There are many benefits to having a gravel driveway. It looks smart. It’s cost-effective. And gravel driveways are both durable and easy to maintain. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t need any maintenance at all. Like anything else in your home, if you want your gravel driveway to stay looking good for many years to come, you have to prepare it well and look after it.
Tips for Maintaining the Perfect Gravel Driveway
Lay the right foundations
The first step to simple gravel driveway maintenance is to get things right when you install the driveway. This means preparing the ground, clearing weeds, and laying substrate. If you then use a gravel retention system, such as gravelrings, you can help to reduce gravel movement and prevent loss.
Take steps to improve drainage
One of the primary benefits of using gravel for your driveway is that its porous. But if you use the wrong substrate or gravel retention system, you can be left with pooling water. And no one wants to step in a puddle when they get out of their car. If this is happening to you, you can add drainage runnels to your driveway. Redirect your downpipes, to ensure that any water coming off the house is not feeding on to your driveway. Add plants along the driveway, to help absorb excessive moisture. And ensure that the surface of your drive way is smooth, so there are no ditches for water to gather in.
Stay on top of weeding
While a well-laid gravel driveway will have a weed prevention barrier within the foundation layers, you can’t stop seeds landing from above. By pulling up weeds as soon as you see them, you can ensure that they won’t go to seed and create further problems.
Fill in any gaps
Even when you use a gravel grid system, your driveway can thin out over time. By filling in gaps and raking your driveway over, you can help to keep it looking its best for years to come.
Give it a clean
All sorts of debris will land on your driveway over time. So, cleaning it makes sense. Use a rake to gather up any leaves that have fallen on to the gravel. Then gently rinse the surface to dislodge any moss or grime. You can use a hose or a pressure washer to do this. Either way, remember to keep the pressure low to avoid scattering the gravel. If you have any stains that you wish to remove, a gentle detergent should do the job.
A well laid and maintained gravel driveway can last for decades. It’s not only hugely functional, but looks good, and can add value to your home. But if neglected, a gravel driveway can soon look shabby. So, it’s worth taking the time to do a little light maintenance when the need arises.
Find out more about gravelrings for driveways from Beauxfort.
