How to Build a Pea Gravel Driveway

A pea gravel driveway adds natural charm to the landscape.

Building a pea gravel driveway is an inexpensive alternative to pouring concrete, asphalt or laying pavers. Available in a variety of shades, pea gravel adds color and texture to the driveway, enhances its charm and prevents soil erosion. This important feature of exterior design comprises tiny rounded stones that are confined within an outline. The driveway option is inexpensive, less time-consuming, easy-to-build and easier to repair than one made from concrete or asphalt.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Powdered chalk
• Edger
• Shovel
• Level
• Rake
• Wood, steel or plastic edging
• Hammer
• Tamper or compacting machine
• Landscape fabric
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Measure and mark the length and shape of the driveway on the ground with two parallel lines or powdered chalk. Space the lines at least 10 feet apart to accommodate one car or 16 feet for two cars. Depending on personal preference and the size of the area, keep the lines for the driveway straight or curve them around architectural features to highlight different aspects of the landscape. Ensure the width of the driveway runs even all along.

2. Insert an edger or square-edged shovel into the turf along each chalk mark to form the outlines.

3. Excavate a 4- to 6-inch-deep trench within the outlines, providing a 1-inch slope every 8 feet. Position the slope toward the street to direct the flow of excess water away from the driveway. Set a level across the width of the excavation every few feet to check whether the soil is level. Redistribute with a rake, if necessary.

4. Install wood, steel or plastic edging along the sides of the trench. Pound spikes provided with steel or plastic edging into the evenly spaced pockets provided along the length to anchor them into the ground.

5. Compact the dirt at the base of the excavation with a manual tamper or compacting machine. Pound the tamper or roll the machine over the soil two or three times until completely firm. Ideally, no footprints should form on the soil when you walk over it.

6. Lay landscape fabric or geotextile cloth over the base of the excavation, shiny side up. Cut excess fabric with scissors so it fits snugly within the edging.

7. Spread pea gravel over the fabric in the trench until its top is slightly below the surrounding surface. Rake the top of the gravel to level it.

Tips & Warnings

• Multiply the length by the width to determine the square footage of the driveway. Multiply the result by the depth of the excavation, which is 4 to 6 inches, to determine how much pea gravel you need for the driveway.

• Roll the turf between the outlines and use it to patch other parts of your lawn or yard.

References

• Ask the Builder; Build a Gravel Driveway; Tim Carter
• EuropeanStoneInc.com; Pea Gravel Driveways -- Crushed Stone; Mario Da Silva, et al.
• This Old House; How to Lay a Gravel Path; Roger Cook