gravel/cinders for driveway

[kalianna]

The rain has turned our driveway into a muddy mess.  We donʻt want to pave it because we would prefer to keep it permeable.  Iʻm wondering about whether to use cinder or gravel.  Any thoughts on which is better?  Less expensive?  More durable?  Also looking for recommendations on who to call to do this.  Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Rob Tucker]

Gravel is best. Cinder is light weight and can float and wash away,

[kalianna]

Darn. Thatʻs what my husband said. Thanks.

[Chas]

I tried the #3 "base", which has lots of "fines" included. It doesn't wash away. It packs down and works real good if you are paving over it. But since you aren't, I don't recommend it. You are constantly tracking it into the house and creating a mess walking on it.

Then I tried "clean" 1 1/2" drain rock. This is one size up from what people normally use and it's a pain to work with a shovel and rake, but I really like it. Once packed down it is almost like paving. Don't lay it down too thick or you can spin your wheels in it if there is a slope. You only need about a 2" thick layer, maximum.

I got it from Sanford's in Pahoa. It was about $625 for 20 tons. If you go there, in the office they have containers of rock you can look at, and they will be able to tell you how much you need, based on the area you want to cover. I always got a full load, as you can never have too much extra stone on hand, plus I don't think it adds that much, because you already pay a certain amount for delivery, though you may want to ask them about that.

One last, VERY important thing. Ask for Ross for the driver. I call him "Rossome" because he's awesome. He will spread the gravel as he dumps it, saving you a whole lot of work.

[Durian Fiend]

Good advice from Chas. The big gravel is the way to go for durability and longevity. If your driveway is fairly flat, not usually requiring much maintenance, you could probably get away with red cinder. It's the most attractive material, sort of a special look for Puna.

[dobanion]

I second Chas. I recently got a pickup truck load (1 ton) of 1 1/2" drain rock from Puna Rock, and can echo his observations. Really nice finish, durable as all get out, drive on it, no sand to wash away or end up tracking into house, but extra hard to shovel, though not impossible. I used it for a walking path and outdoor lanai pad over the bigger "trip you up" rocks that were all over from the bulldozer.

First step in developing a lot I picked up down in Kalapana is gonna be 20 tons of Sanford's 1 1/2" rock delivered and spread by "Rossome."

[kalianna]

I just did this thanks to Chasʻ rec. Got the 1 1/2" from Sandfordʻs via Ross. About the same price as listed above. No more mud.