How to Make Gravel Driveways

Gravel driveways are very common all over the world. Whether you live in a small town, a farm area, or a town that doesn't require cement, gravel driveways are necessary for adequate parking. You don't have to pay big bucks to have a professional do the work for you. If you want to save some money and do the grunt work yourself, this article will show you how to make your own gravel driveways.

Things You'll Need

• Geotextile fabric
• 4 Inch gravel
• Dump truck
• 1 Inch gravel

Instructions

1. Lay geotextile fabric on the soil after you have cleared it of all debris. This will help prevent the gravel from sinking as much when the first spring rain falls.

2. Dump 4 inch gravel on the desired driveway site. This will provide a nice, sturdy base for the gravel driveways. This layer should be about 4 inches thick.

3. Dump 2 inch rock on top of the 4 inch rock. This layer should also be about 4 inches thick. Gravel driveways need the larger rocks for a firm base, but the smaller rock makes driving much more comfortable.

4. Form the gravel driveways with a slight peak in the middle to allow water the ability to drain adequately. Just like any road, the peak is very slight, but definite.

5. Finish the driveway off with 1 inch and smaller gravel. Again, you probably won't like driving on gravel driveways finished with anything larger than 1 inch rock.

Tips & Warnings

• You will probably need to add more rock to your driveway after the first rainy season of the year. After that, your gravel driveway shouldn't need much more rock for several years.

• Your biggest cost will be the trucking for the gravel. If you can find your own dump truck, you will save a ton of money. When I say, "A ton of money", I mean, a ton of money.