Parking Lot finishing touches

[Stephen Piwowarski]

Hi Everyone,

Earlier today I was reminded of an interesting idea for finishing the parking lot. Using a paving grid could give us a solid surface and completed appearance for the parking lot, while giving the entire area drainage without lots of runoff. A paving grid also doesn't interrupt the appearance of the area as a traditional parking lot would. The more I looked, the more interesting ideas I found.  Here are a couple:
http://www2.buildinggreen.com/category/builder-categories/sitework-landscaping/porous-pavers-plastic
http://www.angeluspavingstones.com/collections/paver-systems/turfstone-grid-pavers/

-Steve

[Ira Schreiber]

Where is the money coming from and how much cost are two basic questions.

[Stephen Piwowarski]

Hi Ira,

Good questions! As I recall, there is a request for donations to start this process in this years annual fund drive. Figuring out what kind of material the lot will be surfaced with will help determine the drainage needs and is integral to the whole process. If this fits within the established budget, it could be a good solution to the museums needs while also being aesthetically pleasing.

Steve

[James Patten]

We were planning to use reclaimed/recycled asphalt on the parking lot.

[Stephen Hussar]

I'm not sure what re-using asphalt looks like. Are we talking about
a black-topped looking parking lot with painted lines for parking spaces? 

[Allan Fisher]

Our mile long driveway over in Nobleboro has been surfaced with crushed up asphalt for three or dour years now and it has done wonders in firming up the surface and preventing potholes. It does not look like a paved road, and is hard to tell from ordinary gravel.

[James Patten]

Take a look at the north side of Alna Center next time you're at the Museum.  We put a partial truckload of reclaimed asphalt on that end to help with handicap accessability.

[Ira Schreiber]

Reclaimed asphalt also makes a very good ballast base for holding stone in place. We have used it at the Colorado Railroad museum for both sub base for track and parking lot surfaces.
Yes, it looks like gravel with built in glue.

[Stephen Hussar]

Take a look at the north side of Alna Center next time you're at the Museum.  We put a partial truckload of reclaimed asphalt on that end to help with handicap accessability.

So that's what that was...

[Mike Fox]

I have reclaimed asphalt as a top coating on my driveway. The stuff works great but never freezes, so it is easily plowed up. But, the ground around Sheepscot might keep it damp enough to freeze.

[Stephen Piwowarski]

Can water percolate through the surface or does it run off? It might be one thing to place it on a narrow roadway, but to cover an entire lot with it may change the drainage requirements of the area.

[Mike Fox]

It does not absorb water well, though it does some. But different vendors may have a different blend than I have.