How To Buy Gravel For Driveway
You can also build a gravel driveway using a tough plastic grid system. A gravel driveway grid is designed to hold the gravel in place and drain rainwater. Typically there is filter fabric and base rock under the grid. These types of grids are also used to build grass driveways.
how to buy gravel for driveway
A commonly used gravel size for driveway base layers is #3 gravel. This rock is generally 1-2 inches in diameter and does double duty by establishing a solid, reliable foundation and providing adequate drainage; both critical factors in driveway construction. #3 gravel is crushed in giant machines and the final product is typically irregular shapes. #4 stone is also commonly used for base layers. This category of stone comes in golf-ball size and is usually mixed with sand. Some popular varieties include recycled, quarry, gray, and bluestone. A four-inch layer of #3 or #4 sets the stage for the second act.
For either a dirt or gravel driveway, run a car over the affected area to ensure further compaction and to be certain that your repairs have had the desired effect. Otherwise, you may need to add more dirt or gravel and repeat the previous process.
At Decorative Aggregates, we specialise in garden gravel, decorative aggregates, cobbles, pebbles, slate, granite, rockery stone, glass aggregates and garden features. We supply to both private and trade customers world-wide since 1984.
Rock driveways provide excellent erosion control. Crushed gray rock or gravel is the usual choice. It is sharp and irregular in shape, packing down well because the pieces interlock. Rock is sold in cubic yards. To figure how many cubic yards you need for your driveway, measure its dimensions and then do some calculating. You can also use a number of charts available at businesses that sell the rock. But you will still have to measure the length and width of the driveway.
Measure the length and width of the driveway. Use a measuring wheel instead of measuring tape. Measuring wheels can measure up to a 1,000 feet. A regular measuring tape usually measures up to 25 feet or 50 feet.
Gravel is also easier to install and maintain than concrete, and it allows water to permeate into the soil beneath the gravel, which can prevent pooling and flooding. This also helps to reduce water and ice buildup during the winter.
The cost varies by the dimensions of the driveway. A short gravel driveway might only cost a few hundred dollars to install, but a large country estate driveway could run as high as $60,000 (CAD 75,000) or more.
The cost estimate here is based on installing a suburban-style 16-foot by 38-foot gravel driveway. The cost for this size driveway runs about $1,500 (CAD 1,900), according to data from Bob Vila. The average costs nationwide are about $1.25 to $1.80 (CAD 1.55 to CAD 2.25) per square foot for a standard driveway using regular gravel. However, there are factors that can raise or lower these costs.
Lots of different moving parts can impact the total cost of a gravel driveway, including type of gravel used, labor, landscaping, drainage, permits, fees and the type of equipment used. Knowing what aspects of the project bump up the price can help you budget for your project.
Driveway size is measured as length (multiplied by) width (multiplied by) depth. A minimum depth of 4 inches is recommended. The average price for a single-car driveway is roughly $360 to $900 (CAD 450 and CAD 1,130).
Gravel is measured in cubic yards. A cubic yard is measured 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, and it covers about a 10-square-foot area. Depending on the type of stone used, a yard of gravel can cost anywhere from $10 to $75 (CAD 12.50 to CAD 94) for standard stones.
The best type of gravel for the top layer of a gravel driveway includes crushed shale, limestone, granite and concrete. There are different types of gravel in various colors to have an aesthetic appeal.
Choosing the right gravel is important, but proper site preparation is even more vital. Before you lay any gravel, you must remove the top soil and use it somewhere else on your property. The topsoil contains lots of organic matter, which is great for growing plants, but creates a spongy, unstable subsurface for a driveway. Hardpan, the layer beneath topsoil, is, as the name implies, dense and hard. It creates a much better foundation for your driveway.
Proper grading is also critical to the success of your driveway. For best results gravel driveways need a crown so water drains quickly. A crown simply means that the middle of the driveway is slightly higher than the sides. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow, you should install ditches on either side of the driveway to carry water away for proper drainage.
Once you start laying the gravel, you must compact each layer with a rolling machine before applying the next layer to provide a solid foundation. If all this seems like a lot of work, consider hiring a professional. Installing a gravel driveway is a big task for the average homeowner and can involve heavy machinery. A professional with the right equipment can complete the job in a few days.
