Maintaining Your Gravel Pathways and Driveways: Tips for Longevity

Gravel driveways and pathways, with their rustic elegance, not only add a quaint charm to your property but also offer durability. However, the key to ensuring they last for years and retain their visual appeal is regular maintenance. At Mainland Aggregates, we specialize in providing high-quality quarried aggregates and decorative gravel and chippings, and here are our top tips to maintain and prolong the life of your gravel surfaces. 1. Regular Raking for Evenness Gravel, especially when frequently used, tends to spread. Regular raking keeps the gravel even and ensures a smooth surface. This will not only help in avoiding potholes but also in ensuring the surface is safe to walk or drive on. 2. Weed Prevention and Removal Over time, weeds can begin to grow through the gravel, ruining its appearance and creating an uneven surface. One way to prevent this is by laying a weed-resistant membrane beneath the sub-base. Additionally, regular checks and prompt removal of weeds will help keep your pathways and driveways pristine. 3. Addressing Erosion and Drainage Rain and water runoff can lead to erosion, displacing gravel and leading to depressions. Address this by implementing proper drainage solutions like French drains or trench drains. Moreover, consider placing barriers or edgings to keep the gravel confined to the intended area. 4. Regular Topping Up with Fresh Gravel Even with the best maintenance, gravel can thin out over time. Every couple of years, consider topping up your driveway or pathway with fresh gravel. Whether you're looking for 10mm gravel/shingle, 20mm gravel/shingle, or even 40mm gravel/shingle, at Mainland Aggregates, we've got you covered. 5. Periodic Compacting for Solid Surfaces Compacting your gravel not only ensures a solid and even surface but also aids in reducing the migration of the gravel, ensuring its longevity. 6. Dust Control in Dry Months Especially during dry months, gravel pathways and driveways can generate dust. Consider periodic watering or applying a safe dust control product to reduce dust production. 7. Protection from Heavy Vehicles Continuous use by heavy vehicles can press down the gravel, leading to ruts. Where possible, limit heavy vehicle access or use reinforcement grids to distribute the weight. With regular maintenance, your gravel pathways and driveways can remain an appealing and functional feature of your property for years to come. For the best quality gravel solutions tailored to your needs, look no further than Mainland Aggregates. Our range of quarried aggregate products ensures that you always have the right gravel for the right purpose.