Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

[GreyGhost]

Driveway surface opinions. Paved is out of the question at this point due to cost. Have grade-A gravel down now but it turns basically muddy when wet so I need something better over it. Recycled asphalt or some other type of crushed stone?
In the meantime I’ve trimmed the fireplace and made/installed shelving in 5 closets and pretty happy with the results compared to the cheap metal racks that the builders guy wanted to do.

In-laws had a few truck loads of crushed granite dumped on the cottage driveway. Drains well and pretty solid but damn is it ever sharp if you walk on it in bare feet. Make sure that someone fixes the drainage before adding material. Slope what you've got or you are just asking for trouble.

I think the three economically viable options are gravel, asphalt or interlock. You don't see many others (like pervious pavers or even concrete) as the price quickly gets crazy.

 

[Hardwrkr13]

Of course it depends on the size but we had ours paved a few years ago (asphalt) and I was surprised at how low it costs (few K)--including widening, removal of the old one, digging down, etc.. When I priced out doing something with gravel etc. it was not all that much cheaper.

We used a company that does lots of work in the area. They can offer lower pricing as they come and do a half dozen in a day. They did the removal and base in the spring and the paving in the early fall. That way the base where you drive gets extra compaction (but I am sure it is also cheaper for them to do it like this....).

Road to the house (3 car bays) is approx 120ft and also has to go 30'ish to the detach garage.

 

[Scuba Steve]

Driveway surface opinions. Paved is out of the question at this point due to cost. Have grade-A gravel down now but it turns basically muddy when wet so I need something better over it. Recycled asphalt or some other type of crushed stone?
In the meantime I’ve trimmed the fireplace and made/installed shelving in 5 closets and pretty happy with the results compared to the cheap metal racks that the builders guy wanted to do.

Tar and chip I will have ours done this year not paying 50 g to have it paved

Sent from my couch using my thumbs

 

[nobbie48]

Of course it depends on the size but we had ours paved a few years ago (asphalt) and I was surprised at how low it costs (few K)--including widening, removal of the old one, digging down, etc.. When I priced out doing something with gravel etc. it was not all that much cheaper.

We used a company that does lots of work in the area. They can offer lower pricing as they come and do a half dozen in a day. They did the removal and base in the spring and the paving in the early fall. That way the base where you drive gets extra compaction (but I am sure it is also cheaper for them to do it like this....).

Our 500 square foot repave was $2000 plus tax in 2017. However they had to work around an interlocking paver border. It's good for 20 years, no mud and easier shoveling.

A lot depends on what is under the gravel. 3/4" crushed stone isn't muddy but a pain to ride a bike on. However, in time it can work its way into whatever is underneath. That can be delayed by a geo-textile but you get what you pay for with that stuff. It keeps adding up to the point of being almost as expensive as paving.

There are tons of free used pavers and patio stones on Craigslist or Kijiji but you have to go and get them, often lift them and need a substantial vehicle to do it. If you end up with a mishmash of colours or sizes it could go against your property value.

A friend in the states was building his own house and got a screaming deal on brick by buying different ends of runs and working them into a pattern. It looks stupid. He will have to paint the brick if he wants to sell. It probably cost more to lay them as well. Lose, lose.

A caution with old pavers: Some setting bases attack the undersides and while they look OK on top the underside is spalled or soft. Even if they were usable for low load areas they will be a pain to set due to the uneven thicknesses.

I knew a guy that found some really wide conveyor belting to do his.

If you don't mind the jolts or are into trials google corduroy roads.

 

[Scuba Steve]

Ours is approximately 600 feet with 100 feet 3 cars wide.

Sent from my couch using my thumbs

 

[GreyGhost]

If you don't mind the jolts or are into trials google corduroy roads.

My parents have a bunch of granite cobblestones from when Toronto tore up some of their old streets. Probably came from Queen St in the beaches when they installed the streetcar tracks but I'd have to check to see where dad got them. Not nearly enough to do a driveway but a cool story.

 

[nobbie48]

Ours is approximately 600 feet with 100 feet 3 cars wide.

Sent from my couch using my thumbs

BS numbers from me but 8,000 to 10,000 square feet at $4 -$5 a square foot = ouch. Buying a 4X4 to go over what's there is cheaper.

Oh, and cold patch will not work.

