Installing a Gravel Driveway

[@Endstupidity123go]

The best part about this content is that it has so many applications, it helped me in considering a driveway project

[@aaronburford5701]

One of the first videos i watched with tepairing or expanding driveways! Still one of the bedt processes to watch!

[@elijahcavin2408]

You did a great job, very meticulous with a capable little tractor.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Thanks!

[@circumzenithalarc771]

Relaxing. Great music and skillful work as always.

[@fabianmoya9896]

This video is exactly what ive been looking for

[@aaronburford5701]

Rewatched again! I absolutely love your channel, content, and they way you approach your driveway work! I am a fan and this was one I saw a while ago that drawed me to you channel! Please make more update content like this one!

[@aaronburford5701]

Absolutely LOVE this video and watching this proess!

[@marshalluniversity31]

Watching videos like this, make me thankful i have a dump truck and excavator.

[@Pacerjames]

At first I said, what is this guy going to do with that little tracker, by the middle of the driveway clearing, I said what can’t he do with this beast of a machine. Great job! 😅

[@nezzr78]

I’ve seen a few of your videos but this one really gives me some confidence. I’m planning a similar driveway install using a slightly larger Kioti, though I don’t have the backhoe. Seeing that little Kabota put in the work I’m much more confident I can get it done!

[@OutdoorswithAllen]

I have been enjoying your videos the last few weeks. I got a Kioti 35 HP tractor in August of 2018 and I am just starting to do a few jobs for people. I am learning a ton from just watching your technics . Makes me wish i had gotten the backhoe, maybe in the future. I have a KZbin channel, Outdoors with Allen, so I know first hand the work that it takes producing them. Keep up the good work and I will stay tuned in. God Bless!

[@rockytopin7949]

Very impressive what you did with that little tractor! very nice work

[@batterpm11]

Tooth bar makes all the difference on these little tractors. Added one on my l3901, man what a difference

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

For sure, it is definitely due for a tooth bar attachment.

[@aaronburford5701]

Very relaxing video to watch. Great job!

[@derkwichhart1]

Nice work! I learn something new every time I watch your videos

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Awesome! Glad to hear it.

[@mrpush2532]

You can buy a tooth bar for that bucket...makes shallow digging SOO much nicer! It think mine is from WR Long. I welded up some extensions on my and made it "hingable" so i can rotate it up and do smooth edges too quickly!

[@baileyj123]

Great video. Just bought a Kioti tractor and plan on doing my driveway in asphalt millings. Very good step by step instructions. Porn music was a little distracting 😂😂😂. Good job

[@marlaplunk2833]

lol

[@reinagutierrez3749]

Great job I really enjoy it watching this video he gave me good ideas how to do little projects in my house thank you ❤😊😊😊🥰 God bless🇸🇻🙏

[@CrazyCanuckFitness]

Thank you! I have the same type of project planned. Your video is very helpful.

[@bewsii]

Came for the tractor video, subscribed after reading you're a fellow PoE tractor owner :D

[@addisonturner8611]

It would save a tremendous amount of time to just use some landscaping fabric staples to hold down the fabric and not have any gravel delivered until you're actually ready for it. Then have the truck driver tailgate it and you won't have to carry any gravel and you will have very minimal blading

[@Jeffrey314159]

Good point

[@hansen370]

Yeah man, I had to stop watching after a few minutes.

[@carolinalandscapingandfarming]

Very good job and awesome video.

[@jacklabloom635]

