Tell me about your gravel driveway

[NetZeroZealot]

Ours definitely needs redoing.

I am considering using a plastic grid under the gravel to keep it in place.

Has anyone tried this? Were you pleased with it?

It costs about twice as much as using gravel on its own, but maybe it looks better and lasts longer?

@Melroses The landscape garden designer preferred plastic grids to concrete base, but just need to be mindful that I don't know if it needs to be a special type of grid to act as a shed base. For context my potting shed sitting on a grid is 8"x6".

Yes there are many sorts - I remember seeing them at the Ideal Home exhibition years ago. We will be replacing the shed soon and it would be nice to blend it in, and not trip over the corner of the concrete slabs.

Thank you!

We have part gravel. Its a type 2 sub base with 20 mm gravel on top, on a bit of a slope. Its fine, easy to weed and stays looking tidy. We are extending the drive and will do part gravel, part paved to keep costs lower, but I will have a path from car to door that is not gravel for a wheelchair.

I totally recommend the plastic grid. My driveway is on a slope, and I'm so glad I paid the extra money for a plastic grid. The gravel has stayed in place, and it looks great. Make sure you get the right size gravel as recommended by the size grid you get. Here's a great blog on how to lay a gravel driveway if you're doing it yourself. www.bullimores.net/how-to-lay-your-gravel-driveway-in-8-easy-steps/

Whilst the initial cost is large if you have a sloping drive or busy household then it'll save you quite a bit of money in the long term. most people top up their drives around 2-5 years when flat. However if you have a driveway that is busy or gets a lot of water then you may find it needs doing yearly. in which case something like the below product will help retain and catch you gravel rather than it migrate away from your drive.

https://willisandainsworth.co.uk/ecco-gravel-grids-40mm/

Also I see someone mentioned a thick layer of gravel ideally you want your grave to be 40mm (4cm) deep otherwise it creates a beach effect which makes it hard to walk on or push/pull bins and things over.