How To Lay A Gravel Driveway: The Definitive Guide

When it comes to pepping up the exterior of your home, the driveway is likely to be your biggest job.

If you’re researching into getting the job done, and looking for information on how to lay a gravel driveway, it is important first to ensure that a gravel driveway is the right choice for you and your home. There’s lots of maintenance and considerations required – and it may be that resin binding your gravel is a better idea.

Whatever your plans for your exterior, the following article aims to guide you in your decisions, exploring gravel in greater detail, and offering an alternative choice to consider…

Gravel Driveway Issue #1: Loose Stones Flicking Up In The Air

Gravel driveways are made up of loose stones and pieces of aggregate that easily scatter around and as vehicles pass over them, flick up with the wheels.

This can frequently cause damage to windscreens and car bodywork, which is an extremely unwelcome feature: and awkward if it happens to a guest.

Avoid Loose Stones

Opting instead for resin bound gravel gives the look of a gravel driveway but without any loose pieces. Gravel, stone, marble and glass are all present, but coated entirely in a clear resin for a smooth finish.

Gravel Driveway Issue #2: Frequent Re-Surfacing Required

The loose stones on a gravel driveway do scatter and so frequent re-surfacing with new gravel is required.

This is an added financial consideration, as extra effort and time is required.

Bypass Driveway Maintenance

A resin bound driveway has no loose stones to scatter, and so requires no re-surfacing.

Resin bound driveways make life much easier, and last longer than standard driveway solutions. However, they should be installed by experts to ensure they remain in tip-top condition come rain or shine!

Gravel Driveway Issue #3: Drainage

Gravel driveways’ drainage capability depends on the surface below the gravel layer.

The stones can make it difficult to drain off water, and so it’s not uncommon to step out of a vehicle into a puddle, or for the stones to move with excess water.

Pick A Driveway With Natural Drainage

Resin bound driveways are porous and so liquid can drain straight through their surface into the ground beneath them.

In line with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) standards, resin bound driveways are eco-friendly, and allow for natural drainage, rather than re-routing water elsewhere with pipes or water courses.

Gravel Driveway Issue #4: Difficult To Clean

The nature of gravel driveways is that they’re extremely difficult to clean and weed without removing all of the loose stones and then replacing them.

This can make for things to begin to look unkempt in a short space of time, before you have a chance to fix things up.

Select A Smooth, Wipe-Clean Surface Instead

The smooth surface that a resin bound driveway gives is also wipe-clean; leaving you with a low-maintenance driveway that washes itself whenever it rains!

Resin Bound Driveways: Installed by Experts

Resin bound driveways make life much easier, and last longer than standard driveway solutions. However, they should be installed by experts to ensure they remain in tip-top condition come rain or shine.

Accredited by the British Board of Agrement (BBA), our team of talented installers are trusted tradespeople, experienced and qualified in installing resin bound driveways.

If you’d like to speak to an expert and seek advice on your options before you commit to a gravel driveway, call 0800 1700 636, or simply click the button below to book a free home survey today!