I’ve had two projects where the contractor underestimated the materials to complete the job. One was a concrete job. The other was a two mile concrete fence job. The concrete guy was off by $1000 in the amount of concrete needed. The second contractor was $20,000 off on materials. Both contractors had to eat the costs, because I had a written contract that defined what was required. This is why homeowners should always have a written contract, even for small jobs. Otherwise, the homeowner ends up paying more, when the math skills of the contractor are lacking. I hope you learned from this job. We all make mistakes. The good contractors learn not to repeat the same mistakes. Good luck with your business. I think you will do well, but I would never ask a homeowner to cough up more money. They are likely not to recommend you to others. Your kind of business grows by word of mouth. Example: I hired a young carpenter to do a small job for me, labor only. I would provide the materials. He bid his labor so low, I immediately decided he probably was not anyone I wanted to trust building even a small deck. His wife realized, from my facial expression, that I was not going to hire him. She said they were desperate and needed some money. She showed me some photos of her husband’s work. He had quit his job working for a home builder who was cheating him out of his wages. I told him I was willing to take a chance on him and I would pay him a ten percent bonus, if I was happy with his work. I even loaned him several tools he had planned to rent. All of his cuts were precision cuts. When I saw how skilled he was, I knew I had found a great carpenter. When he completed the job, I gave him the ten percent bonus and contracted with him to do four more decks for me. Then I hired him to do a complete house remodel. I began putting his name out there to my friends and neighbors as an excellent carpenter. One of my neighbors then hired him for a full house remodel job. That word of mouth I had put out kept him busy for months. Each Job he completed resulted in more word of mouth jobs. Everyone was thrilled with his work. I had hired carpenters in the past, who were not up to par. None were as good as Victor. Two years later, that 32 year-old carpenter had a truck, a trailer full of tools, one full-time helper and three part-time painters working for him. Word of mouth either helps you or destroys you. Many years ago, a shop bid a small job for repairing a sofa for my wife. When they delivered it, it was not what my wife had specified. She told the owner he had not done the fabric like she had asked. He refused to make it right. I told him, making it right would probably only cost him four hundred dollars. He still refused. I made an announcement to all of my employees how that business operated and to put the word out not to use that shop. It was a small town. Within the year, that shop had to close up. I am taking the time to write all this to help you and others who are small business owners. My brother-in-law tried to start a construction business. He underbid jobs, and did not make good on his mistakes. He once cut a counter top wrong and expected the homeowner to buy more material. He was always asking customers for more money to complete the job. Word of mouth destroyed his business within three years.

[@stephenlehr6020]

Watching an older video (have more of them to watch as time allows 😁), looks like this driveway will work well for the homeowner. Looked like those first two big scoops from the gravel pile were a little hairy🙃but worked out fine. I read thru all of the comments..... can be pretty entertaining (you don't need to strip the grass off......🙄🤣) and there's a new fast way to get a perfect concrete driveway and it requires almost no prep, you just paint the outside lines so the Shotcrete guys know where to spray the new concrete surface over the grass, weed, or bushes.....🤣 . Keep on rockin'!!!! Great video, have a good one!!

[@johnrodriguez1376]

Great video and you did a great job

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Thanks!

[@llXiNrAll]

Hey, just dropping by and say hi. I missed you on PoE, but I pray and hope that you are happy and healthy on whatever you do . Thank you for the knowledge that you have shared. Peace!

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Thanks! Yep I am both happy and healthy. Looking forward to the next season of this work!

[@laureljensen796]

Man your good with that tractor

[@51rwyatt]

was looking at that gravel pile and was like, "that's not gonna be enough"

[@BLACKBEARCOUNTRY]

That turned out great!!!!

[@Jeffrey314159]

19:24 So much time, labor, and material for a gravel road

[@evanwindom3265]

I'd love to see chapters or time stamps for the various process steps. I was disappointed to see you leave the fabric out on that last section just because you ran out. If you quoted fabric as part of the job, it should be included for the full job. If you're doing this kind of work as a business, you'll always have need of the fabric, so you should always have some around for cases like this.

[@caste90901]

How many tons of gravel for the 185’? I heard when you ordered 30 more, but not the total.

[@maitlanddarragh5676]

What if you dont have that black looking tarp thing? Any substitutes?

[@cr250rish]

Are you taking off your backhoe to put on the box blade everytime?

[@JoanieHeartsChachii]

What genre of music is this?

[@sunseeker6088]

Not sure why you would not go get more Geo textile to complete the job the correct way. Two pro tips. 1) tailgating the stone (will save you hours of time and wear on your tractor). 2) add additional weight to you box blade to eliminate tipping (bags of sand or salt work just fine).

[@gjanalog5675]

Why don’t you compact with a heavy roller? Is that not done on these gravel drives?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

You certainly could, it would increase the cost of the install and with exposed gravel it will naturally pack itself with use. If it were for a base for pavement, then you would want to compact it with a roller.

[@briansmith8749]

What are you laying underneath the gravel? I keep hearing "geo textile fabric" but where do you get it?

[@Hugh_Jarsole]

Seems like ALOT of fines. I'd be worried about that washing out over a few heavy rains. Looks like straight dust with a couple rocks thrown in. Looks like great workmanship though

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yeah, it did seem a bit fine heavy but it came the same way from two different locations so I didn't question it too much. We will see how it goes!

