Preparation for Driveway Gravel

The driveway gravel has a kind of elegance about them that concrete or asphalt fails to show. Unlike gravel, which is much more flexible in that respect, these materials are difficult to correct if they were not laid properly to begin with.

Driveway gravel is not difficult to prepare and fill. In many ways it is less difficult than concrete, which is messy and difficult to achieve a great looking surface with. Asphalt is easier to lie, and easier to have looking good, but it's costly and it can be a bit messy too. Concrete and asphalt are not particularly easy to maintain either.

Concrete and asphalt do score well when it comes to cracking as a result of extreme frost and cold, but gravel scores even better. Heavy rains just drain with driveway gravel while concrete and asphalt need drainage considerations built in from the start.

Driveway gravel doesn’t have to be boring. Driveway gravel can be made from a variety of different colored stone of reds, blues and grays. One can even use different colored stone to form patterns on huge areas to provide a bit of contrast.

It is important that one will prepare properly for any driveway gravel one plans to create. As with other surface materials, a rule of thumb guide is the more heavy use of driveway is likely to get, the deeper and more robust the driveway should be.

In other words, if the driveway gravel will only have people walking on them, then one can get away with a relatively shallow depth. If a vehicle will travel on it, then it needs to be deep enough to cope with the additional wear and tear.

Driveway gravel should be prepared by having the drive marked out and dug down to a depth of about 150 millimeters, or six inches. At that point, drive a wooden fix into the dug out ground. If it is complicated or difficult to drive down further, then the base is solid and firm. If not, one may have to dig deeper. If one encounters any soft spots they may also need digging out.

One should lay a base before laying the gravel. Scalping stone is leftover quarry material and makes a distinctive inexpensive base. Order it during dry weather as rain will add considerably to the weight, which is what one will charged on. The scalping stone should be compacted by being vibrated in to a depth of at least 75 millimeters.

Driveway gravel can create a distinctive entry to one’s property. There are many types of gravel for a driveway, and each can add a different look to one’s home and landscaping.

Choosing the right type of gravel for a driveway can help one to create a beautiful and long lasting entry that one will be proud of.

No matter what type of stone one choose; make sure that the stones have an angular shape. These types of stones are commonly machine-crushed. Angular stones will lock together, diminishing the movement caused by the weight of passing vehicles.

Although they are quite attractive, rounded "river stones" will quickly slide out of place. Rounded or smooth stones will dramatically increase the maintenance requirements.

One size does not fit all, one needs several types of gravel for driveway construction that will last, make sure that the base layer of the driveway gravel should contain fist-sized stones, sometimes called #3 stones in the trade. These stones will construct a solid foundation for your driveway gravel. The second layer of the driveway gravel should contain golf ball-sized stones, also called #57 stone. The final layer of the gravel drive should contain stones a bit larger than a thumbnail. Speculate for any traffic bound or dense grade stones. This kind of gravel has stone dust mixed in and forms a hard, cement-like surface as it settles.