Big, angular gravel works best next to driveways
Q: My new blacktop driveway is already falling apart. A heavy rain washed away the gravel on the edge, and now the gravel under the blacktop is eroding. What is the best repair I can do so it never happens again? I’m handy and not afraid to work. — Sally C., Hartselle, Alabama
A: I’m sorry your new driveway is not holding up. The good news is you can restore it — and make it better.
Your contractor installed the wrong size gravel along the edge of your driveway. Moreover, the gravel must be the correct shape. Large pieces of angular stone require lots of energy or force to move them. In contrast, small pieces of round stone, similar to ball bearings, can be moved with a tiny amount of force.
The gravel on the edge of my own steep driveway used to erode with each moderate rainstorm. I replaced the small ¾ -inch pieces of gravel with 3-inch stones. All of a sudden my problem disappeared.
At the present, my town’s roads suffer from the same problem. The road crews install small angular stones in the road shoulder. The gravel is eroded by the force of the car and truck tires on righthand curves. In the long run, this erosion can be stopped by installing the same 3-inch interlocking angular rock I used on my driveway. Much more force is needed to dislodge these.
Without delay you need to install the larger pieces of stone. Install the stone a minimum of 6 inches deep by 12 inches wide. Small angular pieces of crushed stone can be used to fill the gaps between the larger stones.
Angular stone is available at local gravel pits. This stone is used beneath new roads built near your home. The gravel pit will deliver the stone to your home. You’ll need to calculate how many cubic yards you’ll need.
By all means, make sure the large stone is about 1 inch below the top surface of your driveway. Lawn mowers, snow plows and string trimmers must not be able to kick up the stones.
All things considered, I believe you’ll love the look of the large stones next to your driveway. Install about 5 or 10 feet of them, and then stand back 30 feet to look at your work. Colorful angular stones can be used to create an accent to your drive. Do your best to look at all the types of angular stone at the gravel pit and select one that you like.