[@Hugh_Jarsole]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC we can only control so much, nice to have more than one quarry around, you learn who has the goods and who runs junk

[@Natural-Causes]

Can I ask what did that job cost?

[@KUBBI7488]

do u always have to take top soil off ? thanks !

[@pokellaa]

Yea or itll turn back to grass and uneven

[@deerrudy]

Very nice work. Thinking of doing my drive for new home. Its about 500' of f drive. I have no experience. Why do you take topsoil out? Is fabric necessary

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Generally, you want to remove organic material as it holds water and is not structural resulting in a poor base for the driveway. Fabric is really only necessary in areas that have a high water table or remain wet outside of storms. It provides a structural membrane between the wet material and the base gravel for the driveway that prevents the base gravel from sinking.

[@SuperQdaddy]

What is cost ??

[@NorthwoodsAmerican]

You do beautiful work

[@Jrbrass]

Can I ask what you charged the owner for all of that, labor and all?

[@mikekopie9897]

Do you think the fabric will be a problem if material erodes on the slope? I added antifreeze and weights to rear wheels, cured that tipsy problem.

[@cha-ka8671]

Great job, looks real good. Why didn't you spend a little extra and put some geo-fabric down everywhere you put gravel? Not questioning your decision just curious.

[@vc8160]

Looks like he ran out and could not be bothered getting another roll. Bad idea anyway, as future box blade use for inevitable driveway repairs is not able.

[@OruBerniukas]

I suspect that your Tractor has Fork Support gem socketed. It's superb, but I'd add a Pulverise support gem for more AoE!

[@Threekpoints]

Poe reference in a video about driveways....

[@MostlyOutdoors]

Great job!

[@jfly237]

17:10 Getting a little shake N bake Another come up short should be good otherwise??? WHat does that even mean? FAIL

[@OssohoneyAV]

I'm doing something similar....what type of soil are you using?

[@christophermoney2985]

How do you bid or charge for a job like this? Hourly or hard dollar?

[@brokeguyshomestead6227]

how much did that cost?

[@JohnJones-xc2yl]

What’s the going rate of a job like this ??

[@kengoldbeck6363]

Nicely done video. What is the porpoise of the fabric? Is it just for weed control?

[@justinac15]

Yes

[@Walshslandscaping]

Nice job

[@spin0491]

Man wondering if would be more beneficial to trade the tractor in for a skid steer..... I mean I think it would cut the time in half...... I know skid steers are a lot more money that’s why I was thinking an older mid size used one with the right size bucket might cut down time by 50/60 percent I use a new holland and I have a 66inch tooth bucket and a 7ft smooth bucket just a thought but good work sir

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Right, a skid steer would have been the ideal machine for this job. However, since I have a variety of jobs, the tractor is much better suited for that and the price of attachments is much more afforable meaning I can charge less on jobs and still do it in reasonable time. If and when I go to this full time, i will be sure to get a skid steer though!

[@spin0491]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC true that I’m pretty new as well I had a huge John Deere backhoe at first sold it and went to a skid steer backhoe was just way too big but keep it going sir plenty of money to be made

[@jianyang9168]

Why do you need to dig up the frist few inches of grass? Can you just put gravel on top of he grass?

[@bradbunnell2707]

What type of gravel

[@metingordu627]

It should be good? Why not buy more fabric?

[@12vLife]

I have a wooded property in very sandy central Florida. I'd like to partially clear it, compact it and drop in a bunch of #57 in the form of a driveway to a clearing patch in the middle. But not just compact enough to drive over, but also a base for an eventual foundation for small/lightweight metal frame single story offgrid house. Is this possible and are their specific requirements I need to meet in Florida?

[@joshlower1]

i dont know im not from florida. perhaps you should research your local laws.

[@metingordu627]

Run out of material? It should be fine?

[@sandan2358]

Why do you dig down? Wouldn’t there be better drainage if you just put your cloth on top of the grass then add rock? Thanks for the video, we will be putting in a driveway.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

You dont want to put a driveway over organic material such as grass or topsoil as it will settle as it decomposes or absorb water and become very muddy. Digging down to the subsoil provides a sturdy base to stabilize the road.

[@danielduran2280]

Agree. Waste of time and money cutting grass. Sub grade still the same. Would have spent my money on on more base

[@jimmywarren6685]

That was a good job done with a machine that is not well suited for the job!

