Laying gravel on the driveway and parking area

Gravel and shingle are both practical and beautiful, but also very easy to lay. Surfaces with gravel provide an affordable solution and add a natural impression to any style of garden. The big advantage over cast concrete and asphalt is that you can build your gravel driveway all by yourself.

Below we go through the steps required for a successful installation. Perhaps you are looking for a wonderful garden project for the holidays. And it's always extra fun to be able to say that you've done the job all by yourself. Follow our guide and find your gravel today!

1. The planning stage

It is important to settle down and clarify all thoughts before your upcoming garden project.

What should your driveway look like, how should it be designed, do you need to rent a small digger? What type of gravel will fit your driveway? And which curb should you install for a stable framing of the surface?

Think your project through carefully and feel free to mark the surface with spray paint, mason's string or the like to get a good overview. It is in this mode that you can easily make corrections to achieve your dream driveway.

2. The digging and preparations

When you have progressed in your thoughts and plans and actually intend to start your project physically. Then the digging and preparations are very important to get as smooth a job and as good a result as possible. The general depth to dig from is usually around 15-20 cm. The easiest way to perform this step is to use an excavator, large or small. If you do not want to hire help with this, it is possible to rent mini excavators and machines from many machine rental companies. Classic spades, edge cutters and wheelbarrows also work, of course, but entirely depending on the scale and size of the surface and the project. This obviously takes longer and exposes the body to more stress.

In this step, you should also factor in the digging for the curb stones or equivalent you intend to install. See our large curb guide for tips and tricks for your curb installation.

Curbs act as supports both for your bearing layer and for your visible surface dirt, to minimize the escape of the gravel. Stones that are loose tend to want to move easily.

3. Make your surface load-bearing.

Place non-woven fabric against the bottom of your excavated surface. This ensures that the bearing layer does not mix up with the soil and the material you have now excavated. Make sure that the non-woven fabric goes up towards the edges and is installed with an overlap where the sheets join. This is so that the canvas can follow the movements that may occur in the ground over time.

Then fill up your surface with bearing layer/crushed rock and level. We recommend using the dimension 0-32 for as stable a core as possible. Fill up with about 15 cm and pack your surface with a so-called ground vibration. And when you fill up, remember to work in layers so that the entire depth is properly packed. Even ground vibrators and so-called vibrators can often be rented from your local machine rental company.

And remember to pack properly and in many batches to make sure your surface is stable.

Some surfaces are fundamentally more stable than others, so choose a depth of your bearing layer accordingly. Feel free to consult us at Stenbolaget regarding your specific soil conditions.

4. Time to give your surface its final look.

At this stage, your choice of gravel or shingle will play a major role in the appearance of your surface. In our range you will find a range of different options in both different sizes, colors and surface treatments. It is your visible surface that will form the final design but also carry your vehicle. Farm gravel, shingle and many different types of decorative stone are available to choose from. This layer usually has a thickness of about 4-5 cm. Try to find a stone that works for the rest of the garden and your house is our best tip. A shingle is rounder and provides a good surface that also provides a pleasant surface to walk on. Farm gravel 4-8, walkway single 8-16 and Sjösingle 8-16 are decorative options. But crushed gravel also works well and provides a load-bearing surface for your vehicle. Macadam and the like give a packed surface as the shape is more angular and not as soft.