CHAPTER II 

 WALKS AND DRIVEWAYS 



THE importance of good construction and attractive grading in 

 driveways is frequently given little recognition. Loosely built drives, 

 that are too thin for permanence, following the grade of the ground 

 without any attempt at a pleasing profile, are common. At the other 

 extreme are drives of heavy concrete or stone construction, able to 

 bear far more traffic than that to which they will ever be subjected, 

 a waste of expenditure. 



The type of construction is determined by the following factors: 

 (1) length and width of drive, (2) cost of various materials, (3) 

 amount of traffic the drive will have to sustain, (4) soil and climatic 

 conditions, (5) individual preference as to color, (6) amount of 

 maintenance required. 



The first step in planning a drive is to prepare a profile accord- 

 ing to existing grades, and work out the desired grade for the drive. 

 The ideal profile is one that rises steadily in a constant percentage. A 

 slightly concave profile is also more pleasing than one that is convex. 

 Changes in percentage of grade between the bottom and top of a con- 

 tinuous rise should be avoided. 



The drainage should also be carefully planned. Where the soil 

 is heavy or stiff, subdrainage is of paramount importance if the road 

 is to stand up. Drainage may be secured by a line of tile under the 

 center of the drive or at the edges. In very stiff clay soil it is best 

 to have a line at both edges. It is also advisable to use cinders or 

 crushed rock for "backfill" in the ditches dug for drain tile. This 

 insures quick drainage so that the water does not stand under the 

 road metal and freeze in winter with disastrous results. 



Surface drainage must be provided, even where the soil is porous 

 enough to permit economy in subdrainage, otherwise, water will col- 



