How To Repair A Gravel Driveway After Erosion?

No matter how well you maintain your gravel driveway, erosion is inevitable. Over time, exposure to the elements will cause the gravel to shift and wash away, leaving you with a rutted, uneven surface. If you want to keep your driveway looking its best, it’s important to know how to repair erosion damage. 

How to Repair a Gravel Driveway After Erosion

As someone who owns a home, you want to make sure that your property is well-maintained both inside and out. A gravel driveway is a great material to use for your driveway because it is affordable and easy to install.

However, one downside of gravel driveways is that they are susceptible to erosion over time. 

Erosion occurs when water washes away the gravel on your driveway bit by bit. This can create serious problems for your gravel driveway like potholes, ruts, and washouts.

Fortunately, it is easy to fix – follow the tips below and be sure to watch this video for more helpful tips:

Take Time to Assess

Determine the extent of the damage. Before you can begin repairs, you need to assess the situation and figure out how much work needs to be done. Take a walking survey of your driveway and make note of any areas that are significantly eroded or deeply rutted.  

Clean Up

Remove any loose gravel. Once you’ve determined the scope of the damage, it’s time to start making repairs. Begin by removing any loose gravel from the affected area. Use a shovel or rake to loosen the gravel and then scoop it up by hand or with a dustpan. 

Replace the Gravel

Add new gravel. Once all of the loose gravel has been removed, it’s time to add new material. Use a shovel to add fresh gravel to the affected area, working until you’ve level off the surface. 

Make Finishing Touches

Pack down the new gravel. The final step is to pack down the new gravel so that it will stay in place. Use a heavy-duty garden tamper or rent a plate compactor from your local home improvement store. Start at one end of the repaired area and work your way across, using firm strokes to compact the new material. 

How Do You Fix a Low Spot in a Gravel Driveway?

It’s inevitable. No matter how well you take care of your gravel driveway, there will be times when you have to do some repair work. Fortunately, fixing a low spot in a gravel driveway is relatively easy to do. All you need is some time, a few tools, and the right materials. 

1. Start by raking out the low spot to remove any loose gravel. Rake the area until it’s nice and smooth.
2. Next, use a shovel to dig out any roots or other organic material that might be causing the problem. If you find any large rocks, set them aside for later use.
3. Once you’ve cleared out the area, add some fresh gravel and compact it down with your hand tamper or plate compactor. 
4. Finally, add the large rocks back into the hole and rake the area smooth once again. That’s all there is to it! 

Preventing Erosion in the Future

Luckily, there are some things that you can do in order to prevent erosion from happening. By taking some preventative measures now, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in the future. 

Here are some tips on how to prevent erosion in the future of your gravel driveway.

Create a Crown

When installing your gravel driveway, make sure that you create a crown. This means that the center of your driveway will be slightly higher than the sides. The crown will help to ensure that water runs off to the sides of the driveway instead of straight down the middle. 

Use Geotextile Fabric

Geotextile fabric is a type of fabric that helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. You can lay this fabric down before you add gravel to your driveway. This will help to hold everything in place and prevent erosion from occurring. 

Install Drainage

Proper drainage is essential for preventing erosion on your gravel driveway. Make sure that there is a slight slope on your driveway so that water can run off easily. You should also install drains along the edges of the driveway so that water has somewhere to go. 

Use Gravel That’s Appropriate for Your Driveway

Not all types of gravel are created equal. When choosing gravel for your driveway, make sure that you pick something that’s durable and won’t break down easily. Round stones are a good option because they won’t break down as quickly as angular ones. 

Compact the Gravel Regularly

In order for your gravel driveway to stay in place, you need to compact it regularly. You can do this with a hand tamper or a gas-powered compactor. compacting the gravel will help to keep everything in place and prevent erosion from happening.

How Do You Divert Water Runoff from Gravel Driveway?

Have you ever noticed that, after a heavy rain, water seems to pool on your gravel driveway instead of draining off? Not only is this unsightly, but it can also cause long-term damage to your driveway.

One of the simplest ways to divert water runoff is to re-grade the sloped portion of your driveway. This can be done with a shovel, some elbow grease, and a little bit of patience.

Essentially, you’ll want to create a slight trench along the outer edge of your driveway. The trench should be shallow (no more than 6 inches deep) and wide enough to catch water runoff (at least 6 inches). 

Once you’ve created the trench, use gravel to fill it in. Make sure the gravel is packed tightly so that water will have nowhere to go but down the drain. You may need to add additional gravel over time as rain and snowfall compact the gravel and cause it to settle. 

Another way to divert water runoff is to install a drainage system—such as French drains or catch basins—along the perimeter of your driveway. 

French drains are underground systems that consist of perforated pipes covered with gravel. They work by channeling water away from problem areas and into desired drainage areas (usually storm drains). 

Catch basins, on the other hand, are large metal or plastic basins that collect water runoff and funnel it away through pipes or gutters. 

Final Thoughts

By following these simple steps, you can easily repair erosion damage on your own gravel driveway. With a little time and effort, you can have your driveway looking as good as new in no time!