7 cubic yards of gravel - on the driveway or grass?

[dave 911]

What thinks the brain trust? I'm building a paver patio in the back yard, and when I have the gravel delivered, should I have them dump it on the driveway or grass? I'm schlepping it with a wheelbarrow, and the grass would be ~50' closer, and I figure if i put a tarp down that should make it easier to clean up than if on the grass directly. Plus I would be concerned that the driveway (blacktop) may crack due to the weight....Pros / Cons?

[masraum]

Do you care if the grass dies?

[Dantilla]

Grass grows back. I'd save the 50 feet. I'm good at finding ways to do less work.

[icemann427]

With a tarp down, if you do it all in one day, the grass will be fine.

[Dantilla]

I can drive my pickup into my back yard. I'd get truck-sized loads and shovel it right from the truck. I'd rather move the gravel down once than up into a wheelbarrow and back down again.

No pile on the driveway, no pile on the grass, do a couple loads and call it enough for one day if I so choose.

[oldE]

How firm is the ground under the grass?
You may end up repairing ruts made by the truck.

Best
Les

[aigel]

Much easier to shovel off concrete than a tarp sitting on grass! If flat and smith, it doesn't take much energy to push a wheelbarrow 50'.

No mods in my yard for this exact reason!
Have fun!

[john70t]

Tarp on top of junk plywood?

[stevej37]

Your blacktop/asphalt drive will have no prob with the weight of the gravel...less per sq. in than your car...del truck could be a prob. Shoveling off a tarp is no fun!

[unclebilly]

I have my own tandem gravel truck...

That is about half a tandem load of gravel. A tarp will be fine unless the ground is uneven, then the plywood under the tarp is a great idea. The load will spread to 10-12' wide and will be about 6-8' going the length of the truck.

The truck may rut your lawn (it is only a 1/2 load) and if he had traction issues, he may spin until he locks up his diffs (assuming the truck has lockers).

[nynor]

7 yards by wheelbarrow. good luck. i had six yards of compost. it was an amazingly large amount of material to move by wheelbarrow.

[fastfredracing]

I had a tri axle load dumped in my grass. I really regretted it . It was for a project, that took me a few weeks to complete , but it took me the whole season to get all the gravel out out of my yard. It made for a ton more work than needed to be

[flatbutt]

Save the 50 feet and your back but use a tarp. 7 yards is a lot bro!

[stevej37]

I wonder how many of those who say "put it on a tarp"....have ever had to shovel up a pile of gravel "off a tarp"...even if it is on plywood. Blacktop with a flat shovel will be easy. Newer wheelbarrows roll easily..esp the dual front wheelers.

[billybek]

Will the truck have to back over irrigation pipe to drop the load?
I would put it in the driveway but then I don't have to do the work!

[quicksix]

blacktop,flat shovel, 2 day laborers from Home Depot

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by nynor

7 yards by wheelbarrow. good luck. i had six yards of compost. it was an amazingly large amount of material to move by wheelbarrow.

Bingo - Depending upon your wheelbarrow size (i.e. 2 or 3 cubic feet per wheelbarrow load), it will take 9 to 14 full loads to equal 1 cubic yard. The chart below shows how many full wheelbarrow loads it takes to equal the specified number of cubic yards. A 2 cubic foot wheelbarrow typically has a shallow basin.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by nynor

7 yards by wheelbarrow. good luck. i had six yards of compost. it was an amazingly large amount of material to move by wheelbarrow.

I had 7 tons dropped at the foot of the driveway. I spread that 7 tons one shovel at a time.

[wdfifteen]

I'd dump it on the driveway and rent a georgia buggy, but I'm really lazy.

[Por_sha911]

Ask the folks you bought it from what they recommend.