I have zero ambitions of becoming a YouTube content creator, but I have been using these short videos to show examples of my work.
Here is a before-and-after walkthrough of a gravel driveway in Charlotte, VT. This is a good example of the common issues I see with many driveways.
This is the first pass with the Harley Rake. The rough grading removes the high spots, fills the low spots, reclaims the edges, and disrupts the organic growth. It allows me to assess the quality of your driveway's base and address issues such as incorrect pitch, potholes, and erosion.
This is the view from inside my CAT Skid Steer while rough grading with the Harley Rake. I am constantly adjusting the rake's depth and angles to correct the grade. I continue to make multiple passes to disrupt organic growth and redefine the edges.
Over time, grass and weeds will encroach on your gravel driveway. The Harley Rake disrupts the organic growth and brings the compacted gravel back to the surface, making your driveway look like a driveway again.
The 2200lb Caterpillar vibratory roller attachment is doing a fantastic job compacting this gravel driveway. Compacting and rolling a gravel driveway is essential to its long-term success. We typically compact/roll a driveway after rough grading to provide a solid foundation. We then add gravel in layers, or "lifts," of 2-3 inches at a time, and compact each layer as we go. It takes extra time to do it this way, but it locks everything together and creates a driveway that's built to last.
Compacting with the vibratory roller at the Waldorf School parking lot in Shelburne, VT. This parking lot is surrounded by wetlands and sees heavy traffic. The compacting roller is how we keep all of the gravel consistent and slow the return of the dreaded washboards and potholes.
Installing French drains at this home in Charlotte, VT. Many gravel driveways were not built to withstand the amount of rain we've been experiencing over the last few years. Excavating to create ditches and swales, and installing culverts and French drains, is often the solution to divert water away from, under, or around your driveway and home.
Tailgate spreading on a perfect summer day in Charlotte, VT. Maybe it's just me, but there is something incredibly satisfying about watching 10 tons of gravel spread out perfectly from the tailgate of a dump truck.
Spreading gravel down this steep driveway in Hinesburg, VT. A good driver/operator makes it look easy, but I can assure you it takes years of experience to do it well.
This 1900ft long driveway in Charlotte, VT, has been one of my favorite projects. It's remote and full of character, with twists and turns as it climbs and winds its way through the woods. In 2023, I added 150 tons of gravel to repair and improve the driveway surface before winter. In 2024, I returned to fix the inadequate ditches and culverts, which were not keeping up with the rain and severe weather we've been experiencing over the last few years. I excavated approximately 1000' of ditches and lined them with 60 tons of rip-rap erosion control stone. Once that was complete, I added another 220 tons of gravel, which was graded and compacted to a smooth finished surface.
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