[@timberhills1778]

Hello, watching some of Your videos,I'm thinking about getting a bx23s to do some of the jobs You are doing,in my research I'm seeing the john deere 1025r has like 300lb more lifting power in the bucket but it is more money I think,of You had to do it again would you still buy the bx23s or would You buy something a little bit bigger Thank You

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

I would for sure recommend getting a subcompact tractor if you are planning on doing some of this type of work as they are so versatile for the price you pay. I would honestly say get whichever tractor or deal that makes you happiest, as all of these subcompacts will perform very similar in real work conditions. Both the 1025r and BX23s have great features and aftermarket support, so they both make great options.

[@timberhills1778]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC Thank You for getting back to me ,You sure put Your tractor thru its paces have a good week😎

[@robertcollins7515]

Your supplier doesn't drop spread?

[@skitzochik]

Really nice & thick all over. Well done.

[@Sumwunwee]

Great video.... please don’t stop videos over the period do equipment maintenance and repairs too?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yea, if I do anything that is interesting I will be sure to make a video on it!

[@ctlandscapemaintenancesolu494]

what model tractor is this again looks like allot of punch for a small tractor

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Its a BX23s, the smallest sub-compact kubota makes

[@justonkitzman6209]

How many total tons of rock for that size driveway was needed

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

It was 60 tons total I believe

[@JasonMilczek]

Nice video. What trailer are you using to haul your equipment?

[@dylanzareian4525]

just out of curiosity how much did a job like this cost? and do you know the sqft of the area done?

[@davidbernstein4812]

How long does it take to remove the backhoe and attach the box blade?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Id say about 10 minutes for me. Its pretty quick once you know the process.

[@dangilrein7134]

Awesome job. What did you do with all the material and roots you removed?

[@cleangreenlawnservicellc2630]

Good stuff. New subscriber.

[@Dukemeistro]

No fabric at the end?

[@paulbenjamin8754]

Whats a job like this cost?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Somewhere around ~$2500 for materials and my labor

[@neonaffliction]

Would a roller be overkill here?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yeah, since nothing is going over the base pack, just driving vehicles over it will compact it.

[@stanmorrison4697]

Hi mate can you lay straight over the grass without geo tech fabric or am I breaking all the rules lol

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

I would recommend removing any organic materials (grass, topsoil, vegetation) and get to the subsoil before laying any base material. Also a good idea to compact and disturbed subsoils such that you won't have any premature sinking/failures. It's all about getting as strong of a sub grade as possible!

[@rogerswift3323]

I just bought a house here in the city and I would like to know if anyone can repair and patch concrete surfaces on my driveway hope you can handle it and what area do you services too?

[@vc8160]

Weed mat is a bad idea in the long run. This means that you will not be able to repair your driveway correctly over the subsequent years. You will not be able to use the best driveway tool…a box blade. The scarifies will tear up weed mat unfortunately.

[@chdinct6792]

Wow, that was a lot of work. Looks nice. How many hours on that BX? Thinking you’re going to need a bigger machine soon.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Thanks! Yeah, definitely looking at getting some more equipment in the future. I have about 450 hours on it right now.

[@chdinct6792]

450! I would have guessed more based on the wear on your FEL and backhoe bucket. Mine is around 640 hrs and going strong, but I don’t use it commercial.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Nice, I have put around 100 hours on mine commercially in the past two months since I started the business. So I expect it will climb pretty quick over the next season.

[@phillipwright7267]

Good job love it

[@jasonmorris3783]

This video helps a lot. Thanks for posting! Going to expand my gravel driveway with that same model Kubota and box scraper. Do you have some kind of attached blade on the front of your loader? It seemed to cut into the turf really well.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Just the factory bolt on cutting edge. It works fairly well in most conditions.

[@socialkruption]

Great video. Any recommendations on amount of gravel in a very high water table area? I was thinking min 5inch.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Im not an expert in this field (yet!) but thats a tough one. Depends on many factors, but you definitely dont want to skimp on stone or drainage methods (i.e. swales, culverts and/or drainage tile) to manage the water. Tough to give an exact number though until you dig and see you conditons, like how deep you go before hitting water or solid impermeable dirt.

