A gravel driveway is a viable alternative to concrete or asphalt driveways in many areas, generally where only light use of the driveway is commonplace. Gravel is inexpensive and quick to lay, creating a stable surface for vehicles to use. While there are specific tools for grading your gravel driveway, whether you're installing a new driveway or repairing one that's seen enough use to disturb the surface, you'll eventually find yourself raking the gravel in your driveway into place. Rake to fill potholes after a storm, to correct damage from heavy use or just as general maintenance. No matter the reason, the process remains basically the same.

  • A gravel driveway is a viable alternative to concrete or asphalt driveways in many areas, generally where only light use of the driveway is commonplace.
  • While there are specific tools for grading your gravel driveway, whether you're installing a new driveway or repairing one that's seen enough use to disturb the surface, you'll eventually find yourself raking the gravel in your driveway into place.

Smooth out the surface of the driveway by raking any piles of gravel even with the surrounding driveway surface. Rake only a small layer of gravel at a time to avoid creating furrows in the driveway surface or raking through into the driveway bed below.

Fill any potholes in the driveway with replacement gravel. Pour the gravel into the driveway, slightly overfilling the hole. Use the rake to spread the overflow to the sides, levelling the filled pothole with the rest of the driveway.

Tamp down the gravel on the driveway using any large, flat, heavy object. Place the object down on the surface of the gravel and press firmly, compressing the gravel to remove any air voids beneath the surface.

Maintain the slope of the driveway away from any structures when raking the surface. You'll want the surface to slope away from the centre of the driveway and down toward the driveway base. Add replacement gravel if necessary, and drag the gravel with the rake so the centre of the driveway is slightly higher than the driveway edges along its length. This aids in draining water away from structures.

  • Fill any potholes in the driveway with replacement gravel.
  • Add replacement gravel if necessary, and drag the gravel with the rake so the centre of the driveway is slightly higher than the driveway edges along its length.