How to Build a Gravel Driveway Without Excavation
Years ago, people built gravel driveways without first excavating the site. Then people learned that excavating to create a compacted site meant a firmer driveway with less chance of sinking and lower maintenance. Many people still build gravel driveways without excavating because of limited budgets.
![](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x200p/photos.demandstudios.com/49/78/fotolia_2853481_XS.jpg)
But instead of simply spreading gravel over the site, you can create a substantial driveway--without first excavating.
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Walk over the entire driveway site to look for soft areas prone to water pooling. Wait until after a rain and walk over the area to look for puddles and spongy ground. Fill those soft and low areas with landscape rock.
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Roll the tamper over the driveway site repeatedly until the ground ceases to compress when you walk on it.
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Stack cinder blocks on the driveway perimeter to hold in the gravel. Stagger the blocks and create two layers for each row of blocks, placing a row or wall on each side of the driveway. Dry stack the blocks or make more permanent walls by applying wet mortar to the blocks.
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Place a 3-inch layer of coarse gravel between the walls. Roll the tamper until the gravel stops giving under its weight. Apply a second 3-inch layer of coarse gravel and tamp the gravel down.
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Apply a 3-inch layer of medium-sized gravel and tamp it down. Place a second layer of this medium-sized gravel; tamp it down.
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Apply fine gravel to the remaining area until you fill the driveway to the total height of the cinder block walls. Apply the fine gravel in 3-inch layers and compact each layer before applying the next.
Things You Will Need
- Landscape rock
- Mechanical tamper
- Cinder blocks
- Mortar (optional)
- Trowel (optional)
- Coarse gravel
- Medium gravel
- Fine gravel
Tip
Gather the landscape rocks from around your property or purchase them. You may also place a cinder block wall at the front of the driveway, if you will not be driving off the driveway in that direction. Constant compaction between small layers produces a more solid and well-draining driveway.
References
Writer Bio
Penny Porter is a full-time professional writer and a contributor to "Kraze" magazine. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.
Photo Credits
- gravel image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
- gravel image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
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