How to Stabilize Driveway Gravel

New Home.
  • 8-12 hours
  • Beginner
  • 50-350
What You'll Need
Gravel
Dirt
Box scraper
What You'll Need
Gravel
Dirt
Box scraper

Stabilizing driveway gravel is not only important in smoothing out your driveway to make it safer for cars to pass through, but it will give your driveway a better appearance as well. This project does not require a lot of materials and it is easy to do. Once you are done, quarterly check-ups should be done to maintain the driveway gravel.

Step 1 – Check the Gravel

Examine your driveway to see how much gravel or loose dirt you actually have. By doing this, you will know how much gravel you really will need to buy. The less gravel you already have on the driveway, the less gravel you will need to purchase and this will save you from spending more money.

Step 2 – Buy the Gravel

When you go to the store, be sure to purchase the gravel that is right for you. Explain to the salesperson that the gravel will be spread on the driveway. One option is the road gravel, which is a mixture of crushed limestone and sized aggregate. Another option is the sized gravel, which comes in various sizes to give the driveway different feels. If you decide on gravel that is no more than 1 inch, this will give you a smoother surface to drive on. The larger sized gravel which is about 1.5 inches is the ideal choice to slow down traffic.

Step 3 – When to Apply the Gravel

You’ll have to watch the local weather forecast because applying the gravel depends on the weather condition. If the driveway already has loose gravel or soft dirt, then you can go ahead and apply, otherwise, you have to wait for it to be extremely wet, which would be after a rainstorm.

Step 4 – Mix Dirt and Not Rocks

Mixing some dirt with the gravel helps stabilize the surface and reduce maintenance. If there are any large rocks, you can remove them or add enough gravel to cover them. It is best to remove them, so you don’t have to guess if you have covered them enough and you don’t have to spend more money buying gravel from the store.

Step 5 – Put the Box Scraper in the Up Position

The box scraper is very effective at maintaining the driveway. It is best to put the tines in the up position and scrape the surface with the blade on the bottom. Do not use the box scraper with the tines in the down position as this will wear it down and will not be effective in breaking up the surface.

Step 6 – Use the Box Scraper

Just go up and down your driveway with the box scraper until the entire surface has been scraped. The scraper picks up gravel and dirt until the box is full, and then the material is evenly redeposited on the driveway.

Step 7 – Maintenance

Check your driveway every 3 or 4 months and maintain as needed.