erosion

[ralphlsasser]

Hey guys,
I'm in need of advise. I've had dirt brought in to build a driveway. I'll concrete it when it's packed down enough.
At the house end of the driveway, it's about 4 feet to the natural ground and slopes down to nothing at the road end.
I am concerned about the dirt eroding away. Does anyone have any solutions as to how to stop the fill dirt from eroding away? I want to stop it before I concrete the driveway for obvious reasons. I noticed this morning after last nights heavy rain that it has ruts in it on the sides and imo they will get worse. Thanks in advance for your advise and/or comments.

[Bangyai]

You could try buliding a low wall each side of the driveway to contain the fill. Taper it down in stages until you meet the level road.

[ralphlsasser]

Thanks bangyai. I thought of that, but that may be a bit expensive as my driveway is about 12 meters long. But, if push comes to shove, I may have to do that.

[Latindancer]

You could try buliding a low wall each side of the driveway to contain the fill. Taper it down in stages until you meet the level road.

Rain will still erode the dirt.

Perhaps buy some of that thick black plastic they use underneath concrete, and lay that down on top ? It's cheap enough, and you can buy it by the metre.You'll be able to walk on it and it'll get a few holes in it, but they'll only be small and not much water will get in. You could always put a thin layer of straw on top of the dirt (as padding) before laying down the plastic.
In fact, if you wanted to do it more cheaply, you could lay down only straw. Any water will go through very slowly, and leaching of dirt will be minimal.
They do this at a music festival in Australia which is held in the middle of the rainy season. Trust me....it works. Some old English houses had straw roofs, remember ? And with the right thickness, the dirt will still pack down.

[Bangyai]

Thanks bangyai. I thought of that, but that may be a bit expensive as my driveway is about 12 meters long. But, if push comes to shove, I may have to do that.

Breeze blocks are pretty cheep. Once built you could try banking up the earth to the side of the blocks in a gentle slope to add support . Mainly, if the rain can't get at the soil under the drive it shouldn't erode away. Also make sure the concrete on the drive is mesh supported and deep enough for the load of any vehicle using it.

[ltnt]

Shoot it with "Pentaprime" a substance used by road builders "Asphalt," type. this is the oil and tar based liquid sprayed on the roadway surface prior to the asphalt laying. You may be able to find it or contract it being done by your local utility guys. I've not looked for it in local supply stores. Place it on the dirt surface and nothing will penetrate it and no erosion.

When you're ready for completion of your driveway it will protect the concrete from base course water damage as well. Will act as a water vapor seal.

Spray on application.

[woodenshoe]

Plant rows of vetiver grass on each side. Plant about 10 cm apart and 25/30 cm between rows.

Chrysopogon zizanioides - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2 or 3 plants for 1 bht, depends where you are....

[deathstardan]

What you could do is dig some of that dirt away, compact the ground then add about 150 mm of road stone. Compact this in 2 or three layers. Then put a plastic sheet covering over this and add steel mesh. between the mesh and floor you want at least 50 mm clearance, so it's probably best to lay the mesh on bricks.

Then pour a concrete base of about 100mm and with a nice brush finish for grip, you should be good to go....

Or you could do it the Thai way and lay it straight on sand and shit, don't compact it and watch it crack and break within a year or two due to subsidence and erosion....

Good luck!!!!

[sunsetter]

What you could do is dig some of that dirt away, compact the ground then add about 150 mm of road stone. Compact this in 2 or three layers. Then put a plastic sheet covering over this and add steel mesh. between the mesh and floor you want at least 50 mm clearance, so it's probably best to lay the mesh on bricks

double the type 1 to 300mm and the jobs a good un

[ralphlsasser]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Obviously I've got several options to consider.

[Chris L]

Plant rows of vetiver grass on each side. Plant about 10 cm apart and 25/30 cm between rows.

Chrysopogon zizanioides - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2 or 3 plants for 1 bht, depends where you are....

Exactly.....plant vetiver! Cheap. Needs full sun to establish quickly.

[S Landreth]

Itnt might have the best temporary solution.

Shoot it with "Pentaprime" a substance used by road builders "Asphalt," type. this is the oil and tar based liquid sprayed on the roadway surface prior to the asphalt laying.

Spray on application.

The term is called “priming” a roadway surface (finished rock) to protect the surface from the elements before either asphalt is laid or concrete poured. It’s a bituminous material applied hot.

One thing Itnt didn’t mention (prime and sand). After applying the bituminous material you should place a thin layer of sand over the area (it’s a small enough area and could be done with shovels and a small pile of sand). The sand will stop you/your guests from tracking the material up to the house and out on to the street.

But, you’re working with a dirt (sand?) surface and will have more problems than you would if your last lift of material was rock. If it is, sand it will rut with normal traffic on it. Best to try to keep everyone off of a sand surface until you’re ready for concrete.

With heavy rains and sand no matter what you do, you gonna get rutting.

[DrAndy]

just let it erode and take some artistic pics