How to Lay a Gravel Driveway

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By AlishaV
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Soon to be Muddy Driveway

Laying gravel driveways are something just about anyone can do. It takes a lot of hard work to spread all the gravel, but once it’s done you’ll have a nice looking driveway that keeps mud from getting on all over you or your car.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Gravel
Garden Rake
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Driveway
Landscape Fabric(opt)
Bobcat or Tractor(opt)
Compactor(opt)
A couple of friends who owe you favors

Step 1

This road needs gravel

The first thing you should do even before you start putting down gravel is to scrape and level the roadway. This is actually the most important part of putting in a driveway. It will prevent the gravel from washing off the driveway in the first rainstorm and keep water from pooling up anywhere. If you have a long driveway it is a good idea to just rent a Bobcat or some other small tractor. If the driveway is short you can probably do it by hand.
Step 2

Scrape the Driveway

Using the rented equipment or a shovel remove the top layer of soil along where the driveway will go. If there are any large rocks sticking up through where you want the driveway you’ll have to remove them or risk ruining your vehicle when they pop further out of the ground and start scraping the bottom of your car. Slightly angling the road base toward one side instead of leaving it perfectly horizontal will prevent water from building up on the surface when it rains. It’s always a good idea when installing a driveway to dig a trench and put a 4”-12” PVC pipe in it crossing the driveway. This is extremely handy if you ever have to run an extension cord or anything else across your driveway for Christmas lights or a weed eater. If laying a pipe across the driveway fill in the trench afterwards with soil and press it down well.
Step 3

After the driveway is scraped and that dirt deposited elsewhere you’ll need to make sure the surface is solid. Renting a compactor will save you money in the long run by making it so you don’t have to redo the entire driveway in just a couple of years. The more compacted and solid the base is the more solid your driveway will be. If unable to rent a compactor driving back and forth over the driveway with your vehicle will help a little. Make sure the driveway is level and has no high or low spots after all this.
Step 4

Now get a load of gravel. Either have it delivered or go get it with your own truck. If having it delivered make sure you have an area near the driveway where it can be easily dumped. The gravel you use should be coarse and angular not something like pee gravel. Angular gravel will lock in on itself and keep itself in place much better. Get enough gravel to cover your driveway to a depth of at least four inches.
Step 5

Next, it’s a really good idea to lay landscaping fabric over the driveway. This will prevent the gravel from mixing with the soil below it and also prevent some of the ever present weeds from popping through. Use large rocks or small piles of gravel to hold down the fabric and prevent it from flying away before you lay the gravel on top.
Step 6

If the gravel is still in the back of your vehicle you’ve really made your life easier. You don’t have to take quite so many trips with a wheelbarrow since you have use the vehicle to drop off the gravel along the driveway. If this is the case, have someone driving the truck and also someone with a shovel in the back. Slowly pull the truck away as the person in the back of the truck pushes the gravel out onto the road. To prevent making more work for yourself try to get the gravel spread evenly and in the right amount so you don’t have to move it as much by hand.
Step 7

After dumping most of the gravel on the driveway or if doing the driveway by hand fill a wheelbarrow with gravel, grab a shovel and a garden rake and start working down the driveway. Rake the gravel so that it is in an even layer over the road surface. Use the gravel in the wheelbarrow as needed to fill in any bare patches.
Step 8

After getting the gravel onto the driveway you’ll need to pack it down evenly. Use a compactor or drive your vehicle back and forth over it. When the gravel has wedged itself into a nice compact mass you’re all done.

Comments

scattcatt said

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on 3/16/2009 I only plan to install an area big enough for two cars about 22' by 22', but this article gave me a few thing to think about like renting equipment and scrape and level the area. Thanks

crazycatlady said

on 2/5/2009 I am all for using the equipment. A shovel full of gravel gets really heavy really quickly! Terrific article. Many people skimp on the prep work, and get disappointing results.