Gravel driveway benefits and considerations of using gravel for your driveway.
Driveway gravel has been around for a very long time. It has a few advantages, but there are also considerations to consider. For a long time, driveways made of asphalt and concrete have been considered better aesthetics; however, this is no longer the case.
The gravel driveway is enjoying a significant renaissance as a result of the efforts of businesses in Grove City, such as the Dunn Excavation.
Below are a few advantages and things to remember when choosing to use gravel for your driveway if you are a homeowner considering installing a new one.
Advantages of Having a Gravel Driveway
People frequently pave their driveways with gravel rather than concrete, asphalt, or non-porous pavers. Although price is frequently the primary motivator, selecting this option has several other advantages.
Gravel driveways can be installed rapidly and without much difficulty, and they require little maintenance. A stunning and unique piece of landscaping can also be crafted through the utilization of aggregates.
Because there is an almost infinite variety of colors and materials to choose from, a one-of-a-kind driveway can be designed to enhance the visual appeal of a house.
Gravel driveways offer several advantages, one of the most notable being their porosity, which makes them resistant to problems caused by intense precipitation. The water around a house with a surface made more porous can drain more quickly and recharge the groundwater supply, both of which are environmentally beneficial.
In contrast to concrete or asphalt driveways, which can buckle during periods of extreme cold and the subsequent thaw, gravel is largely unaffected by the freezing and thawing that occurs during the winter.
But the experts at Dunn Excavation will help you install a stunning new gravel driveway! Dunn Excavation can help you with your mud problem no matter how long or short your driveway is!
Dunn Excavation wants to make it easy for you to perform your duties as an excavation contractor in Grove City!
The Difficulties Associated with Gravel Driveways
Even though having a gravel driveway has several advantages, there is still the possibility of problems with it. The weight of the snow and rain can push the gravel around and cause it to sink, leading to ruts and potholes.
The driveway may require regular maintenance and top dressing. If the roadway does not have a porous paving system, snow removal, and ice removal can also be challenging.
Because the surface is unstable, the homeowner may also be concerned about the types of traffic that it can safely support. It is another concern that a homeowner may have.
It’s possible that larger vehicles, like emergency or utility vehicles, could cause rutting in the drive. In comparison, wheels on smaller vehicles, like bicycles and wheelchairs, might not roll over the surface.
Driveway gravel is made up of many different-sized stones and pebbles. Clearing snow by hand or with a snow blower is significantly more challenging.
Because rotating tires tend to create ruts in gravel surfaces, it is also much simpler for a vehicle to become bogged down in a gravel driveway when the weather is wet and muddy or snowy.
For proper installation, Dunn Excavation is one phone call away to help you have proper driveway gravel that you can use for a long time.
Dunn Excavation wants to make it easy for you to perform your duties as an excavation contractor in Grove City!
Improving the Driveway Gravel
An alternate option is to utilize porous pavers made of flexible plastic instead of simply spreading gravel over the existing soil. Traditional hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt can be replaced with porous pavers designed to allow organic material such as aggregate or grass to be used in its place.
When installed on top of a base course, these flexible porous pavers stabilize the surface, absorb the weight, and provide H-20 loading capacity. The gravel is held in place, and the surface is smooth due to the structure’s support.
Even the weight of large vehicles can be easily supported by gravel, which is ideal for use with smaller wheels. They also contribute to an increase in the flow rate and make it possible for water to move through the gravel quicker.
A gravel driveway can last up to a century if properly cared for and maintained. It is because very few things can go wrong when working with gravel. In contrast to a driveway made of solid asphalt or concrete, this one will not crack or sink over time.
A residential gravel driveway can survive for nearly a century if properly cared for and maintained. While concrete and asphalt are known for being tough, durable, and long-lasting, you may also be surprised to learn that gravel driveways can last for this length of time.
