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Maintaining a Gravel Driveway
How to Maintain a Gravel Driveway so that it
Lasts for Decades
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Maintaining a gravel driveway is necessary to prevent it from slowly
crumbling apart. Water runoff and frequent automobile use slowly cause potholes
to form, and the edges to where down. In addition, if you live in a rocky, cold
climate area, large stones hidden under the gravel driveway often work their way
to the surface of the gravel driveway due to frost heaves.
Gravel driveway maintenance can be performed by a homeowner, however some rental
equipment is usually involved.
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A small bobcat is necessary for spreading new gravel and crowning the gravel
driveway, and a mechanical roller is needed for compacting the gravel.
My summer home is located on Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire. We
access the home via effectively a long gravel driveway. Once every year or so
the residents who live off of this “road” / long gravel driveway put some money
into it to keep it in good working order.
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Typically one of the residents who utilize the long gravel driveway will
obtain a few contractor bids and communicate to everyone on the “road” their
per-share-cost for maintaining the gravel driveway.
Key Gravel Driveway Maintenance Tips
Maintaining a gravel driveway typically involves bringing in new gravel
material and re-grading and re-crowning the gravel driveway. In addition,
ditches adjacent to the gravel driveway are cleaned out and reshaped. At the
curves in the road or gravel driveway, the ditches are filled with large
softball size stones to help control water flow rates.
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Also, any culverts that are either damaged or heaving are either replaced or
reseated. Finally, a mechanical roller is used to compact and lock in the gravel.
Building a Gravel Driveway
If you are considering building a gravel driveway keep in mind a few key
points.
First, the soil under the gravel driveway has to be well drained. All organic
material such as topsoil, leaves and sticks should be removed.
Second, install a geotextile fiber fabric over the subsoil to prevent silt from
the subsoil working its way upwards into the gravel driveway. The silt can cause
the gravel driveway to quickly crumble.
Third, install large stones for the base layer of the gravel driveway. The
stones should be the size of a softball and should be angular in shape. Do not
use smooth river rock stone as they will not lock together well.
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Fourth, add another 4-6 inches of smaller stone over the base layer of stones.
These stones should be approximately the size of golf balls. Again, use angular
stones.
Fifth, for the final layer of your gravel driveway apply 4 to 6 inches of ¾”
size stone with stone dust mixed in.
After spreading the final layer of gravel, make sure to crown the road so that
the center of the gravel driveway is slightly higher than the edges. This will
enable water to run off the gravel driveway.
Finally, use a mechanical roller to lock the gravel into place.
By following these techniques for maintaining a gravel driveway and building a
gravel driveway, you should have a driveway that last for decades.
For help on Asphalt Driveway Paving, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid sheet. The
Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid Sheet will help
ensure that your hire the right contractor so that your driveway is paved
correctly and you get the finished driveway you are looking for.
How to Finance your Driveway or
Paving Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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