Repair driveway

[Karl Olssvan]

I have a driveway with asphalt that has developed deep ruts. The substrate is too soft, so the asphalt has conformed to the problem. Now I've been thinking about how to fix the problem. I've considered cement or paving slabs. Has anyone repaired their driveway smoothly?

 

[skoge]

I have a driveway with asphalt that has developed deep ruts. The base is too soft so the asphalt has shaped itself according to the problem. Now I've been thinking about how to fix the issue. I've considered cement or pavers. Has anyone repaired their driveway smoothly?

Cold asphalt maybe?

 

[lunnabo]

The problem is that you're missing a good base layer.

Do you want to fix the problem?

Dig out half a meter.
Fill with 30 cm base layer. 0-30 mm or coarser.
Compact with a ground vibrator, preferably at least 400 kg heavy.

Add 10 cm of 0-16 mm and compact.
Add 5 cm of 0-8 mm and compact.
Add 5 cm of asphalt.
Now you have a stable driveway.

Don't want asphalt?
Lay cobblestones.

 

[Violina]

The surface is too soft, so the asphalt has shaped itself after the problem. I've been thinking about how to fix the issue.

Get rid of the problem, and you'll avoid both ruts in the asphalt and having to fix the issue?

 

[lunnabo]

I have a driveway with asphalt that has developed deep wheel ruts. The underlying surface is too soft, so the asphalt has formed according to the problem. Now I've been thinking about how one could fix the problem. I've considered cement or paving stones. Has anyone repaired their driveway smoothly?

Thread starter
Karl Olssvan

How will you proceed?
You want to have repaired the driveway smoothly?

I can sense that you haven't thought about digging away half a meter, but on the other hand, it's as smooth as can be to do such a job.

An excavator and a hook lift truck and a flatbed, and it's done within a day. As smooth as can be!

 

[Karl Olssvan]

The way I think is to buy concrete and then mix it to make it black like asphalt. Then cut away where there are tracks. And in with the concrete. Other solutions are possible, but not for me as I can't afford it.

 

[lunnabo]

The way I think is to buy concrete and then mix it so it becomes black like asphalt. Then cut away where there are ruts. And put in the concrete. Other solutions are possible, but not for me as I can't afford them.

You don't fix the problem by addressing the symptoms.
Your issue with the driveway is that you don't have a good sub-base.
You will still have a bad sub-base regardless if you choose to fix the surface.

IF you want to make a reasonably good fix.
Cut away asphalt where it is rutted.
Take a little extra margin to the sides.
Rent a plate compactor of at least 400 kg.
Run it in the cut-out area.
Lay in small cobblestones or large cobblestones.
It will look better and hopefully hold up reasonably well.

 

[Karl Olssvan]

You don't fix the problem by addressing the symptoms. Your issue with the driveway is that you don't have a good bearing layer. You will still have a poor bearing layer regardless of choosing to fix the surface.

IF you want to do a reasonably good fix, cut away asphalt where it is rutted. Take a little extra margin sideways. Rent a plate compactor of at least 400 kg. Run it in the cutout area. Add small granite blocks or large granite blocks. It will look better and hopefully hold up fairly well.

It must cost a maximum of 1000 kr. I am not like those who just get a lot of money into their account every month like pensioners and others. What I'm thinking now is to dig down 30 cm, fill it with concrete, and then lay a colored paving slab in the concrete. It will probably be strong and good.

 

[z_bumbi]

I guess the easiest method is to pack asphalt millings into the tracks. Preferably when it's warm outside and in thin layers so that they merge with the material underneath. If it sinks again, just add more.

Concrete is harder to repair if it sinks again.

 

[lunnabo]

It can cost a maximum of 1000 SEK in total. I am not like those who just receive a bunch of money in their account every month like retirees and others. What I'm thinking now is to dig down 30 cm, fill with concrete, and then lay a colored paving slab in the concrete. That will probably be strong and good.

Reply
Your money is not enough

No, it will not be good.
The concrete will crack.

I would like to say that you are being penny-wise but pound-foolish with a budget of max 1,000 SEK.

You write that you will dig 30 cm.
You might lay a 40×40×5cm paving slab.
You might have a total of 12 linear meters of track, 2 tracks of 6 meters.
12 linear meters x 40 cm width and 25 cm depth.
1.2 cubic meters of concrete and 30 paving slabs.

Are you going to steal cement, sand, and gravel?

For 1,000 SEK, that is barely enough for the paving slabs, right?

 

[Karl Olssvan]

Answer
Your money is not enough

No, it will not turn out well.
The concrete will crack.

I would argue that you are being penny-wise, pound-foolish with a budget of max 1,000 SEK.

You write that you are going to dig 30 cm.
You might lay a 40×40×5cm paving slab.
You might have a total of 12 linear meters of track, 2 tracks of 6 meters.
12 linear meters x 40 cm width and 25 cm depth.
1.2 cubic meters of concrete and 30 paving slabs.

Are you going to steal cement, sand, and gravel?

For 1,000 SEK, isn't that only enough for the paving slabs?
Right?

It's longer than that. It's probably around 20 meters in length and 2 tracks. But I don't need to repair everything and not all this summer. So it might be 5 meters now. I've found small black slabs. 118 SEK m2.
And a ready-mix bag of concrete. For 50 SEK for 25 kg. If I buy 10 bags, I'm at 500 SEK and then there are the small slabs to place in the soft concrete. For 500, I get quite a lot. They cost 7 SEK each.

 

[lunnabo]

It's longer than that. It's probably around 20 meters long and 2 tracks. But I don't need to fix everything, and not all this summer. So maybe 5 meters now. I've found small tiles that are black. 118 SEK per m2. And ready-made concrete bags. For 50 SEK for 25 kg. If I buy 10 bags, it's 500 SEK, and then there are the small tiles to place in the soft concrete. For 500, I get quite a bit. They cost 7 SEK each.

Well, 10 bags of ready-made concrete give you 130 liters. If it's now 40 cm wide tracks and you need to fill 30 cm with concrete and tiles, you won't get far with 500 SEK.

Or? 1 running meter x 40 cm width × 25 cm depth is 100 liters volume.

So yes, you get 1 meter and 30 cm.

Isn't it true that you can't do math?

 

[Karl Olssvan]

Well, 10 bags of ready-mixed concrete give you 130 liters. If the tracks are 40 cm wide and you're going to fill 30 cm with concrete and tiles, you won't get far with 500 kr.

Or?
1 running meter x 40 cm width x 25 cm depth. That's 100 liters volume.

So yes, you'll get 1 meter and 30 cm.

Isn't it true that you can't calculate?

I know my budget, and that's what guides me. It's never possible to know exactly what it costs. It will be as much as it covers.

 

[Taxture]

The concrete slabs also add a bit of volume....
Maybe you reach 1.5 meters then?

You could fill the tracks with new asphalt, but the budget of kr1.000:- is not enough for that either.

 

[Karl Olssvan]

The concrete slabs also add some volume….
Maybe you'll reach 1.5 meters then?

You can fill the grooves with new asphalt, but the budget of kr1,000 isn't enough for that either

Exactly. Asphalt is expensive. That was the reason for my thoughts on concrete. But then I saw that pigment for concrete costs a lot. And I don't want two ugly gray tracks on the driveway. But if I can lay black slabs, it solves the problem.