How to Add a Simple Parking Spot with Rock or Gravel

Use a plastic liner to keep weeds from coming up through the gravel.

If you need more space for your vehicles and your property allows you the room to build a new legal parking spot or driveway, don't call -- and pay -- a professional. All it takes is a little planning, a bit of physical labor and a lot of gravel or rocks. With the right instructions, you can successfully complete the project yourself and be proud of your accomplishment for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Weather treated 1x3 lumber
• Heavy duty plastic tarp or lining
• Class 5 rock or gravel

Instructions

1. Decide how big the parking spot will be. Measure and mark the exact outline.

2. Dig out an even layer of dirt about 1 inch deep.

3. Dig a trench about 1 1/2 inches further down and 1 inch wide along all the edges of the space.

4. Lay 1-by-3s, standing upright, in the trenches. When placed, the 1-by-3s will be flush with the ground.

5. Lay out a tarp or plastic sheeting over the entire space. This will prevent the rock/gravel from sinking into the ground and the weeds from finding their way up into the parking spot.

6. Poke a hole in the tarp about every 3 to 4 feet to let water drain out.

7. Dump the rock or gravel on the space. Rock and gravel is different in different areas. Talk to your local vendor about what is available where you live. There are several online calculators that will tell you approximately how much material you need to fill a particular space. Or, you can calculate what you need yourself: at a 2-inch depth, 1 ton of material will cover approximately 90 sq.ft.; or length x width / coverage.

8. Spread the gravel to the 1-by-3s and level it out overall.

Tips & Warnings

• Due to settling and erosion, you may need to add some rock every few years.

References

• This Old House: How to Lay a Gravel Path