Looking for book(s) that will help me come up with design options for my driveway. I enter my driveway with a conventional sgl. lane blacktop that opens up to an approx. 75’x100′ rectangle of blacktop, think large chopper pad. The “pad” is 90* to the sgl. lane, an L shape, which goes up to the front of my garage 36′ wide. Looking for something to break up the pad and a different style of apron at garage doors. Been thinking of old style 2 track lanes with grass between. Any thoughts will be appreciated, I’m horrific at site planning, landscapeing.
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Hi! Pell
I appreciate your thinking.
However, I think that unless you get it absolutely spot on with the position of the runways, the grass will never achieve the even color you envisage now.
Do you have access to a supply of perforated blocks, which when laid flat allow for grass to grow in the soil-infilled pockets? The block carries the load, and the grass is protected.
Deviations from the garage entry lines are not as damaging using these units.
Just a thought for you to chew on.
Lapun.
I appreciate your input. Garage doors face dead-nuts west so I have great exposure to the sun for grass issues, the lanes would be wide. I've seen the perforated blocks with grass thru them and don't really think I like the look for my home. I did pick-up Taunton's book Front Yard Idea book. They had a driveway with what appears to be bluestone with pavers and grass combo in the center. I liked that. I'm still looking. Thx's again.
Image 01 on this page is a place I did some work on. I always liked their driveway.
http://timeandplace.com/locations/nantucket/lilypond/index.php
You can do an "apron" in front of the garage doors, which also promotes drainage, of manufactured stone or cobblestone ("Belgian Block").
You can set fieldstone in a circle in the middle of your helipad. If it's more or less flush with the asphalt you'll be able to drive or plow right over it, but it will have the appearance of an island.
Thanks for responding, truly love the circle of field stone set flush with the surrounding blacktop idea. Apron in front of garage doors I don't know, TOO popular here in West. Cty.NY. Home is 100 + yrs. old. Thanks again!!! By the way headed for the Vineyard mid Oct., did love the driveway in the photos, probable crushed sea shells. House not too shabby either.