Avoid These Mistakes When Installing Your Gravel Driveway

Not only is a gravel driveway affordable and durable, but it also adds a rough charm to the entrance of your home. As with any other project around the house, however, success lies in the details. That being said, we will highlight some of the mistakes homeowners make when laying gravel and how to prevent them to ensure that your drive stays strong over time.

1. Choosing The Wrong Gravel

Selecting the right gravel is vital for a successful driveway project and this is where many people trip. Do not settle for decorative gravels; they look good but do not hold up well under car tires. Crushed stone is better because its pieces are jagged thus locking together tightly to form a solid surface or you can go with river rocks which are smooth and round aiding in drainage as well as stability.

Make sure that all your pieces of gravel are roughly equal in size so that you do not end up with an uneven bumpy surface. Ideally, they should be about an inch in diameter – stable enough without being too hard to walk on or easily displaced.

2. Not Paying Attention To Drainage

You do not want heavy rains turning your gravel driveway into a mud hole when setting it up. This usually occurs due to poor drainage systems being put in place. Proper water flow management can help prevent erosion, washouts and potholes from forming on your driveway’s surface. You may consider having a grass swale – shallow grassy ditch – or French drain (gravel filled trench) which diverts water away from the driveway.

Observe how rain interacts with the area before laying gravel down; getting experts involved at this stage might save future troubles by ensuring efficient drainage systems that meet set standards are installed.

3. Overlooking Site Preparation

Preparation of ground where you want to have your gravel drive cannot be taken lightly if durability is anything to go by. Failing to do this may lead to premature wear and tear as it involves removing plants and organic matter, compacting soil among others. Some people think that just pouring more stones on top of an existing drive will fix everything but no! The truth is that without proper site preparation; the gravel will not look or perform well. Site prep should be given more attention than spreading out the materials.

4. Not Enough Gravel Depth

Using too few layers while setting up a driveway is one of the common mistakes people make. It might seem like a smart move by going for a thin layer which saves on both material cost and effort required but this could only lead to high maintenance needs and early repairs being necessary.

Make sure your driveway has at least four to six inches depth of gravel; compaction also matters for stability so don’t just consider quantity alone here. Proper thickness together with compacting it tightly enough will guarantee smooth passage under vehicles daily without any sagging or sinking occurring along its length.

5. Failure To Maintain Regularly

For you to keep enjoying the good looks of your gravel driveway, there are some things that need doing from time to time. Smoothing out uneven areas through grading or adding more stones can help prevent potholes, ruts and erosion caused by water running across them respectively when large properties come into play – think about getting yourself a driveway grader for easier maintenance practices.

After heavy rainfalls or intense use take moments to inspect the drive closely for signs requiring attention albeit small in size because addressing those promptly would extend lifespan of such pavements significantly .

6. Call In Professionals

Perhaps you feel like DIY-ing this project in order to save some bucks, but then again mistakes happen unexpectedly, even after thorough research. Hiring experts ensures suitability with climate variations as well as longevity since they have been there before countless times, plus their knowledge, expertise alongside appropriate equipment guarantees perfection.

You can have a long lasting and high standard gravel driveway by using the right materials, ensuring good drainage, proper site preparation, laying strong layers of gravels and if possible maintaining it often. Seek professional assistance to lead you through this process without failure.

Marion Gravel Driveways & Grading is an expert when it comes to constructing gravel driveways that are perfect for you. We promise that perfection will be attained through our team of professionals, modern equipment and keenness on details. Call us now if interested in any of our services!