Gravel is a cost-effective and attractive option for homeowners looking to update their driveway. Additionally, gravel driveways are low maintenance, frost-resistant, provide excellent drainage and come in a multitude of styles and colours.
Because of this, gravel is a timeless driveway material that will complement most properties, including new builds and established homes. Sound good? If you’re thinking of installing a gravel driveway and want to know the ins and outs of what’s involved, keep reading…
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to build a gravel driveway from the ground up – literally. From selecting stones to creating a subbase and laying the stones, here’s how to go about it.
What types of stones can be used as driveway gravel?
Before we dive into how to construct a gravel driveway, it’s worth touching on the most suitable stones to use. While paths and rockeries often utilise small, rounded, pebble-like gravel, these typically aren’t the best chippings for a gravel driveway.
Instead, opt for coarse driveway stones screened to around 20mm in size, with sharp or rounded edges depending on whether you want a smooth or textured finish. These gel together better to create a sturdy base for vehicles and won’t disperse or get stuck in your tyre treads as much. But don’t go any bigger, larger stones are impractical for gravel driveways.
You should also consider the type of stone that the gravel is made from. Harder materials like granite and flint are the most recommended gravel for driveways. Both are highly durable and stand up well to being driven and walked over regularly. Limestone gravel may also be used, as this is a softer stone it can wear down – especially when exposed to the elements – so may need topping up more frequently.
Finally, you’ll need to narrow down a style and colour to complement your home’s brick or stonework and any garden features. Black, white, and grey gravels offer a contemporary look, while buff, brown and rust tones are warmer and more rustic. Meanwhile, multi-tonal driveway stones add interest and disguise dirt well but are too busy for some. The choice is yours!
How to prepare a gravel driveway from scratch
Measuring & calculating the amount of gravel you need
The first step in building a gravel driveway is to work out the size of the area you’re working with. And then, how much gravel you’ll need to cover it. To do this, mark out your planned driveway with line marking paint, then measure the length and width of the space. Next, multiply the two figures together to get the area in square metres – e.g. 5m x 10m= 50m².
From there, you can either order multiple small bags or a large bulk bag as needed. For example, a full 850kg bulk bag of our Gold Flint gravel will cover around 10-12m² at a depth of 50mm. And a half jumbo bag will cover about 5-6m² at a depth of 50mm. Or you could use several 23kg small bags for a small driveway or path, which are currently 5 for the price of 4.
Browse all our driveway gravel options online for individual prices and coverage estimates.
Tip: order 10% more gravel than you think you’ll need to account for any uneven dips or irregularly shaped sections. Although a 50mm gravel depth is fine for regular traffic, it is worth increasing this to 70mm for high traffic or heavy vehicles. Any that you don’t use can be saved for refilling at a later date.
Digging out the driveway ready for construction
Once you’ve marked out the area for your new driveway, you’ll need to dig out the earth to accommodate it. This includes making space for the foundation and a layer of gravel on top.
Firstly, you’ll need to remove any existing gravel, slabs or turf from the surface. Then, provided you aren’t reusing an old subbase, you’ll need to dig 200mm (20cm) down to firmer soil which you’ll build the foundation on. With that in mind, we’d strongly suggest hiring a skip for the early stages. This will give you more room to work as you’ll be able to remove the debris as you go.
Depending on the size of your drive, you may be able to dig it out by hand. But given the labour involved, using a small excavator will speed up the process and make it much easier. Either way, be careful not to disturb any service pipes or cables while you’re digging. You can hire or buy a CAT scanner to check for them if you’re not sure where they’re located.
When the excess soil and old surface materials have been removed, compact the base well with a tamper or roller. This will ensure the ground is even and stable, ready for the subbase.
Install membrane and edging stones (if needed)
At this point, you should cover the soil with a hardwearing weed control membrane. This will separate the soil from the aggregate subbase and help to stabilise your drive’s foundation*.