[@NotJustBBQLLC]

Great video.. do you mind sharing info about the fabric? Where you picked it up and maybe cost.. I’m looking at doing a parking area off my driveway

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

I believe this is the fabric we used: www.amazon.com/dp/B00CD63H5E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_RDZ34Q5W1M3YHK2C9VP4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@NotJustBBQLLC]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC ~ Thank you Sir

[@amilkarmartinez7290]

How many tons you use total

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

60 tons total

[@iveneverdonethisbefore8390]

Thanks for posting. Do you think it's hard on the ol' BX to strip earth like that?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Depends on the soil contents. This was a bit hard on it due to the larger rock within it, but the overall soil loosened up pretty easily. Would be easier on it with a tooth style bucket.

[@delaman4991]

That’s not really a gravel driveway it’s a base that’s not big enough or compacted should be B gravel then 3/4 inch crush run then gravel on top

[@HorsleyLandy88]

sorry cant watch this, why are you using a garden tractor?

[@comk135]

A question: what geotextile fabric did you choose under the base?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

It was a armorlay variant. I cant recall the exact model. I may have commented it in a reply on this video to another comment.

[@markuspoitra514]

Awesome video man. I want this done for ours so we don’t need to drive on grass to shop. In your area what do you charge? And where are you located??? How do you estimate the job??? Very interested in getting it done now that I seen this!! Again awesome video

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

I am located in southern NH. My charge varies on many factors including location, amount of prep work, machines required, laborers required, etc. I generally estimate on those main factors. Thanks!

[@Beloved00007]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC what did you charge for this job? and what was the cost of material? and how many hours of labor? and the end result profit? hope it's ok to ask all that?!

[@metingordu627]

😂

[@howardmiller4241]

Only thing bad about this is you putting down that material, now you can never box blade that driveway. The customer is now stuck to spraying for weeds and buying rock all the time. The material is a waste because mother natural spreads her seeds with the wind , so you will have things growing in the driveway. With it not being a heavily used driveway he will have trouble with the weeds.

[@nonenoneyourbusiness8362]

Okay, so I figured that so water can't come through the liner that you must use one biggest longest liner that goes from one side to the other!?!?!

[@aniceguy9876]

why would you remove tree roots from under a gravel driveway ? in a year or three your just going to top-dress the gravel driveway again anyway ????????????????????????

[@extraart1]

Would it be possible to dig footings 4' deep using that size Kubota?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yea, it has a 6.6 ft flat dig depth

[@Just_Chuck_It]

These little tractors have their limitations. But they beat a shovel, pick, breaker bar, and rake any day of the week. I love my BX23S! When the time comes to buy or upgrade to a new tractor, I may look a the B series. As far as a driveway and using geotextile fabric. I have never used it. I find it ends up being exposed over time. It rolls up on the sides, and it does nothing to prevent weeds or wash out. I like to just put a thick layer of gravel like ⅝-, ¾-, or my personal favorite 1 ¼-. All the fines pack down below the surface layer of rock and the surface area rock settle in and lock in like concrete. I prefer the larger gravel as it usually provides more traction and has a much less potential of wash out. Never ever ever trust the customers "measurements". They will always and I mean always try to short themselves just to try and save money. YOU measure and determine how much material is needed. Everytime a customer has told me how much I needed for a "X" job. They have always been off by A LOT! Keep tractoring!

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yeah, this was my first big driveway job and on I figured it would make the most sense to use it if I was putting down a shallower layer of dense grade. In general, I don't bother using geotextile now unless it is wet or loose subsoil conditions.

[@richardf9137]

you want the heavy hitch tooth bar for your bucket not the piranha.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Yeah, it is an attachment I have meant to order but have had so many other things on my list!

[@SwingingTheDead1]

So, kill all or help Alira?

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Help kraityn, so we can go faster :)

[@sancasmiadas1]

Great job FYI that weed barrier was a waste of time and money. I’m a weed guy and a landscaper. And trust me it served zero purpose.

[@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC]

Its not a weed barrier, but a geotextile base fabric. Its design is to keep the upper road material from compressing into the base dirt and make more of less basically. Not so much for weed prevention.

[@sancasmiadas1]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC o, I see. I just see that scenario play out all to often with the weed barrier. Because folks don’t really understand the science of weed control. But yea I see what your useing it for and it makes sense

[@richkeller5954]

@@sancasmiadas1 So what would you use for weed control?

[@sproum1]

@@CarlsonSonLandscapingLLC Yes, we have a driveway at our home in PA, that when you just throw rocks and gravel down, they slowly sinks into ground/mud when the rain and snow come. The barrier make sense to spread the load and keep it intact. Loved the video.