The Construction of Driveway gravel
Before installing a gravel driveway, you should know how much stone material you’ll need. Crushed stone will need to be used as the base layer in addition to gravel to provide additional support and encourage healthy drainage.
To calculate the amount of crushed stone and gravel needed for a driveway in the shape of a rectangle, you will need to multiply the length of the driveway by its width by its depth. It will give you the number of cubic yards of material needed.
In most cases, you’ll want to use three distinct layers with a combined depth of three to four inches. Driveway gravel is constructed with larger crushed stone, the crushed stone that is slightly smaller than the larger stone, and very small gravel.
The driveway’s durability, stability, and longevity directly correlate to using all three stone materials. The larger stones are placed at the bottom, establishing a firm foundation.
A slightly smaller crushed stone is added to the base stones to fortify them and ensure they remain in their proper position.
At this point, you can see the smaller stone placed in the driveway to make it secure and comfortable for walking and driving. Before these stones can be put into the driveway, the area must be cleared of debris and compacted first.
Compacting the excavated driveway trench’s bottom and edges is essential to help prevent shifting, sinking, and settling over the years.
Before adding the first layer of crushed stone to the driveway, the trench should have a layer of landscaping fabric applied to it after it has been compacted and before adding the first layer of crushed stone.
Professionals at Dunn Excavation help you install a stunning new gravel driveway! They can help you with your mud problem no matter how long or short your driveway is!
Dunn Excavation wants to make it easy for you to perform your duties as an excavation contractor in Grove City!
Another important factor to consider is drainage.
The presence of moisture is one of the most common issues faced by driveway surfacing materials like asphalt and concrete. However, the fill materials of a gravel driveway can allow water to naturally filter gradually through the porous surface, preventing any potential problems. It is one way in which a gravel driveway can be beneficial.
If you have a gravel driveway and notice water pooling on it for any reason, you may need to install a drainage system.
Upkeep Requirements for a Driveway Gravel
Over many years, establishing a routine for frequently raking gravel in your driveway is one of the simplest ways to improve its appearance and functionality.
You should get rid of sticks, leaves, grass, and any other debris so that the quality and consistency of the surface of your driveway are not compromised. A more even distribution of gravel, which will help drainage function more effectively, is another benefit of raking.
If your driveway gets a lot of use and you notice it has developed small or large potholes. As a result, it is smart to keep a fresh supply of gravel on hand to fill in low spots and apply a new layer of gravel measuring one inch thick to the driveway’s surface each year.
Before Dunn Excavation starts spreading gravel on your driveway, they will ensure that it has the appropriate grade and leveling, as we are excavation contractors.
Dunn Excavation will ensure that your mornings are as calm and peaceful as your brand-new gravel driveway will be once it has been finished.
CONCLUSION
Driveway gravel made by Dunn Excavation should be installed properly and maintained so that it can withstand all forms of vehicle traffic. If done so, the driveway should last up to more years without cracking or deteriorating due to the sun, rain, or any other type of weather, unlike asphalt, which does so.
Selecting the most suitable gravel for driveway surfaces is only one part of the equation. Contact the paving experts at Dunn Excavation as soon as possible if you want to construct your gravel driveway in a way that only requires minimum maintenance.
You need not look further than Dunn Excavation in Grove City to enhance or maintain your gravel driveway.
In addition, Dunn Excavation offers professional services such as site clearing, the installation of water lines, the construction of stock ponds, demolition, tank clean-outs, and gravel pad construction. Whatever it is that you might need assistance with, we will be here to provide it.
If there are any of these services that you require, please get in touch with us as soon as you can! (614) 665-8090. Request a Free Estimate
Dunn Excavation crew of experts delivers first-rate excavation services to clients in Grove City, Groveport, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, West Jefferson, Hillard, and the surrounding communities.
Dunn Excavation strives to improve the quality of life for every customer through our offered services. So, call now and avail the free estimate.
If you require any of these services, please contact us as soon as possible!