How to Stone a Driveway
Stone driveways bring out the rustic, natural qualities in a landscape. Paving a driveway with stone is a big project that dramatically transforms the overall appearance of your home. Naturally resistant to harsh weather, a well-laid stone driveway lasts for decades with little maintenance. Plan to spend a few days excavating and building the foundation before setting the stone. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Stakes
- String
- Shovel
- Hand tamper
- 3/4-inch crushed rock
- Edge restraints
- Hammer
- 12-inch nails
- Course sand
- Rake
- Rubber mat
- Fine sand
- Stiff broom
Instructions
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1
Use a tape measure and wooden stakes to measure and mark out the site. Add 2 inches to the sides of the driveway for the edge restraints.
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2
Unearth at least 12 inches from the area with a shovel or excavator machine. Verify the depth with a measuring stick, then dig down an extra 1/8 inch deeper at every foot of length to pitch the driveway away from the home so rain water will run off to the street.
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3
Press a hand tamper over the loose dirt at the bottom to make the subsoil firm and compact so the stones won't sink.
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4
Fill the area with three 3-inch layers of 3/4-inch crushed rocks. Tamp down each layer until the irregularly shaped rocks wedge together.
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5
Set edging restraints against the inner walls, and fasten them down with 12-inch nail spikes and a hammer.
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6
Dump course sand over the rock base and rake it evenly over the top. Some of the sand will fall between the rocks so continue adding it until you have a 1-inch layer.
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7
Lay the first section of stones across one end of the driveway. Place the ends of adjacent stones flush against each other, pressing them into the sand until they are level. Once all of the stones are in place, lay a rubber mat over each section and press them down with the tamper.
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8
Press fine masonry sand between the cracks with a stiff brush. Moisten the sand with a hose and add more sand until the spaces are completely filled.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
