The four main materials for driveway surfaces are gravel, asphalt, concrete and pavers. Your choice will depend on your budget, climate, and the length of your driveway.
The most economical option for a driveway is gravel. In order of price, asphalt driveways come second, followed by cement and pavers.
Unlike other options, gravel driveways require the most maintenance, which results in higher costs later in time. Annual maintenance includes raking and herbicide application.
If you live in a snowy climate or have a sloped driveway, you will need to replace the gravel every two to four years.
The process of clearing snow removes a lot of accessible gravel and relocates it to the roadside. It is not possible to keep the space tidy without yearly raking to bring gravel back towards the center.
Gravel makes an attractive, affordable and reliable driveway, especially when paired with low maintenance, making it a good choice for anyone looking to sustain a long lasting material. Everything needed to know about selecting and installing gravel is available below.
Which Gravel to Use?
The installation of gravel driveways actually requires three different sizes of gravel. The base layer of gravel should comprise stones the size of baseballs, which are often called #3 stones.
This base layer of rock not only provides an adequate covenant strength for your driveway; it also guarantees proper drainage. Moreover, this foundation layer protects the smaller rocks from disappearing into the soil. You will install a 4 inch layer of this rock.
On top of the base, you will place another 3 to 4 inches of #57 rocks, which are also known as golf ball-size rocks. These smaller rocks are responsible for transitioning to the top layer.
The final layer has 4 inches of marble-sized rocks, which are gray, black, or rust in color depending on the type of stone.
You have to as well make sure to use machine crushed stone, not round rock, for each layer of gravel. The rocks have an angular, triangle shape, and so when placed on the driveway, they interlock and provide a stable surface.
Rounded rocks like river rock, for instance, are not suitable for a driveway, as they would slip and render the surface unstable.
When selecting a rock for the uppermost layer, opt for the “traffic bound” or “dense-grade” gravel. This type of rock contains rock dust and smaller fragments of other rocks. When compacted, this dust binds or cements together.
For a gravel driveway’s uppermost layer, the best base course is crushed shale, limestone, granite, and concrete. There is an aesthetic value due to the existence of different types of gravel in an array of colors.
Additional Tips for Gravel Driveways
While selecting the right type of gravel is important, proper site preparation is even more essential. The shovel must first star with the top soil and relocate it to another section of the property before laying any gravel.
Indeed, top soil contains a lot of organic material beneficial for plant growth, but makes a soft unstable subgrade for a driveway. Beneath top soil hardpan, as its name suggests is dense and hard, forms a considerably better foundation for the driveway.
At this stage some people apply herbicide, others put in landscaping fabric. Decide how you wish to manage weeds.
Proper grading is also essential for the effectiveness of your driveway. With proper maintenance, gravel driveways need a crown for optimal drainage. A crown simply means the middle of the driveway is slightly elevated compared to the sides.
If you live in a region with heavy rainfall or snowfall, it is advisable to create ditches on both sides of the driveway to enhance proper drainage.
Once you start covering the area with gravel, ensure to compact each layer with a rolling machine before adding the next to create a solid foundation.
If all this seems like a lot of workload, it might be best to consult with a pro. For an average homeowner, installing a gravel driveway can be a monumental project that requires the use of heavy machinery. A specialized contractor can easily complete the work in a matter of days with the proper tools.
Common Questions and Answers About Gravel Driveways
Can you add cement to a gravel driveway?
You may place cement on top of a gravel driveway as long as the gravel is small, although it’s not usually advisable. However, if the gravel chunks are smaller than half an inch, they will serve as cement support.
To ascertain what types of cement would best suit you, look up the American Standards for Testing and Materials specification ASTM C-94.
Can you paint a gravel driveway?
A driveway covered in gravel can indeed be painted. Any type of paving paint or driveway stain can be utilized to add color to a gravel driveway, including acrylic and oil-based paints.
Can you walk on pea gravel?
Apart from this, gravel, in particular pea gravel, is considered a suitable type of gravel for driveways and walkways. Pea gravel is not too painful to walk barefoot on, making it a good option for use without shoes.
