What Is Needed For Quick And Efficient Gravel Driveway Installation?
People often choose gravel driveways because they are quick and efficient to install. These steps will help you get the job done as easily as possible.
Hire a Contractor
For one, while it's possible to do most of the gravel driveway on your own, hiring a professional is the best way to get your gravel driveway installed. They will have professional equipment for digging and compacting the materials, and they can ensure that nothing gets in the way of your proposed timeline and budget for gravel driveway installation. A concrete services team, for instance, will have the equipment that you need to get your job done well.
Have Your Contractor Measure and Pre-Order Materials
A contractor can measure the depth, length, and width of your driveway and calculate how much of each material is needed. A gravel driveway is actually composed of several different layers of rock, with heavier rocks on the bottom and finer pebbles on top. If you calculate your material needs correctly from the start, it helps you manage your budget and avoid having surplus materials to deal with.
Install Retaining Walls
You have the option of installing retaining walls, or not. For a simple driveway, it's best to install these from the start. The walls on either side of your gravel help keep stray pebbles inside the driveway. Without retaining walls, you can expect to have to do some regular maintenance to collect driveway gravel and return it to the driveway surface.
Install Landscaping Fabric
Putting a cloth layer at the base of your driveway is another way to simplify your maintenance needs. The fabric will catch any weeds that are growing below the driveway's surface. The fabric is not porous enough for weeds to poke through and eventually come through the driveway's surface. Without a landscaping fabric base, you will need to regularly trim or pull weeds.
Use Equipment to Professionally Excavate, Pour and Tamp
Another thing that simplifies the process of installing a gravel driveway is using professional equipment provided by your contractor. Excavating the surface of the driveway is simple when you use a bobcat or similar excavating tool (rather than a good old fashioned shovel and wheelbarrow). After you pour each layer of the gravel material, you will also want to tamp the surface so that the rocks settle in place; this helps you avoid a situation later on where the layers have shifted and the driveway's surface becomes uneven. When you find the right contractor, they will help you plan out the job to account for all of these what-if scenarios.
For more information concerning concrete services, contact companies like Claggett & Sons Inc.