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Shoveling snow on gravel

post #1 of 10
11/28/09 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
As we are coming up to the snow season, I am dreading my driveway. It is extremely long, and all small chip bluestone gravel. Last winter was the first one we had in the house, and to shovel out a gravel driveway was near impossible. I was digging gravel out of my grass in the spring from where I threw the snow.

I cant imagine a snowblower would be any good, as that would just rocket launch them (my luck through the window). Does anyone have any tips?
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post #2 of 10
11/29/09 at 2:45am
talk to Douglas.
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post #3 of 10
11/29/09 at 2:52am
1 - sell shovel
2 - get an SUV
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post #4 of 10
11/29/09 at 2:58am
I just used to drive my AWD vehicle over and over and over it when I lived at my parents house. We never shoveled it. We used to have a guy in a truck come out but when we told him to lift the plow to stop skimming the gravel he wouldn't listen. In the spring we were always left with a big pile at the end of a very long driveway. Car-drive-over method worked best.
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post #5 of 10
11/29/09 at 3:49am
Turn the shovel the other way round and simply "scrape" it kind of, till you're left with a very thin layer of snow that will just freeze and/or melt into the crevices of gravel, which isnt a big deal.
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post #6 of 10
11/29/09 at 4:13am
Solved this after ten years of plowing the ^#$%^#@#$)&)@^$@*$)&*&)@$^@%*$@ $^($*_$^! %*%*$!$&)!*_$*_!$(!^$!%*$^$)!_&!^$%*&$!^#!# !^$%!$(^ gravel out of the drive and into the grass, which necessitated raking the gravel back into the drive in the spring. It's called asphalt. Sorry. (It rules though)
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post #7 of 10
11/29/09 at 4:26am
Unless you live in Watertown, I can't imagine you get much snow in NY. I think a snowblower is your best bet. They typically don't go down to the ground so you should be ok. If you get a good one, you should be able to adjust it. Shoveling without a blower is a bit wack if you get consistent snowfall during the winter. You can find used ones in good condition for a good price.
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post #8 of 10
11/29/09 at 5:09am
The problem with snowblowers on gravel is that with any snow you can make a snowman out of, as the snowblower pulls in (or is pushed into) the snow mound, gravel sticks to it and the clumps break off and go into the auger. This is annoying. My stone was 3/4" so it could jam the auger and break the shear pin. Nice. With finer rock that is not as much an issue but they're still missles comming out of the stack -- don't aim at your car, family, pets, etc. ~ H
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post #9 of 10
11/29/09 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys, both good ideas I never thought of. Especially at 5am when I need to get out of the driveway. We just got an SUV so that may be the (easiest) answer.

I am dreaming of doing the asphalt driveway in the spring. I really want pavers the whole way, but thats like 50k I dont have.


Quote:
Originally Posted by LVoer View Post
I just used to drive my AWD vehicle over and over and over it when I lived at my parents house. We never shoveled it. We used to have a guy in a truck come out but when we told him to lift the plow to stop skimming the gravel he wouldn't listen. In the spring we were always left with a big pile at the end of a very long driveway. Car-drive-over method worked best.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkI View Post
Turn the shovel the other way round and simply "scrape" it kind of, till you're left with a very thin layer of snow that will just freeze and/or melt into the crevices of gravel, which isnt a big deal.
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post #10 of 10
11/29/09 at 12:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 83glt View Post
Unless you live in Watertown, I can't imagine you get much snow in NY.

If its anything like they say it will be this year, we will. Im also by the water so we get slammed extra hard too. Last year we had at least 2 10" days.
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