Depending on where you live and the circumstances of your particular driveway, you may need to apply for a permit before you begin working on adding your gravel driveway. Contact your city or its roads department for more information.
Spreading salt in your gravel driveway will kill any weeds that grow there, but it is a long-term treatment that will sterilize the ground for years. Rainfall can also spread the salt through the soil into areas where other plants are growing, killing them too. For this reason, salt treatments should be used as sparingly as possible.
Driveways require a few structural elements to prevent sinking and the formation of low spots. First, it needs enough of a base of gravel for there to be plenty to keep the driveway filled. A driveway also needs a proper crown and high shoulders to keep sinking to a minimum and keep it from losing stones due to water erosion. Ditches alongside the driveway on both sides help keep water erosion at bay, too, and must be kept empty and clean to do their job properly.
Set the snowplow up with shoes set about half an inch above the ground. First plow the middle of the driveway, then work up and down alongside your initial line, rolling snow off to the side. Avoid creating large banks on the sides of the driveway, which can become harder to move with each snowfall. Leave about an inch of snow on the driveway; it will provide a good driving surface and prevent the plow from disturbing the gravel. Your tires will still get plenty of traction from the gravel with an inch of snow on top.
The question of driveway durability comes down to how well that driveway is maintained. When properly cared for, a gravel driveway can last decades. Make sure to add new gravel as needed every two to four years. Once or twice a year, you should use a tractor with a grading blade to move gravel from the sides up to the center of the driveway to create a crown. The crown should be one inch for every three or four feet of driveway width.
How far your gravel will go depends on how deep you are planning to pour it. A one-inch layer of gravel covers 240 square feet, while a ton spread at a depth of three inches covers eighty feet. Plan to use about a ton for every 70 square feet.
Salting a gravel driveway will kill grass and weeds growing there and keep the driveway clear of plants for several years. However, the salts can also spread through the soil due to rainfall and damage other plants growing nearby. For these reasons, salt should be used carefully and sparingly on gravel driveways.
Moistening the top of your gravel driveway with plain water will help keep dust to a minimum. Apply some water with your garden hose or sprinkler system every couple of days.Using salt or binding materials is more effective and permanent, but they can also spread through the soil as rain falls to poison nearby plant life. Salt and binder treatments should be used carefully and sparingly for these reasons.
I had no idea that gravel consisted of three different sizes of rock. It sounds like there are many benefits of using the three different sizes so making sure that the contractor does it will be important. Getting a sample of what to expect for your gravel driveway would also be important.
On our existing uphill gravel driveway, what size gravel is best to use? Seems as if all gravel used in the past eventually sinks into the driveway. Also how is best way to keep gravel from spreading to the side and off the driveway.
I currently have a loose larger blue stone driveway and am wanting to go to a more compacted driveway. This article was very helpful and gives me information needed when talking to a professional. Having a loose foundation, do we need to have to dig gown and replace with the three layers. Or, can we just add on top of what we have?
To estimate the amount of gravel needed, multiply the height, length, and depth of the driveway to give the cubic feet needed. Then, convert this number to cubic yards (divide cubic feet by 27). At this point, we can help you determine how many tons of gravel you will need based upon the specific stones chosen.
Before the first layer of gravel is delivered, level the path of the driveway. You can do this by hand or with a backhoe. Also, we recommend laying down a weed barrier to prevent grass from growing through your driveway.
Lester Brothers has a wide array of driveway gravels to offer its customers, many of which are screened and blended by us. Being able to screen and process our own gravels gives us an edge on pricing, allowing us to offer much lower rates than our competitors. All gravels work best when compacted. Freshly spread gravel, not compacted, will soak up water when it rains and become a muddy mess. Drive on, roll or compact your gravel for best results. All gravel will get harder after it dries out. Spring thaw or muddy areas will use double the amount of gravel due to the soft ground and high moisture content. Larger stone helps in the spring or muddy areas and may be covered with smaller stone later on. The more crush, the better the gravel. 041b061a72