Many homeowners are switching to gravel to upgrade their patios, walkways, and driveways. It’s a great choice for its affordability, simple installation, and easy maintenance as the seasons change and the years progress.
If you’re trying to decide what gravel packs best for your driveway and walkways, consider limestone.
Limestone is affordable, durable, and great for areas that require a good deal of drainage due to its exceptional porosity. It also comes in a number of sizes and colors.
Once installed, it packs tightly, creating not only an attractive driveway but also a long-lasting one, as the hard rocks can withstand the weight of vehicles and all types of harsh weather.
Installing Gravel Surfaces
With proper care and maintenance, a properly packed gravel driveway can last several years! Unlike solid asphalt or concrete, gravel won’t crack or sink.
The Construction of a Gravel Driveway
A gravel driveway is typically built from 3 different layers: large crushed stone, slightly smaller crushed stone and very small gravel. All three of these stone materials are essential to the strength, integrity, and longevity of the driveway.
The larger stones sit at the base and create a solid foundation as well as promote drainage. A layer of slightly smaller crushed stone is added to reinforce the base stones and keep them in place. Finally, the small stone you see makes the driveway safe and comfortable to drive or walk upon.
The Base Layer
One of the most common types of crushed limestone is #2 limestone gravel. These angular rocks pack best and are able to form a solid and dependable foundation while providing adequate drainage.
Your middle layer might consist of a stone like #57 limestone which is typically about one inch in size. This crushed layer forms an ideal substrate that allows water to drain efficiently without carrying pieces of gravel with it. We recommend 57 limestone for locking in your driveway, limiting the amount of dust in flat areas. 57 limestone is useful for flat driveways and helps with drainage.
Dense grade limestone is a great option. This type of limestone is mixed with stone dust to create a tight, sturdy surface once compacted during installation. Although perhaps not as pretty as pure limestone, dense grade limestone acts as a great topcoat for sloped or hilly driveways.
Walkways
Choosing the right gravel for your walkways is important for drainage and safety. It’s also an opportunity to make some aesthetic decisions regarding color.
For walkways, we recommend using #8 limestone. This type of stone is beneficial for the layer that everyone sees and walks on.
Typically, walkways will consist of finer gravel made with small stones and rock dust. These two components settle together over time to form a tightly bonded surface.
Bray’s Gravel Calculator
Despite being used daily, you can expect your gravel driveway to last for many years! When searching for what gravel packs best, limestone is your go-to.
Bray makes it easy to scope your project and determine how much gravel you need for your property.
Explore our gravel calculator to learn more.
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Bray Topsoil & Gravel has been providing the Greater Cincinnati area with quality gravel delivery for 25+ years.
Interested in our services? Request a quote online or call 859-635-5680 today!
