When it comes to designing and creating an impressive entrance, a gravel driveway is one of the most attractive and versatile options. Whatever the property type, this type of driveway adds a certain style, boosts kerb appeal and is practical.
The key to a gravel driveway that stands the test of time is correct installation, high-quality materials and the right maintenance. So exactly how do you create the perfect gravel driveway? Here is everything you need to know.
How to create your gravel driveway
There are a lot of options when it comes to creating your gravel driveway, so deciding on how you want it to look is the best place to start. You’ll need to decide on the size, shape, colour and any other design features before you make a start.
Choose your gravel
You’ll want to think about what colour gravel you want, to match or compliment your home, but you should also make sure your gravel is suitable for driveways, as not all types are.
You should avoid ordering your gravel until after you have measured your driveway to make sure you have enough to complete your project.
Mark out your driveway
It’s a good idea to mark where you want your driveway to go with chalk spray paint or pegs and string. You can then make sure you’re happy with the shape and size before you start digging.
Marking the lines of your driveway will also provide you with a line ready to dig the trench for your steel driveway edging.
Select your driveway edging
It’s highly recommended to use edging when creating a gravel driveway as it will delineate between the driveway and the rest of your garden. It will also help stop the movement of gravel onto your lawn or patio, which can make maintenance difficult.
Our driveway edging solutions create a clear and attractive line with no overlapping, unsightly connections or boltheads.
Our steel edging is also ideal for driveways as it’s strong enough to be driven over and can withstand garden machinery, making it easy to look after your lawn without having to worry about damaging your driveway edging.
You can choose from different thicknesses and heights to suit your needs:
- Legacy 3 – Our lightest edging is 3mm thick but is still incredibly strong. It’s ideal for creating more intricate lines and is available in a range of heights, with 100mm and 150mm being the most popular.
- Legacy 5 – This is our most popular steel edging and it’s ideal for creating gravel driveways. Made from solid UK steel, it’s 5mm thick so can easily handle the pressure of vehicles.
- Legacy 6 – The strongest available edging, Legacy 6 is 6mm thick so it’s perfect for high-traffic driveways and structural installations. It’s a market-leading, heavy-duty edging.
You also have a choice of different types of steel to create various looks:
- Mild steel – Allowed to naturally weather and rust to develop a patina within four to six months.
- Galvanised Steel – Fully rust-resistant.
- Corten Steel – Develops a protective rust layer over time.
- Stainless steel – Strong and versatile. Highly suited to small-scale projects.
Whichever option you choose, installation is simple, allowing you to create the perfect edge for your gravel driveway. We also offer an installation service, which is ideal for larger driveways and more complicated designs.
Dig out your driveway
Ideally, you should dig out between 50mm and 200mm. This will allow at least 150mm for the sub-base and 50mm for the gravel. You’ll also need to dig a trench to install your driveway edging.
The base of your driveway should be flat and compacted, so it can be a good idea to go over the area with a ground roller.
Lay the sub-base
Installing a sub-base layer for your driveway will improve drainage and ensure the ground can take the heavy load of vehicles. Once your driveway edging is installed, you can move on to this step.
Install weed preventative membrane
Adding a weed preventative membrane can ensure your driveway continues to look great and means you won’t need to keep digging up weeds. This will make maintaining your driveway much more manageable.
Add your gravel
The final step is to add your gravel. Simply shovel it over the weed membrane and rake to cover the ground evenly. Having spare gravel will allow you to add more over the following weeks as it shifts into place, ensuring you are left with at least 50mm of gravel.
Luckily, your driveway edging will keep the gravel on your driveway, so you won’t need to worry about losing stones or having to sweep them back onto your driveway!
How to maintain your gravel driveway
Once you have finished creating your driveway, you’ll want to make sure all the hard work pays off and that it continues to look great. While your driveway will be fairly easy to look after, it will need some maintenance over time.
Simple ways of maintaining your driveway include:
- Occasionally raking it to spread out the gravel and stop it compacting.
- Removing leaves, twigs and other debris.
- Remove any weeds that do get past the weed prevention membrane.
- Top up any low-gravel areas with spare gravel.
Luckily, our driveway edging is built to last and is low maintenance, so you can be sure that it will continue to look good and maintain the clean, crisp lines of your driveway for years to come.
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