Do I need gravel under pavers?
Gravel is not a necessity when using pavers because their installation can be done over dirt or even mortar.
As previously mentioned, sand can easily be placed under pavers as it provides an abundance of drainage. This allows moisture to flow freely. The claim can also be made that sand would be effective in preventing frost heave.
Do you need a permit for a gravel driveway?
Your location and individual circumstances tied to your driveway may determine if you need a permit to construct a gravel driveway. You may want to consult your local authority or city’s roads department for specific details.
Does salt kill weeds in a driveway?
Applying salt on a gravel driveway can eradicate any weeds. However, once the salt is spread, it will inactive all vegetation beneath the soil for years.
Salt can also be carried by rainfall to other areas where it will become detrimental to other plants. For this reason, salt treatments must be used as sparingly as possible.
How do I get rid of weeds and grass in my gravel driveway?
There are several approaches to cleaning up the weeds and grass in your gravel driveway, including some chemical free options and no need for manual labor.
In cooler conditions, not during a drought or extreme heat, a propane torch can be used to burn off weeds and grass in the gravel driveway.
Alternatively, one can apply a mixture of household products using a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and a few drops of dish soap to unwanted weeds or grass located in the driveway.
For a more hands on approach, if your driveway is close to the kitchen, boiling water can be strategically poured over the driveway to eliminate any weeds. However, it’s worth noting this method requires considerable effort for larger driveways.
How do I keep my gravel driveway from sinking?
The simplest solution would be to rake the surface of the driveway while adding some loose rock. This will maintain the current level of the driveway and avoid premature sinking. You can also take steps to mitigate the collapse.
After sinking four to five inches, you must ensure that water does not leach into the driveway at the low points, which serve as a pseudo-collection basin, as this will deteriorate the driveway by creating large holes, gorges, and ruts.
There are several features a driveway should have to prevent sinking and low spots from appearing. The first is an adequate amount of gravel as a base to provide enough filler material to create a voidless condition.
A driveway also requires adequate crown and high shoulder geometries to prevent sinking and stone erosion due to water.
Side ditches aid in the reduction of water-induced erosion and must be maintained clean to be efficient.
How do you keep a gravel driveway in the winter?
To prepare your gravel driveway for winter, first repair any potholes and properly grade them with fresh gravel. Afterwards, use a tractor’s grader blade attachment to shape the surface into a crown configuration at the center of the driveway.
The crown should have a rise of one inch for every three to four feet of the driveway width. Pull gravel from the sides of the driveway towards the center using the tractor’s blade, and supplement with fresh gravel if necessary. Each two to four years, it is likely that new gravel will be needed.
Lastly, take some time to ensure that your snow removal tools are easily accessible, such as a snowblower or a shovel, for the snowy season.
How do you keep grass from growing in gravel?
Applying salt to gravel driveways will stop weeds from growing and eliminate existing weeds for years.
This solution is not short-term, and the salt may also harm adjacent plants as water moves through the soil, killing weeds and other nearby vegetation, including those in the gravel driveway. Because of this, use salt treatments lightly.
Weeds can also be eliminated by using vinegar and dish soap. If the driveway is not too large and is closer to the kitchen, one could pour boiling water onto the gravel to eliminate any weeds and other plants.
How do you keep gravel in driveway?
There’s a need to restablish the crown where the gravel moves toward the center of the driveway, which can be done with a tractor and a grading blade once or twice annually. For every three to four feet your driveway’s width, there should be one inch of crown.
Bordering can be done using brick pavers, stones, bricks, railroad ties, or even wood.
How do you maintain a gravel driveway?
After two or three years, add more gravel to the driveway. Throughout the year, take a tractor with a grading blade to renew the crown by pulling gravel back to the center of the driveway from the sides.
A driveway narrower than three or four feet should get at least one inch of material added per every three or four feet. With consistent wearing, the driveway gets littered with leaves, and other materials (sticks, leaves, and debris) need to be cleared frequently to maintain cleanliness.