Then you can move onto installing edging or kerb stones to secure it and contain the gravel. Apply a thick layer of mortar around the edges, embed the stones and leave to dry fully before installing the subbase. (If your drive has walls on each side, you don’t need to do this. However, it’s especially important to add edging if the gravel leads onto a lawn as it can easily spill over and damage your lawn mower).
*NB: Many people place weed membrane on top of the subbase to keep their gravel cleaner and reduce the number of weeds taking root from above. This works fine for garden paths, but for drives and high traffic areas, it’s best to position it under the MOT as a ground stabiliser. Also, if placed on the membrane, the gravel is more likely to slide around when driven over.
Prepping the subbase for your gravel driveway
To make sure your drive can withstand the weight of vehicles and won’t subside over time, it needs a robust foundation. Also known as the subbase, this is built using compacted hardcore – specifically MOT Type 1. Made from crushed limestone, MOT Type 1 subbases are sturdy yet porous, allowing rainwater to run through the gravel and soak away. And since all new driveways over 5m² must be permeable, this clever design also meets building regulations.
A 850kg bulk bag of MOT Type 1 will cover approximately 8-10m² at a depth of 50mm. Start by applying a 75mm layer of the hardcore across the entire surface, then compact with a wacker plate. This will crush any larger pieces and help the stones to knit together. Repeat the compacting step several times to ensure there is no loose hardcore left that could shift.
When you’re happy the initial layer is stable, apply a second layer of MOT Type 1 to raise the subbase to a height of 150mm. Compact well again, then check that the subbase is flat using a spirit level. Fill in any dips with a little more hardcore and use the wacker plate to even out.
Laying the decorative gravel to complete your drive
Once all the preparation has been completed, laying the gravel is the easy part! Provided your driveway is flat, simply pour or shovel your gravel (depending on the size of the bag) directly onto the subbase. Work in stages, starting from corner to corner, raking the gravel as you go to make sure it is even and there are no large gaps.
Repeat this step, adding layers until you achieve a depth of around 5cm (50mm). This should fill the remaining space between the subbase and surface. When you’re done, hose down the gravel gently to remove any dust and enhance the colour of your chosen driveway stones.
Tip: a top gravel layer of 5-6cm is recommended for regular vehicles, this can be increased slightly to 7cm for heavy vehicles, any deeper and tyres may cause ruts to appear in the gravel.
Do I need to use plastic grids on my gravel driveway?
If you’re wondering how to build a gravel driveway on a slope, then plastic gravel drive grids like the TDP Porous Pave System are key. Made from durable, shockproof plastic (100% recycled), these interlocking grids help to prevent the gravel migrating, resulting in a neater finish. Their hollow design also allows water to drain away as you’d expect from a permeable gravel driveway.
In addition, gravel drive grids help to stabilise gravel surfaces and can be used on flat driveways too. In fact, they’re particularly useful if you’re going to be parking heavy vehicles on them. Porous Pave even has an HGV load bearing capability! By distributing the weight more evenly, you can reduce rutting and the need for frequent raking and refilling.
To install, rake a single layer of gravel onto the subbase to start. Then place your plastic grids for driveways system on top, working in rows and connecting each section to the next using the lugs and slots. As they are designed to cover exact metres square, you may need to cut the grids down to get an exact fit against the kerb stones at the edges. But try not to avoid reducing them by more than 50% their original size as this may reduce their strength.
Once the driveway is covered, fill the grids in with gravel working from one side to the other. You may find it easier to sweep it in with a stiff garden brush or rake. (The weight of the gravel will hold the grid system in place, along with your edging stones, so you don’t need to secure it to the subbase). When all of the grids are full, even out the top layer with the rake and check the grids are no longer visible. Then rinse lightly with a hose as above.
How to clean and maintain a gravel driveway
While gravel driveways are relatively low maintenance, there are things you can do to keep yours looking it best. Firstly, you’ll want to remove debris from your gravel every 1-2 weeks and more in autumn when leaves and twigs are falling. Debris and seeds can also blow in amongst the stones in the wind and get trapped, encouraging weeds to grow.
