Gravel is an excellent driveway material option, with lower costs and a rustic look that appeals to many homeowners. However, the stones do tend to shift over time and may spread across the lawn or sidewalk. Here are a few creative solutions for keeping yours in place.

How to Keep Gravel Stones From Shifting

1. Use a Resin Bed

Setting gravel in resin preserves the rough-hewn charm of natural stone while adding some of the benefits of more permanent materials. This process involves spreading a layer of durable resin and pouring the gravel material on top. When the resin dries, any loose rock can be swept away, leaving only the stones that are sealed in place.

2. Use Plastic Paver Grids

Plastic paver grids resemble honeycombs with cavities separated by thin walls. While they’re designed to align paving stones, they can also be used to keep driveway gravel in place.

If you lay these grids down before spreading gravel, the stones will fill the cavities and hide the walls from view. This will keep the majority of the material from rolling downhill or being pushed over the side under the weight of your car.

3. Choose Your Gravel Carefully

Tumbled stones and river rocks may have a pleasant appearance, but those smooth edges make them more likely to roll downhill and scatter. Sharp edges help lock the stones in place, creating a more stable surface that can withstand rain and vehicle traffic.

When buying gravel for a driveway, choose stones between a quarter and three quarters of an inch wide in a mixture that contains some crushed rock. The sandy stones will create a bed that helps hold the other stones in place.

4. Add More Stones

Simply adding more stones to the driveway can help minimize spreading and settling. The weight of the stones will help push the gravel into place and keep it from washing away in the rain. Ideally, the top layer of gravel should be at least a quarter-inch deep, but adding more can reduce your maintenance costs and keep your driveway looking great.

For over 60 years, the professionals at Baldwin Land & Marine LLC have provided expert services and beautiful results to property owners throughout Foley, AL, and the surrounding communities. If you’re building a new driveway or need routine gravel maintenance, their team will deliver work that lasts. Call (251) 923-0697 to discuss your project and request an estimate.