Driveway material in Oxford County, Maine (contractors, camp, move)

[rpbarry58]

Anybody have an opinion as to what type of driveway material NOT to use up here? I have a very large driveway and section of private road that needs to be redone...driveway is cracked and the road had a small culvert underneath collapse in addition to cracking,and people are scraping their oil pans coming out of the pothole which subsequently developed. The road is going to be re-done in asphalt but I was looking at concrete pavers as a possibility for the driveway with gravel/screened sand substrate. What is holding up for you guys, winter after winter?

[slyfox2]

Nothing holds up forever. Asphalt works great if they put down a good base and after a couple of years you put down a sealant.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

We have pavers at camp so we don't track dirt into the building. Pavers are portable and can be re-leveled as necessary as the ground moves. As to the driveway, a good gravel base with what contractors call "top dressing" is best. It is easy to maintain long term. Any traveled way must have good drainage from a foot path to I-95.

[rpbarry58]

The idea of pavers has crossed my mind more and more...although it is a very large driveway. I plan on using a pretty deep bed of gravel and then screened sand no matter what I decide on. There's no getting around that with the frost movement up here.

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by rpbarry58

The idea of pavers has crossed my mind more and more...although it is a very large driveway. I plan on using a pretty deep bed of gravel and then screened sand no matter what I decide on. There's no getting around that with the frost movement up here.

pavers will move and shift endlessly, every spring you will have to pull them up and relevel them. proper drainage with asphalt on a good base is your best bet.


RR