To prevent this and keep your driveway tidy, use a spring tine leaf rake to collect anything that shouldn’t be there. This will also help to uproot any weeds so that you don’t have to pull them out by hand. Yet it shouldn’t displace the gravel too much. For dry leaves, you could use a leaf blower instead, but make sure it’s on a low setting or you will scatter the gravel out of position. You can then rinse it down with the hose to remove any leftover dust or dirt residue.
If ruts appear, for instance from parking in the same spot, use a sturdier rake to spread it out evenly. You’ll have to rake your gravel every so often anyway to keep it neat as it gets trodden in. But if the holes are particularly deep, you may need to dip into your spare stash of gravel and refill them. However, you should only need to add more gravel every couple of years.
Tip: Struggling with weeds but don’t want to apply weed killer all over your driveway? Try sprinkling rock salt – a great natural weed killer – over the weeds instead. This should kill them in a matter of days and will slowly soak into the subbase to help prevent them growing back.
Construct a gravel driveway with the help of AWBS
Whether you’re looking for decorative gravel, kerb stones or construction aggregate, AWBS can help. We stock everything you need to build a gravel driveway from scratch. And better yet, our prices are very competitive as we operate our own gravel and aggregates bagging plant. As such, we are able to supply small bags to bulk bags and even half bulk bags of driveway gravel as required.
On top of that, local residents living within 25 miles of our branches in Oxford, Yarnton and Swindon can benefit from our free and fast delivery service. There is no minimum order value and you can order online from home or visit us in store. Check your household’s eligibility now.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Gravel driveways are a popular choice for homeowners due to their cost-effectiveness, attractiveness, low maintenance, frost resistance, excellent drainage, and variety of styles and colors. They are a timeless option that can complement both new builds and established homes. When building a gravel driveway, it is important to choose the right type of stones, prepare the area properly, and follow the necessary steps for construction and maintenance.
Types of Stones for Gravel Driveways
When selecting stones for a gravel driveway, it is recommended to choose coarse driveway stones that are screened to around 20mm in size. These stones should have sharp or rounded edges, depending on the desired finish. It is important to avoid using larger stones, as they can be impractical for gravel driveways. The most recommended types of stones for driveways are harder materials like granite and flint, as they are highly durable. Limestone gravel can also be used, but it may wear down more quickly, especially when exposed to the elements. Additionally, homeowners should consider the style and color of the gravel to complement their property's brick or stonework and any existing garden features. Gravels in black, white, and grey offer a contemporary look, while buff, brown, and rust tones provide a warmer and more rustic appearance. Multi-tonal driveway stones can add interest and help disguise dirt, but they may be too busy for some homeowners [[1]].
Preparation of a Gravel Driveway
To build a gravel driveway, several steps need to be followed. The first step is to measure the area and calculate the amount of gravel needed. This can be done by marking out the planned driveway, measuring its length and width, and multiplying the two figures together to get the area in square meters. It is recommended to order 10% more gravel than initially estimated to account for any uneven dips or irregularly shaped sections. After measuring, the existing gravel, slabs, or turf should be removed from the surface. If an old subbase is not being reused, the earth should be dug out to a depth of 200mm (20cm) to create space for the foundation and a layer of gravel on top. It is important to be cautious and avoid disturbing any service pipes or cables during the digging process. Once the excess soil and old surface materials have been removed, the base should be compacted well with a tamper or roller to ensure it is even and stable for the subbase [[1]].
Installation of Membrane and Edging Stones
After digging out the driveway, a hardwearing weed control membrane should be placed on the soil. This membrane separates the soil from the aggregate subbase and helps stabilize the foundation of the driveway. Edging or kerb stones can also be installed to secure the driveway and contain the gravel. Mortar should be applied around the edges to embed the stones, and they should be left to dry fully before installing the subbase. It is worth noting that while some people place the weed membrane on top of the subbase to keep the gravel cleaner, it is best to position it under the MOT (Ministry of Transport) Type 1 subbase as a ground stabilizer, especially for driveways with high traffic or heavy vehicles. Placing the membrane on top of the subbase may cause the gravel to slide around when driven over [[1]].
