Re: How much gravel to re-gravel driveway?

[CrepuscularDesperandum]

I need to re-gravel our driveway - on top of the existing gravel but online calculators have given me completely different estimates of how many tons of gravel I'd need. Does anyone know which figure, if any, is correct?

The area is 260 metres squared which I think if 2798 square feet? For 5 cms (2 inches) depth of gravel coverage, one calculator site says I need about 23 tons of gravel, another says 45 tons of gravel and another says 3 tons? Which is right?

I only need a 2 inch layer on top of gravel that's already there - just to subdue the weeds. I can't afford to get someone in to do it for me with an anti weed sheet and leveling. So it'll be just me and the tons of gravel to spread with a shovel. This could turn out to be very expensive if I need 45 tons of gravel and I need to get it right.

Thanks if you can help.

I can’t help, but I can tell you that the tomnbe bags do t go as far as you think they would. We got ours locally (no delivery charge) and we just kept ordering an extra bag until we didn’t need any more. Is that an option for you?

Tonne bags.

Don't try and spread it with a shovel.
Shovel it into a wheelbarrow and dump it in different places and then use a rake to spread it.

I think I used two tonnes to do a driveway that if it was rectangular would fit four cars if that helps!

i have an area of garden that we are going to cover and pebble, dh and I were arguing discussing how many pebbles to get, I reckon two bags, he reckons only one and that's about 20m square

We have one bag to get started with so by friday I can let you know how it went if you like?

That is a pretty big area. I reckon somewhere between the two larger estimates

260 Sq Meters at 5cm depth

260 x .05 = 13 cubic meters.

1 Tonne Bag is approx. 1 cubic metre

Get the supplier(s) to check the calcs!

I second getting the supplier to work out how much you need; give them the area and depth you want and they should work it out.

Thanks for the thoughts. I haven't yet chosen a supplier as it depends on how they make deliveries. Some dump sacks onto the road outside your house and I don't think I can use those ones as it'll obstruct the road. So I need to think about this aspect of the project.

I'm still unsure why different website calculators keep coming up with different amounts of gravel needed? Has anyone actually covered a similar sized area? If so, how many tons of gravel did you need and what calculation did you base this on?

I had builders in for an extension and a patio so this is how it went, builder's merchant delivery truck delivered but swung the bag over my back garden fence as access was easy. Whilst it was hung in the air by the truck, builder uses shovel to slice open the bag letting contents drop out.

Repeat 4 times meaning it was just in giant pile rather than needing to be shovelled out of the bags first.

Just ring a company and get them to quote you, ask about delivery and how you can deal with it at your end. You could have 2 bags delivered at a time and see how you go. If you have a bag delivered, use a stanley knife to slice the bag open down one side making it easier to get out the bag, more dragging than shovelling. Use shovel to pick up and throw, use rake to even out.

Don't forget to involve any willing pair of hands including children. Mine have bucketed out 1 tonne of pea gravel, plus helped with 1 tonne of top soil. It is how they learn about hard work

Most gravel deliveries can be done in 1 tonne bag, they come on a truck with an arm that can swing the bag up and sideways.

Only have loose delivered if they can reverse the truck onto your drive and empty as they drive off your drive.

First, a sense check: say a standard car space is 2.5 x 5m = 12.5sqm, you're talking an area that could fit about 20 cars if parked carefully, yes?

I'd say 3 tonnes is comically short of the mark.

I'd agree with rsl's volume calc, then you need to multiply by the density of the gravel. I imagine gravel density can vary a lot depending on eg stone type, size of pieces, jaggedness(?), and how wet or dry it is. That might partly explain the difference between the 23 and the 45. You should be able to google some assumptions on that but it might be a better use of your time to talk directly to suppliers about their specific product.

Also I agree with PPs - order a few at a time, shovel gravel into wheelbarrow, tip out, rake at the end. Children can help too - mine started shifting logs in their toy buggies and made a genuine contribution even then. It's worth having enough right-size tools for everyone to work productively.

I'd try to get it delivered loose onto a corner of the driveway, out of the way of your car(s).

260 Sq Meters at 5cm depth
260 x .05 = 13 cubic meters.
1 Tonne Bag is approx. 1 cubic metre
Get the supplier(s) to check the calcs!

Tonne bags are normally considerably less than a cubic metre. I would think that the 23 bag estimate is the most likely to be accurate.

Yes I think a cubic metre of water is 1 tonne. Gravel surely must be heavier. (that's not as obvious as it sounds - gravel in a bag is a mixture of stone and air. I still reckon an airtight bag of gravel would sink though.)