Gravel Driveway Maintenance

Donald Cameron lives across the pond in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. He's got an interesting question about periodic gravel driveway maintenance.

"Hi Tim,

I have a gravel driveway, shared with my immediate neighbour. We have typical traffic - two 4x4s, two saloons, LPG delivery lorry 8 times a year etc.

The service piping for LPG gas, septic tank, and water, all run under the narrowest part of the driveway between our houses. The gravel has been topped-up several times over the twelve years it has been in place ( - professionally laid when our properties were built).

My concern is that if we keep topping up the gravel - something below will eventually give way!  ie.  the service pipes. The adage about putting a quart into a pint-pot is appropriate!

Am I being paranoid or sensible? What is the best way to renovate the drive? Yet more gravel, or excavate, (wash?) and replace?

Thanks in anticipation."

Here's Donald's gravel drive. You can see one of the problems with the bare spots. Photo credit: Donald Cameron

Here's my answer:

Donald, I've got a gravel road very similar to yours. It goes up a hill about one kilometer.

From what I can tell in the photo you sent me it appears that the stone is somewhat large and there's not a gradual blend of large crushed rock down to rock dust.

In my opinion, that type of gravel makes the best gravel drive. The different angular pieces of gravel interlock with one another making for a solid surface.

You must have some fines in your gravel because that's what you see in the photo where the gravel appears smooth. Routine driving on a gravel drive that has fines it it will cause flat smooth spots that need to be raked.

Topping off the gravel is not going to cause problems with the buried utilities unless you added five or ten feet. That's not likely.

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CLICK HERE to see a larger image of a york rake.

We rake our gravel roads and driveways over here with an attachment called a opens in a new windowyork rake. It brings back up to the surface some of the larger pieces of gravel and eliminates the smooth spots you see in your driveway.

Visit a local gravel pit and see if they don't sell a blend of gravel that is crushed. It should have an even assortment of sizes ranging from walnuts down to the size of a lentil or smaller. The next time you top the driveway put on 50 mm of this stone. You'll love it.