Oops, I put this in general discussion!
I'm looking for some advice on how to resurface our shared alley, which has become muddy and uneven.
Since the cost will be shared by all of us, I'd like to keep it as reasonable as possible. I've tried looking up gravel, but it is mostly for landscaping.
Thanks!
westseattledood
Member Profile
Hey yikes -
My neighbors and I have the same issue, but on a more irritating, permanent basis. So, I've got some input here, but not an expert, for sure.
One of the issues for us is that there are some sloped properties on one side of the alley, with out-of-code downspouts/drainage from one house in particular. This homeowner has been asked to correct their drainage field a number of times and has yet to do so. The middle of the alley is their drain field, though it affects some else's property. This is fodder for lawsuits, but good will requests have been made, at this point. This renegade drainage allows a constant high-flow into the alleyway because they've not brought their property up to code. The flow brings with it debri and grit into the alley and any effort to resurface will be lost in that section. I guess I'm suggesting that before funds be gathered, that any possible drainage issues be addressed first.
Our shared alley has such long-standing damage that it will need to be graded first. As you can surmise, this can be an expensive project. I think the suppliers of crushed rock (med to large) will also have grading as part of a service, but I'm not sure. There are probably people reading out there who know the answers to this. It would be great if they replied to you.
As for what materials to fill with, I think crushed rock (a larger-sized grade) might be worth investigating. Auto/truck weight seems to embed it into the soil more than moveable gravel and water can still drain through it. If you've got all drainage issues resolved, paving with asphalt might be another option.
I'll be interested to hear what other folks can share about this.
Good topic for this forum!
Poor drainage can be a permit issue. There's this site on seattle.gov, I'm not gonna say, but they do something like inspections and stuff, and they get results, especially if its a safety issue, and isn't up to code...
celeste17
Member Profile
I think this would be a city issue as the alley is public property. We have an alley that goes the length of the street and it has always just been dirt and some rocks and really hard for people to drive it. I think this would be department of planning or streets. Maybe they can give you some suggestions.
Please allow me to introduce some folks to something named Google:
http://www.google.com
Search for:
"City of Seattle" alley improvement
ScottB
thanks for the suggestion... now i know why our alley is unimproved...
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/alleys.htm
and being a renter.. it's probably not something i want to take up with the city:)
however... after reading the information and advice the city puts out, i can see why yikes asked for the kind of advice that only exerience can provide...
mellaw6565
Member Profile
I reported our alley to the City 2x last year as there are holes bigger than my Jeep - the guy basically laughed and said alleys are the lowest of priorities. I told him it didn't seem to be that way in the pricey neighborhoods - he didn't respond.
mellaw6565
Member Profile
Yikes - you may also want to consider that if you pave the alley, it will definitely generate more traffic which may be undesirable.
the pricey neighborhoods have improved alleys which then become the city responsibility:)
cool move for those who can afford it.
mellaw6565
Member Profile
Yeah, well wait till they get the bill when they have to use a crane to pull my Jeep out of one of the holes.
BTW - have you noticed that the Delridge Corridor and White Center have yet to have their garbage picked up? Bet you places like Green Lake had theirs picked up lickety split.
This city may be liberal when it comes to racial issues, but there are a lot of economic snobs in this town - especially in city government. Always taking care of the more upscale neighborhoods first. It's an ass-backwards policy if you ask me.
Thanks everyone... luckily or not, our alley does not go the length of the block. And having done the dance with the city once before, I decided that improving to the city's standards would not gain much and cost alot!
I'm looking to lay gravel, but not sure which kind and who does it. Probably should have put it that way originally LOL. I've learned alot about lots in reading the thread. Thanks again!
yikes,
An asphalt paving outfit could place crushed rock for you using a dumptruck and a little grader (probably a Huber or Athey, or maybe a LeeBoy), or a Layton box on the back of a dumptruck, or even a small paver.
It would probably be cheapest to rent an open trailer from U-Haul, have it loaded at Glacier on W. Marginal (or shovel the crushed rock in yourself so it doesn't get segregated by careful dumping of a relatively small amount of rock by a relatively large loader), then shovel it out onto the alley yourself, then repeat. Another advantage of the hand method is that you can place the material in the two ruts and potholes in order to save grass/weeds in the middle and on the edges.
If there are no wires, tree branches, etc. in the way, a dumptruck could spread the rock to possibly save some handwork.
If the rock will not be covered by asphalt or concrete, the City requires ledge rock (crushed rock from a rock quarry instead of from a sand and gravel pit). Inch and a quarter minus is probably better than five-eighths minus.
If there is a lot of actual mud (not just dirty water in ruts or puddles), then a base course of what we used to call railroad ballast can "heal" the worst spots, but dunno what the City would think of that.
There are bark supply outfits that stock various aggregates, but they usually do not have ledge rock.
The alley will eventually have potholes again unless everyone creeps along in their cars.
"This city may be liberal when it comes to racial issues, but there are a lot of economic snobs in this town - especially in city government. Always taking care of the more upscale neighborhoods first."
Right there, is proof that the city is NOT liberal on any issues...especially not racial inequality.
Great advice, Roger! Thank you. There is a company that is advertising 5/8 for $199 for 2.5 yds and they deliver and level it. But it is not ledge rock... is that a problem?
FWIW, my neighborhood is far from pricey. We have a paved (improved) alley with an intentional grove down the center for run-off and a drain at the bottom. It is certainly not my experience that the city only caters to the well-off areas.
Ledge rock (crushed rock made at a rock quarry) is better than crushed rock made at a sand and gravel pit because it binds together better if it is not segregated by its handling.
Five eighths minus is easier to work by hand and is less sensitive to segregation. Inch and a quarter minus is better for muddy conditions and long-term wear, but it segregates more easily. Segregation is not really an issue for muddy conditions.
As I said earlier:
The City of Seattle requires ledge rock if it will not be covered by asphalt or concrete.
There is a crushed form of asphalt I have seen used on logging roads. The more it is driven on, the more compacted down it becomes....so it essentially "turns into" pavement....not a bad alternative.
You must log in to post.
All contents copyright 2012, A Drink of Water and a Story Interactive. Here's how to contact us.
No photo reuse without permission.
Entries and comments feeds. ^Top^
westseattleblog
West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Blog