A gravel driveway is always a great addition to your home’s front yard. It easily lends charm to the space, not to mention that it is an affordable solution to having a personal stretch of road within the confines of your property.
However, one of the main issues of owning a gravel driveway is that the stones tend to get displaced when water flows over the surface. And if left unattended, the driveway develops potholes and loses its ability to properly drain the road, thereby causing deluge. In such case, it is a good idea to fix your gravel driveway through binding to help the loose stones stay in place. Below is a simple guide you can follow on how you can bind your gravel driveway the right way.
Remove clutter
Begin by decluttering your gravel driveway. Remove all organic materials on the surface, such as fallen leaves, tree branches, weeds and other vegetation. These things can get in the way of binding your driveway so make sure that no clutter is left lying on the area.
Check the drainage
Make sure that your driveway’s drainage system is working properly by removing any material that might be lodged inside the drainage ditch. If you find rivulets running through your driveway, this can be an indication that your drainage system is not directing runoff properly. To remedy the problem, change the slope of the driveway where water damage has displaced the stones and direct it towards the drainage ditch.
Address depressions
Gravel driveways are susceptible to developing low spots, especially on areas where overhanging branches of trees drip water. Find those depressions and dig potholes on them. Then, fill the holes with pea-sized gravel and make sure to compact them before proceeding to the next step.
Apply a layer of crusher run
Once you have filled the low spots on your gravel driveway, the next step is to apply 3 to 8 inches of a crusher run on the entire surface. A crusher run is a special type of aggregate made up of gravel of different sizes that help bind the driveway. After applying the aggregate, using a manual or powered compacter, run the machine over the driveway to compact the gravel and bind loose stones.
Seal it up
To provide an additional layer of protection to your gravel driveway, you may consider applying chip seal to the surface. A chip seal is a combination of hot tar and aggregate which when applied to the surface helps bind loose stones and makes the driveway more durable and longer lasting. However, take note that since the application of chip seal requires the use of a certain equipment, you may need to call in the pros to get this part done. It may cost you a little, but the addition of a chip seal is definitely worth the expense.
This article was brought to you by Ace Driveways, a company that provides a wide range of groundwork services that include block paving, patio and wall construction and turfing. They also carry out repairs and construction of driveways Scotland folks can contract to improve their home’s curb appeal.
