Putting Down Gravel Driveway Using Geocell. Our Solution for Long Steep Slope.

We get started on our driveway resurfacing project; putting down gravel and incorporating Geocell grid material to help hold the gravel into place.

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[jonmorgan]

As a teenager I lived on a dirt road in the California desert. A regular job was going to the dump and finding a mattress and stripping off all the fabric down to wire spring frame. We would take it home, attach a chain to drag it and weigh it down with whatever was handy, then we would drag it up and down the road to fill the ruts and smooth it out. it was amazing how well it worked.

[johnoliveri]

god bless Brian, he is some hard worker. i wish they had that GEO CELL when i had my country house. over 23 years, i can't remember how many times i had gravel put down on it

[leftlanetrain]

Army used this for working in the sand to help build roads for the heavy trucks !!!

[kymspicks]

I needed this! We just bought a house on a hill and the driveway needs A TON of work! So now I'm watching to see what we will have to do

[kevin]

This is the best video I have seen on helping with a steep drive way. I live in north Florida and my land is all down hill from the paved road. I have worked and spent many hours on my drive way and everytime it rains it all washes down hill. Thanks for sharing this.

[jaredkean]

CML is one of the most under rated Homestead channels on YT!!!

[maierhof]

Everyone has an opinion it seems... ignore them. Nice work. You did your homework and you came to the correct answer.

[brucebenson]

I'm working on a project with a similar product. We are building a parking lot with grass growing through the geotech so the parking lot looks like a lawn. It's great stuff. It really supports vehicle traffic and will help you with erosion!

[markpashia]

For those in "limestone" country, go with 3/4 or 1 inch minus. The minus term means that it has extra dust instead of the clean which is washed. this will allow the dust to fill the voids between stones and with wetness and pressure it packs almost to concrete toughness. Long wet periods like winter is will get soggy but stick together and hold unless the ground underneath get muddy. In those areas packing in larger stone first is needed. I did a driveway with a hook curve near the road and then straight in a flood plain near a river and never had a problem until one year I had a front tire dig in at the hook curve and tore through the two to three inch layer of limestone floating on a mud/silt base that got soupy. In the spring I dug out that spot about a foot and put two inch minus in the hole and topped with 3/4 minus and never had a problem again. It is all just limestone with no cement but done right it glues itself together pretty good, like this stone in the video. In the dog days of summer it gets dusty but near the cabin I topped that with some 3/8 inch clean limestone chips in a thin layer each year for a nice dressed out smooth surface that I could walk barefoot on and that kept the dust down near the doorway. Just a thought. Also Geo Cell is great on steep sections and the only real problem is you cannot scrape/remove gravel where it is and have to be adding gravel in those areas to stay above the top of the plastic grid. As long as you do not hook it with a blade or such it works great at avoiding erosion. Just do not get stingy with gravel in those areas and you are fine. It is amazing at breaking up and stopping erosion flows of water and holding the gravel in place.

[ws]

Neat product. Keeps the gravel in place. Gravel helps minimize the mud.

[HenauderTitzauf]

Hey, there is another positive note, THE PUPPY! Great job on the drive, I live in N.C. hilly property, but the same ole gravel, rains hard, more gravel, etc, etc.

[edstimator]

Those trucks are designed to open the rear gate just a little and spread the gravel as they drive. works really well.Bottom dumps work even better.

[williammassey]

That GEOCEL looks promising. Looking forward to next springs videos. BTW, I'm a big fan of Andrew Camarata. Check out his channel on putting down gravel. He does it for a living and is an "artist" barring none. Wishing you WELL and Thanks for the video.

[Steventhore]

Glad to see that geo grid up close and the install. Thanks.

[davisexcavating]

We use geo cell often in mountains of WV and it’s good product on steep slopes. get some more experience on that little tractor and you’ll find you won’t need many implements for it. That bucket will do more than you think with time behind the wheel. And you can compression compact with tractor it’s heavier than your vehicles guys. add full bucket of material and even more ground pressure psi, tram up and down for hour or so and rest time will do if don’t want spend the $ rent a vibratory roller. Keep up the good work!

[josephbenge]

Nice job on the driveway, and very beautiful piece of land!

[talfacprez]

I just discovered your channel! I grew up near Bailey Colorado in the Burland Ranchettes area near the top of Crow Hill along 285. My family build our own home on 25 acres back in the late 60s into the 70s. My step mom still lives in the area.

[sons]

Great video...I have a steep incline on my driveway and just found the solution. Thanks for sharing!

[drivione]

I would definitely recommend geocells as a solution for stabilizing steep driveways or slopes. Here are some tips and advice to keep in mind:
Firstly, it's important to carefully evaluate the slope you're working with and determine if a geocell is the right solution for your specific situation. Factors like soil type, slope angle, and expected traffic volume can all play a role in the effectiveness of a geocell, so consulting with a professional wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Assuming a geocell is a good fit for your project, some potential pitfalls to avoid include underestimating the amount of material needed, failing to properly prepare the site (such as removing vegetation or debris), or not following the manufacturer's installation instructions closely enough. These can all impact the effectiveness and longevity of your geocell installation.
One important factor to keep in mind is proper drainage. Geocell panels can help distribute weight and prevent erosion, but if water is allowed to accumulate or flow through the panels in a way that wasn't intended, it can undermine the stability of the installation. So be sure to plan for proper drainage and consider installing a sub-surface drainage system if needed.
Finally, I would recommend using a high-quality geocell product from a reputable manufacturer like Geoweb, Basecore, or Presto Geosystems, and possibly seeking out professional installation help if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. A good geocell can last for many years so it's important to get it right from the start.

[jimwalker]

Is there anything Brian can't do? Amazing guy! That is a remarkable pair of materials that you used. I don't think I've ever seen any paving solution with the combination of economy and ruggedness that you two have. If they've used what I think is mixed in with the gravel, it ought to really pack down and give you a good surface for a long time. A lot of people are going to copy this! Well done.