When it comes to our driveway, we want what is best for our car and for our feet when we walk across it. Gravel is one of our best-selling products, and there is a reason for that. Gravel makes a great material for your driveway for lots of different reasons. With a huge range of sizes and colours, let us guide you through why gravel might just be the best option for your driveway.
Benefit #1
Low Budget Option
Compared to other driveway options, such as resin, tarmac or paving, gravel is the cheapest. Our gravel bulk bags hold around 850kg (just under a tonne), and most driveways will not require more than one bulk bag, depending on the size.
We recommend using a 10 or 20mm gravel for driveways; anything smaller can get stuck in your tyres!
Benefit #2
Easy to Install
With our delivery service, you can choose to either purchase gravel in a bulk bag, which can be collected or delivered by us, or have it delivered as a loose tipped load. If you choose a loose tipped load, we can arrange to tip the gravel straight onto your driveway if it is ready. You will need to lay a sub-base layer such as scalpings or Type 1 limestone (40mm to dust) before the gravel is placed; this needs to be 150mm deep for a driveway. In total, a gravel driveway with the sub-base underneath should not take longer than a few hours to lay, depending on the size of your drive.
10mm gravel should be laid at a depth of at least 25mm, and 20mm gravel should be laid at least 40mm deep
Benefit #3
Low Maintenance
Gravel driveways require minimal upkeep. Generally, gravel will stay put as it is, but occasionally some potholes may appear. It is best to keep a small amount of leftover gravel so you can fill these holes as soon as you see them. Raking the stones is also helpful for working through any weeds or debris that need picking out. Fresh gravel might also need adding every year or two.
Benefit #4
Adds an Attractive Garden Feature
Whether you have a front garden or not, gravel makes a very attractive addition to the front of your house. With lots of different colours to choose from, it makes a more unique drive than plain black tarmac. The rain also brings out the lovely colours!
Benefit #5
Alerts You to Any Visitors
While we would like to think the only guests on our drives are harmless and friendly, sometimes that is not the case. When a car pulls up on a gravel drive, or someone walks across it, it makes a light crunching sound. This is nice for knowing when your invited guests have arrived, but it is also a good indicator of any uninvited ones. Thanks to the noise it makes, it is a really cheap deterrent for any passing opportunists!
Benefit #6
Environmentally Friendly
As gravel is a permeable material, and so are the scalpings or limestone used underneath, rainwater will drain evenly once it is laid. Other surfaces such as concrete or tarmac are not permeable, meaning you have to rely on nearby drains for any rainwater, which can cause problems if your driveway does not slope towards a drain or is completely flat. Gravel is better for the environment in this respect, as the water drains into the earth rather than into drains, which can flood during periods of heavy rain.
Cons...
Potholes may occur
If the driveway gets a lot of use, either by foot or by car, holes are more likely to appear, which will affect the smoothness and the appearance. By keeping extra gravel and topping up every 18 months or so, you reduce the risk of holes appearing.
It can get dirty
Gravel has a tendency to get dusty and capture dirt. This means that in the dry summer months, dust may start to appear on your car or the outside of your house, resulting in more frequent cleaning.
Have you been considering a gravel driveway? Feel free to give one of our friendly customer advisors a call on 01202 874207, or pop into your local depot to see the range in person!
