How to Control Driveway Dust

Traffic creates dust on gravel driveways.

Dust from a gravel driveway can coat everything in the home and pose a visibility and health concern. A gravel road generates dust when vehicle traffic causes a disturbance to the crushed stone and clay material. The finer dry particles become airborne and, depending on wind direction, can blow all over. Options for treating a dust-ridden driveway exist. All work in different manners to prevent the fine particles from becoming airborne. The simplest is to spray water on the driveway when traffic is expected.

Things You'll Need

• Calcium chloride or magnesium chloride
• High volume sprayer

Instructions

Chloride Based Dust Control

1. Spray or dust the gravel driveway with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. Manufacturers produce both products under a number of trade names, including Soilworks and Top-Seal. Calcium chloride is either a powder or a liquid while the magnesium chloride is a liquid. Apply them at the manufacturer's suggested rates when the driveway is still wet from spring snowmelt or rain.

2. Apply additional chloride material after it rains, if necessary. Not all areas require additional applications. Monitor the dust conditions and add chloride materials as necessary.

3. Apply an additional chloride treatment in late summer or early fall. This is considered routine in most dust control plans for gravel roads and driveways. Follow manufacturer's label directions for this application as well.

Oil-Based Dust Control

1. Grade the road in the spring of the year. Get the road as smooth as possible, with a center crown to aid in drainage. Make sure the road is in good shape. It can't be maintained during the summer after the application of the oil-based dust control.

2. Spray a coating of oil-based dust control product on the road. Vegetable oil is the most common. The oil binds the fine materials within the gravel, preventing it from becoming airborne.

3. Maintain the road surface without grading. This prevents damaging the oil layer at the surface of the gravel.

Tips & Warnings

• The chloride products are forms of salt that attract moisture and hold it. The moisture binds together fine particles within the gravel driveway and prevents them from becoming airborne. Advantages include the ability to grade or maintain the driveway once the chloride is applied. The product is often more economical than oil-based products that perform a similar function. Many rural government subdivisions, such as townships or small cities, provide dust reduction treatments for roads. Contact these organizations about the possibility of treating your private driveway for an additional cost.

• When it rains, the mud formed from water that washes through the gravel of the driveway becomes corrosive.

References

• Iowa State University: Dust Control on Rural Roads; Shawn Shouse
• Iowa State University: Providing Dust Control
• University of New Hampshire: Road Dust Control With Calcium Chloride