Whenever it rains and water tends to settle in low-lying areas, these patches and any potholes that appear should be filled with gravel.
How do you plow a gravel driveway?
Position the snowplow with the shoes approximately half an inch above the ground. Clear the center of the driveway first, then go up and down alongside your initial line, pushing the snow to the side.
You should avoid creating substantial banks on the sides of the driveway, as these become more difficult to relocate with each subsequent snowfall. Retaining around one inch of snow will ensure a solid surface while preventing the plow from removing gravel.
It is evident you will still receive plenty of grip from the underlying gravel when one inch of snow covers the surface.
How long does a gravel driveway last?
The longevity of a driveway directly correlates to the maintenance it receives. With the appropriate care, a gravel driveway outlives decades. Adding more gravel will be essential every two to four years.
Once or twice a year, moving the gravel from the sides toward the center of the driveway using a tractor with a grading blade will need to be done. The center of the driveway needs to be elevated more, so it will need to form a crown. For every three or four feet wide the driveway is, the crown needs to be one inch taller.
How many inches deep should a gravel driveway be?
When building a gravel driveway, use two to three courses of gravel to achieve a gravel layer of four to six inches thick.
How many inches of gravel will you need for a concrete slab?
The optimal quantity of gravel you should have beneath a concrete slab is eight inches total. This consists of four inches of gravel base and four inches included in the slab concrete.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
The amount of space a ton of gravel covers varies depending on the desired depth. If pour depth is one inch, the gravel will cover 240 square feet. It will cover only 80 feet if poured at three inches. On average, plan to use about a ton for every 70 square feet.
How often should you re gravel a driveway?
To maintain a gravel driveway, you will probably have to add new gravel every two to four years.
You also need to re-grade the driveway using a tractor and grading blade one or two times a year to push gravel from the sides toward the middle to reset the crown. Plan on roughly one inch of crown for every three or four feet of your driveway’s width.
How thick should my gravel driveway be?
For a gravel driveway, the most aesthetically pleasing and long lasting option incorporates a depth of at least four to six inches.
Is asphalt cheaper than gravel?
In comparison to concrete, asphalt is less expensive but when looking at cost effectiveness and price, gravel still takes the lead as the cheapest option for driveways.
Is gravel cheaper than concrete?
Generally speaking, gravel driveways have a lower price point than concrete driveways.
Is pea gravel good for driveways?
Due to its low cost and easy application, pea gravel is often used for constructing gravel driveways. As a driveway material, it is also exceptionally durable and requires little maintenance.
Should you salt a gravel driveway?
Applying salt on a gravel driveway can help to prevent plant growth such as grass and weeds from emerging for several years.
Despite this, the salts may spread through the soil due to rainfall and harm nearby vegetation. Because of this, too much salt should not be used on gravel driveways.
What can I put on my driveway to keep dust down?
Using a garden hose to wet the surface of the gravel driveway can aid in reducing the amount of dust. Water the surface every couple of days to reap the benefits.
Treatments with salt or binding substances will yield more effective results, but they can poison nearby vegetation as rainwater erodes the soil. For this reason, salts and binder treatments should be avoided.
What causes potholes in gravel driveways?
Potholes appear in the areas of your gravel driveway where there is a low spot because of water being trapped underneath the surface. “Crowning” your driveway by an inch for every three or four feet of its width can help with drainage, as can trenches or ditches installed alongside the driveway.
In terms of filling in a pothole, one needs to first check the hole for any large stones or other debris and clear it out from the driveway. Side work such as using a spade or other tool to make the sides of the hole quite even is also required. Lastly, it should be filled with gravel, compacted, and added in layers until the hole is full.
What is self-binding gravel?
Self-binding gravel refers to permeable gravel that condenses to form a hard, driveable, or walkable surface without the application of any binding agents.
What is the cheapest driveway surface?
A Self Binding Gravel is used in landscaping and creates a compact surface without needing any binding material compared to concrete, while pebble stones offer softer cushioning which supports easier movement.