Best Gravel For Driveway: Building Your Own

Now it’s time to start digging. Dig out the area that you have marked to be about a foot deep. This is very difficult to do with a shovel, so hiring a team to do it for you or renting machinery is ideal for driveways. 

There are many different types of rocks you can use for driveway rock. You can use large pavers, tiny pebbles, or gravel. Gravel is the most popular choice aside from paving the road with asphalt, which isn’t ideal.

What Can You Use For Gravel For Driveway?

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The first thing that you need to do is mark the area of the driveway. Set markers along the edge of the area leading to the parking area. You can even dig out a shallow line on each side to mark the area.

Gravel Vs. Paving

If your project is small, then looking at hardware stores is your best bet. But when it comes to driveways, you probably will need more than a few bags of gravel. So you need to make sure that they can supply you with enough.

Gravel Pros And Cons

River rocks are very versatile and gorgeous. Each rock is smooth, symmetrical, and attractive. They are even more versatile than pea gravel because they are larger and safer. They can be expensive, however.
Before buying, check prices. Sometimes, you will be surprised at the difference between hardware store gravel and supplier gravel. So make sure you know which one has the better buy for what you are looking for.

• Affordable – gravel is very affordable, especially certain types of gravel. Much more so than asphalt, which is basically always the same price. With gravel, you don’t simply pay for quality either. 
• Easy Maintenance – this type of driveway is easy to maintain. If there’s a problem, you just need more gravel to correct it. So no matter how old it is, repairs are super easy and usually only require one person.
• Easy-To-Install – gravel driveways are easy to install. All you really need is to dig a hole and fill it with gravel. The depth is up to you but we will go over all of the details later on about how to build a gravel driveway. 
• Highly-Customizable – because there are so many different types of gravel, building a gravel driveway is a fun experience. You can mix and match to create a unique driveway that no one else has.

Before buying, check prices. Sometimes, you will be surprised at the difference between hardware store gravel and supplier gravel. So make sure you know which one has the better buy for what you are looking for.

• Durable – asphalt driveways are much more durable than gravel driveways. They are one solid piece of material that will hardly break, having a lifespan of about 50-years when it comes to private driveways. 
• Modern – asphalt looks crisp, clean, and modern. So if this is your design style it is probably better for you than gravel driveways. 

Finally, add the top layer. This is the gravel that may be more expensive but is more attractive. This will be about four inches thick and will be flush with the top of the ground though underneath the border.

• Limited Customization – asphalt looks like asphalt. So if you want to let your creativeness show, this isn’t the best way to do that. Asphalt can be boring at times which is one reason people don’t choose it. 
• Difficult Maintenance – this is very difficult to maintain. Although asphalt driveways are durable, if they do need repairs, you won’t be able to do them easily alone. 
• Very Hot In Summer – asphalt gets very hot in the summer. So if you have dogs or kids running around, it can be dangerous for them to play around. Gravel is much easier to control and let breathe. 

Best Gravel Driveways DIY

Gravel driveways have a lot of pros and a few cons to them which we will go over later. But we all know that they are one of the most inviting, versatile, and attractive types of driveways that you can find. 
Another place to look is either in lawn and garden sections or lawn and garden stores. Lawn and garden stores will be able to get you truckloads of gravel but it may have a price hike due to them being a third party. 

Step 1: Mark Your Area

Decomposed granite is a natural derivative of granite. This is a crushed version of granite countertops and it works great for walkways and driveways. It is a little expensive but it can be used for a pretty top layer.

Step 2: Dig The Area Out

This is primarily about preference. The safest choices are pea gravel, base gravel #3, and river rock. Each of these has different benefits and different aesthetics. So take a look at each of them and compare.

Step 3: Lay Base Layer

For the driveway base, you can use a variety of gravel types. A gravel base is used under pavers. Crushed stone is the most popular type of gravel base to lay under pavers but anything similar will do well.

Optional: Add The Frame

Though there are certain gravels that are favored, almost any type of gravel will do. Each of them has its own pros and cons, allowing each family to personalize their own gravel driveway in their yard.

Step 4: Add Top Gravel

Pros:

Best Gravel Sizes For Driveways

Finding a driveway gravel store near you isn’t as overwhelming as it may seem. There are a few places to look for gravel and a few tips that can guide you along the way.
Gravel suppliers are ideal for large projects like a driveway. That’s because they can get you your gravel without charging you a fee from their supplier. So if you have one of these near you then it’s perfect. 

Decomposed Granite

Pea gravel is larger than decomposed granite and is one of the most popular types of landscaping rocks or driveway rocks. You can use it for any layer that you wish and even let the driveway continue to a patio.
Add a layer of landscaping fabric or two on the bottom. Then, add about 8-inches of landscaping rock. You can use any of the rocks mentioned above or a combination of them. Anything that offers good drainage. 

Pea Gravel

Because it is a great transition rock, it is often the only one that you need for your driveway or yard.
One of the single most popular ways to use pea gravel is in a driveway. Pea gravel can be compact and withstand a lot of pressure so it is ideal for driveways of all types. It is even one of the most common types of rock used for driveways.

River Rocks

If you are looking for a quick DIY on how to build your own gravel driveway, then look no further. Here is a complete and quick guide on how to build a gravel driveway the easiest and safest way possible. 
Hiring a professional can be ideal if you can afford it. Though you will pay nearly double the price you would to do it yourself, you can have it done right. They will also be buying all of the gravel for you.

Brick Chips

So that saves a lot of trouble there. If you have a busy life, hiring a professional can even save you money as you won’t have to take off work to do the work on the driveway yourself. So always consider it!
Here we have the pros and cons of a gravel driveway. 

Lava Rocks

Lava rocks are unique landscaping rocks that came from volcanic areas. They can regulate temperatures and deter weed growth. They are great for bottom layers too and can even keep the driveway at a good temperature. 

How To Find The Best Gravel For Driveways Near Me

The best gravel for driveway varies depending on what you’re looking for. A lot of driveways are made from dirt, a lot from asphalt, and a lot from gravel. Today, we’re going to be focusing on the gravel driveway. 

Hardware Stores

But there are other things to consider other than gravel sizes. For example, the type of gravel you use matters. 

Lawn And Garden

Some suppliers have minimum orders if they sell to individuals in the first place. So make sure you don’t need to buy more than you need in order to get what you do need or else you’ll be wasting money. 

Gravel Suppliers

Here are the pros and cons of asphalt driveways.

Compare Prices

This is difficult to determine, but there is a range. The best thing to do is look at the number on the bag of gravel. This is the size of the gravel. A good combo is something like 3, 4, 57, and 411 as this gives varying sizes. 

Check For Minimum Orders

Brick chips aren’t ideal for the entire driveway but can work well for the bottom layer. That’s because they are a natural weed barrier that can help deter weed growth in your driveway. So adding them first can be great.

Should I Hire A Professional To Choose The Best Gravel For Driveways?

Cons:
Though there are many options, pea gravel is a solid choice when your driveway is sloped. Layering different types of gravel can help and so can installing both drainage systems and a gravel grid to keep things in place.
It can be a good idea to add a frame or border with large rocks around the edge of the driveway. This is for looks and deters people from driving over the curb. However, it will prevent you from driving over it as well.