 

[nobbie48]

My parents have a bunch of granite cobblestones from when Toronto tore up some of their old streets. Probably came from Queen St in the beaches when they installed the streetcar tracks but I'd have to check to see where dad got them. Not nearly enough to do a driveway but a cool story.

I designed a snow melting system for an architect that wanted to use the granite sets for his driveway. They looked good but we had to pump in extra heat to overcome the stone thickness. It worked.

 

[GreyGhost]

I designed a snow melting system for an architect that wanted to use the granite sets for his driveway. They looked good but we had to pump in extra heat to overcome the stone thickness. It worked.

In ~2003, I had a chance to get a stone facade being removed from a downtown tower undergoing renovation. Material was free, I would have had to deal with shipping. Basically as many slabs as I wanted (~4'x10' each). I contemplated throwing a few truckloads into the woods for future use, but that would be a lot of money sunk into something that may never have a purpose. Shipping would obviously have been expensive but it would have made a really pimp driveway (although slippery as hell).

 

[nobbie48]

In ~2003, I had a chance to get a stone facade being removed from a downtown tower undergoing renovation. Material was free, I would have had to deal with shipping. Basically as many slabs as I wanted (~4'x10' each). I contemplated throwing a few truckloads into the woods for future use, but that would be a lot of money sunk into something that may never have a purpose. Shipping would obviously have been expensive but it would have made a really pimp driveway (although slippery as hell).

Do the garage walls. An executive man cave.

 

[sburns]

So it seems framing lumber (2x4x92) is still double the price it was early last year. I thought it came down in price but checking HD online it is listed at $7.85. Luckily for this project I don't require much of it.

 

[crankcall]

2x4's will not be coming down in price for at least 3 months. Once the backlog of orders clears and supply catches demand it will ease, but that's 3 months out .
Trex decking is now cheaper than clear cedar. 7/16 OSB is about $32.00

this is NOT the year to build a shed/deck/boathouse

 

[mimico_polak]

So it seems framing lumber (2x4x92) is still double the price it was early last year. I thought it came down in price but checking HD online it is listed at $7.85. Luckily for this project I don't require much of it.

Can confirm. Just bought 4 2X4X92 on Friday as I needed to finish up a shelving unit in the garage. Glad all my big wood working is completed before the huge rise up in prices.
Hopefully it levels off as I'd like to build a bench / table for the cottage by the campfire.

 

[GreyGhost]

Can confirm. Just bought 4 2X4X92 on Friday as I needed to finish up a shelving unit in the garage. Glad all my big wood working is completed before the huge rise up in prices.
Hopefully it levels off as I'd like to build a bench / table for the cottage by the campfire.

For campfire furniture, knock down a tree and build it rustic.

 

[mimico_polak]

For campfire furniture, knock down a tree and build it rustic.

Good call. We’ve had a few trees fall last year. They’re in pieces in the wood storage but would love to do that.
Buddy had a big one come down and made a great set of benches at his fire pit.

 

[Hardwrkr13]

4x8" Sanded plywood for my shelves went from $38 last December to $71 last week that I begrungingly paid. I think the butler pantry my wife wants is going to wait until these prices come down.

 

[sburns]

Was at Rona today, and 2x4's also priced similar to HD a $7....

 

[crankcall]

4x8" Sanded plywood for my shelves went from $38 last December to $71 last week that I begrungingly paid. I think the butler pantry my wife wants is going to wait until these prices come down.

Its nuts, sanded ply went off the rails but industrial poplar hadn't yet, so all the sanded spruce guys bought up the poplar, then all the russian birch went nuts, and became a shortage. I've got three containers of south african pine ply coming , now to get it here before the prices all plummet and I'm trying to convince people Padula pine is a great alternative .....
Tough time to be a home handiman

 

[Mad Mike]

Road to the house (3 car bays) is approx 120ft and also has to go 30'ish to the detach garage.

My drive is about 110’, the first 50 is 12’, then it flares to 3’. About 1700sq in total. Cost me $3400. Outside of a few dozen kickstand divots its held up great.

I used pavers that were already doing work in the hood.

 

[backmarkerducati]

My drive is about 110’, the first 50 is 12’, then it flares to 3’. About 1700sq in total. Cost me $3400. Outside of a few dozen kickstand divots its held up great.

I used pavers that were already doing work in the hood.

Basically what I was saying, find the guy that does local work and the cost won't be as high as expected. Just takes a bit of homework and to ask the question.... These guys deal in very big volumes.