Hi, I briefly checked out eco grid and get the concept. I agree that the snow plow blade would have to be raised, however the bigger concern is the amount of travel on the drive would just create ruts to any vegitation to grow in evenly. Salt will deffinatly be a problem. Your client could if you are also interested use a stamped concrete type drive. There are many styles and they could do a low growig type edging using thyeme or moss that could creep slightly on the drive. In minnesota, so know how the snow plow can reek havic on vegitation as well as salt!

From what I've heard on various occasions, these aren't meant to be vegetated/seeded if they are meant for regular use. The turfed parking lots are only meant to be used occasionally. I would think that with any regular (i.e. daily) use as a driveway, you won't have much of a chance maintaining decent turf coverage.

- Audric

What would be the design advantage in using this product? It seems that aesthetically the only advantage would be that it doesn't look like a regular drive because of the vegetation. But if the snow plow chews up the vegetation it will not look so good. I imagine you are trying to steer away from the ubiquitous pave uni as well as saving money but ease of snow removal is a major concern. I can direct you to a drive that is a mixture of pave and grass and has stood up well over three winters but the preparation of the drive re depth and material needs to be the same regardless of what the surface is, in my experience.

thanks guys, keep it ocming.

Inkognito- Exactly. The drive has a decent slope to it so the permeability of an eco grid is not necessarily the deciding factor as less water will make its way to the water table compared to that that will run down the slope to the street. So I was researching it as an alternative to the played out, suburban style of pave uni. The cost and prep was a pleasant surprise but will not be worth it if the plow chews the vegetation as you say and I am also skeptical of the limited base requirements that the sales person advised.

You're saying that your prep using the grid is the same as standard spec? 2' of 0-3/4". I assume you are insinuating that I apply a 5" layer of planting medium (in this case 70 sand/ 30 soil) on top of the 2' base. Thats what you're saying?

I am considering blending the two surfaces (and would appreciate that link you mention) but Im not entirely sure how foundation prep would work. The only way I can imagine is filling gravel and compacting entire drive and then scraping out 5" or so for sand/soil planting medium in the areas where I would like to apply the grid. I've done similar things and the thought of scraping out rows of gravel from a diesel plate tamped base is not very appetizing. Please enlighten me with your methods if I am missing something.

Thank you for the information.

Not a link nat, a real live one in St Isidore just over the Pont Mercier.

Just thinking that this would be a great way to incorperate into a mermorial or park type setting for walkways. I don't think I would automaically use for a drive. Thanks for the great idea!

Inkognito- Ill have to check it out come summer. Let me know how you would like to pass me info.

thanks.

I'll put the directions here, there are not many of us from Quebec so I don't envision a stampede.

Ink - check Google Earth street view of the property.... It's amazing - and a bit scary - what's on there! When we looked at our house on it, you can clearly see DH working shirtless on the driveway!

stormz- for walkways, check out Klingstone paths. They used that material at Montpelier (Orange Co. VA), and it's pretty cool. I'm actually designing it into a visitors center project I'm doing.

Klingstone paths looked very interesting. But I wonder if weeds grow thru? It sounds like an eco correct form of chip and seal. I had a chip and seal driveway and was always pulling weeds. Which is why it is now concrete.