Preparing the Subbase
To ensure the driveway can withstand the weight of vehicles and won't subside over time, a robust foundation or subbase is necessary. The subbase is built using compacted hardcore, specifically MOT Type 1. MOT Type 1 subbases are made from crushed limestone and are both sturdy and porous, allowing rainwater to run through the gravel and soak away. This design also meets building regulations, as all new driveways over 5m² must be permeable. A 850kg bulk bag of MOT Type 1 can cover approximately 8-10m² at a depth of 50mm. The subbase should be built by applying a 75mm layer of hardcore across the entire surface and compacting it with a wacker plate. This step should be repeated several times to ensure there is no loose hardcore left that could shift. Afterward, a second layer of MOT Type 1 should be applied to raise the subbase to a height of 150mm. The subbase should be compacted well again, and any dips should be filled with additional hardcore. A spirit level can be used to check that the subbase is flat, and any uneven areas can be filled in with more hardcore and leveled using the wacker plate [[1]].
Laying the Decorative Gravel
Once all the preparation work has been completed, laying the decorative gravel is the final step. If the driveway is flat, the gravel can be poured or shoveled directly onto the subbase. It is recommended to work in stages, starting from one corner and raking the gravel as you go to ensure an even distribution and no large gaps. Layers of gravel should be added until a depth of around 5cm (50mm) is achieved, filling the remaining space between the subbase and surface. Afterward, the gravel should be gently hosed down to remove any dust and enhance the color of the chosen driveway stones. It is worth noting that a top gravel layer of 5-6cm is recommended for regular vehicles, and this can be increased slightly to 7cm for heavy vehicles. Going deeper than this may cause ruts to appear in the gravel when driven over [[1]].
Using Plastic Grids on a Gravel Driveway
If building a gravel driveway on a slope or if heavy vehicles will be parked on it, plastic gravel drive grids can be used. These interlocking grids, such as the TDP Porous Pave System, are made from durable, shockproof plastic and help prevent the gravel from migrating, resulting in a neater finish. The hollow design of the grids allows water to drain away, making them suitable for permeable gravel driveways. The grids also help stabilize the gravel surface and reduce rutting. To install the grids, a single layer of gravel should be raked onto the subbase, and then the grids should be placed on top, working in rows and connecting each section to the next using the lugs and slots. The grids may need to be cut to fit against the edging stones at the edges. Once the grids are in place, the remaining space should be filled with gravel, and the top layer should be evened out with a rake. The grids will be held in place by the weight of the gravel and the edging stones, so there is no need to secure them to the subbase [[1]].
Cleaning and Maintaining a Gravel Driveway
While gravel driveways are relatively low maintenance, regular cleaning and maintenance can help keep them looking their best. Debris should be removed from the gravel every 1-2 weeks, especially during autumn when leaves and twigs are falling. A spring tine leaf rake can be used to collect debris and uproot any weeds that may have started growing. Dry leaves can be removed with a leaf blower on a low setting. Rinsing the driveway with a hose can help remove any leftover dust or dirt residue. If ruts appear from parking in the same spot, a sturdier rake can be used to spread the gravel evenly. Occasionally, deeper holes may need to be refilled with additional gravel. It is worth noting that sprinkling rock salt over weeds can help kill them without applying weed killer all over the driveway. Rock salt can slowly soak into the subbase and help prevent weed regrowth [[1]].
In conclusion, gravel driveways are a cost-effective and attractive option for homeowners. When building a gravel driveway, it is important to choose the right type of stones, prepare the area properly, and follow the necessary steps for construction and maintenance. By following these guidelines, homeowners can create a durable and visually appealing gravel driveway for their property.
