if I need to.
Thanks,

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MattL

· #12 · Sep 11, 2021

Nuke said:
I agree and I guess they are like most any other tool, quality/price/how well it does the job.
I have time and was thinking I could use a lighter unit using thin lifts.
Since I am bringing in the material 1-2 tons at a time in a small dump trailer I can easily control the amount I put down each lift.
It seems I might be able to use water and drive on it to compact if I use the right material.
Also, touching it up over the first few years would be ok if I need to.
Thanks,

There's always the "Craigslist rental". Buy one off CL, use it as needed and sell for what you paid for it....You might be sitting on it for a while, but just about everything on CL in the tools section sells at some point.

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Nuke

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 13, 2021

9/13 update-
Spread out the first 2.36 ton on 1 1/2 crushed stone with the X590 and front blade.
I have a 5'x10' Suretrac dump trailer (#7000 GVW, #5000 payload) which is a good match for my 1500 Chevy.
The trailer is a 2012 with a spreader gate and it worked pretty well spreading the stone leaving small piles to spread with the 590. I put this first batch directly over the dirt and will cover it with fabric before switching to 3/4" crushed stone (don't have 5/8" here). Next I need to strip off the sod before continuing.

More to come.

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