How to Stabilize a Steep Gravel Driveway (2024)

Having a sloped driveway can be a big challenge, especially if you want yours to be made of gravel. A gravel driveway on a slope presents a number of challenges to homeowners.

Gravel is known for certain characteristics when used in a driveway and having gravel on a slope can exacerbate these issues. However, if you’re asking, “Can you lay gravel on a slope?”, the answer is yes. You simply need to use the right materials and installation method for mitigating the common issues seen with gravel.

In case you want to know how to stop gravel from moving on a slope, let’s go through a breakdown of making a driveway on a hill out of gravel and how to retain gravel on a slope.

Gravel as a Driveway Material

Gravel is used by homeowners for driveways of all shapes and sizes. Unlike asphalt and concrete, it’s much cheaper and stylistically versatile. There are many different types and colors of gravel, so it fits in well with a larger variety of color and aesthetic themes. However, the defining characteristic of gravel is that it’s loose.

Gravel is a combination of many small stones and rocks. For this reason, the number one issue with a gravel driveway on a steep slope is that gravity tends to act on loose gravel, pulling it loose and sending it tumbling down your sloped driveway. The spreading of gravel is a problem with any unstabilized gravel driveway, but especially bad on a steep hill.

How to Build the Perfect Driveway on a Slope with Gravel

The only option for keeping gravel in place on a slope is to stabilize it with pavers. Pavers are locked into the ground and they trap gravel in place, preventing it from coming loose and spreading, even under heavy vehicle traffic. The number one choice of pavers for a gravel driveway is either TRUEGRID PRO pavers or TRUEGRID PRO PLUS pavers, depending on the type of traffic they’ll be seeing.

Both of these paver types can accommodate gravel for a steep driveway, locking it down and providing a durable surface with excellent traction for vehicle tires. If you are wondering how to stabilize a steep gravel driveway the right way, TRUEGRID pavers are the answer.

TRUEGRID pavers are made from 100%-recycled plastic and are durable enough to last up to 50 years with almost no maintenance. The only method for containing gravel on a slope is TRUEGRID pavers. Without a stabilized gravel slope, your driveway is sure to experience massive erosion and spreading. TRUEGRID pavers trap the gravel within the empty cells of the interlocking pavers, weighing it down and preventing the gravel and the pavers from moving.

TRUEGRID pavers are the most effective method keeping gravel in place on a slope, but you might be wondering how to build a driveway on a hill in an eco-friendly manner. TRUEGRID pavers are nearly 100%-permeable and one of the most eco-friendly paving options on the market.

Worrying about erosion is a thing of the past with these pavers, and you’ll never have to wonder about how to grade a driveway on a hill again. Since TRUEGRID’s pavers are almost entirely permeable, they allow water to pass right through them. This is especially useful when dealing with the maximum slope for a gravel driveway because the water doesn’t have a chance to run down and pull gravel along with it.

The installation process is also quick and easy, and is also one of the best options for building a gravel driveway on a hill. First, the desired paving area is excavated to a depth of about 12 inches and a piece of fabric is laid at the bottom to prevent gravel migration. Then, gravel is poured in to fill the pit and then it is easily compacted with a heavy roller or ordinary vehicle..

Next, the TRUEGRID pavers are easily snapped together like LEGO® blocks and laid over the top, with more gravel being poured over them and pressed into their surface. Once this is complete, vehicles can begin driving over the driveway to compact the pavers.

The Only Way to Effectively Build a Sloped Driveway with Gravel is By Using Permeable Pavers

The durability, permeability, and effectiveness of TRUEGRID PRO and TRUEGRID PRO PLUS permeable pavers makes them the best solution for how to make a gravel driveway on a hill, without question.

The PRO PLUS pavers are also durable enough to make them a superior option for how to build a gravel road on a hill as well.

Once you tally up all the great features and characteristics, it’s clear that TRUEGRID pavers are the best choice for how to contain gravel on a slope. If you want the world’s most effective, stylish, and eco-friendly method for stabilizing gravel on a slope, request a TRUEGRID quote today.

Option for the base layer of a gravel driveway is item #4. Item #4 is comprised of sand, dirt, and golf ball-sized stones. This type of gravel is available in a few different variations including recycled item # 4, which is made up of recycled stones, brick, blacktop, concrete, and rock.

There is also quarry item #4, or crushed limestone, gray item #4 which appears dark grey in color, and crushed bluestone item #4. Crushed bluestone item #4 is usually found in municipal driveways, though.

5 Types of The Best Surface Gravel for Driveaway

There isn’t a lot of variety for the bottom layers of a gravel driveway, however, there are more options when it comes to finding the best gravel for driveway surfaces. Among the other options are crushed stone #411, quarry process, pea gravel, jersey shore gravel, marble chips, and river rock. These are the best options for driveway surfaces gravel, because they are small stones combined with rock dust, which makes a more solid driving surface.

1. Crushed Stone #411

It is crushed up #57 stone combined with rock dust. This mixture is able to handle moderate traffic from heavy vehicles.

2. Quarry Process

It is also called “crusher run” and works well for the surface of both driveways and walkways. It’s made from stone dust fines and crushed stone.

The stone dust will settle and become compact to create a semisolid surface that is smooth. It is important that you know that this type of surface gravel needs to be sloped towards the sides of your driveway for better drainage.

3. Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is popular gravel for driveway aesthetics. It’s made up of round, small stones that can come in many different colors. This type of gravel will easily migrate and spread under the weight of vehicles, though, and needs to be stabilized for long-term, maintenance-free usage.

4. Jersey Shore Gravel

It is made of yellow, tan, white, gold, and brownstones and looks quite a bit like sand. It’s similar to pea gravel since it needs borders or stabilizing pavers to prevent it from spreading.

5. Marble Chips

Marble chips are white and they sparkle in the sunlight. They typically cost more than other gravel types but are another favorite when it comes to being the best gravel for driveway aesthetic appeal. This type of gravel also needs a border or stabilization to prevent it from spreading, migrating, and washing away.

6. Blackstar or Blacktrap Rock

A very attractive dark gray gravel, this is an excellent choice as it is angular and locks together. When combined with stabilizing grid paving system, this provides a super durable and beautiful driveway.

A Better Alternative to Typical Gravel Driveways

Some of the aforementioned gravel types require stabilization, but the best way to construct any gravel driveway is by using TRUEGRID permeable pavers to lock in your gravel.

TRUEGRID PRO LITE and PRO PLUS stabilizing pavers simply require fill gravel and surface gravel, although you can use the same type of gravel for both. The fill gravel is poured over the top of a piece of fabric at the bottom of the excavated area where you want your driveway that provides drainage for water and other liquids.

It is then compacted and leveled before TRUEGRID permeable pavers are snapped in place over the surface. Next, your surface gravel of choice is poured over the pavers and locked into place using a heavy roller or vehicle. This weighs the pavers down and locks them securely into place.

The main benefit of using TRUEGRID pavers to build a gravel driveway is that they will keep your gravel in place, eliminating the need for almost any maintenance during the course of your driveway’s lifetime.

A properly installed and maintained TRUEGRID gravel driveway is durable enough to handle all types of vehicle traffic and will last up to 60 years without cracking or breaking down in the sun, rain, or other types of weather like asphalt does.. Choosing the best gravel for driveway usage is only part of the equation.

If you want to build your gravel driveway the maintenance-free way, get in touch with the pavement professionals at TRUEGRID today for a quote.

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