• Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»How to gravel driveway or path

How to gravel driveway or path

Summary: Learn how to do a gravel driveway or path, install the weed-proof membrane and lay gravel.


Gravel paths are a popular and attractive addition to any garden. Quick and easy to construct, they are a good project for any DIYer to complete as minimal experience or knowledge is required. Gravel paths are suited best to more level, flat ground surfaces and require board edges to prevent gravel spreading over the garden.


Secure wooden pegs with a rubber mallet and attach treated timber with screws.
Spread 50mm of hardcore onto the membrane surface as evenly as possible.
Lay a layer of gravel and using a rake make it level.

How to gravel driveway or path

When choosing the type of gravel to use as the surface of your pathway, you will want to consider the drawbacks of using pea gravel and other small sized stones. Smaller sized gravel will tend to spread everywhere as it does not sit together as well as larger ones. Start by marking out the position of the path using pegs and string. If space allows, make the path wide enough for two people to pass each other.

  • Excavate the marked area with a spade to a depth of at least 100mm (4 in), then level the area with a rake. You may want to apply a liquid weed killer to help prevent any plant life growing up through the gravel.
  • Position treated timber edging boards along the side of your pathway and screw them to timber pegs inserted into the ground.
  • Now lay a weed-proof membrane along the base of the trench and make sure to overlap where the sheets join. You may wish to lay the membrane before you fix the timber edging so the membrane covers the edge of the pathway too.
  • Now lay approx 50mm (2 in) of hardcore onto the membrane surface to create a firm base for the gravel. Spread the hardcore as evenly as possible using a rake and compact firmly using a rammer or the flat head of a sledgehammer.
  • Lay the gravel on top and rake evenly. Add more gravel where required. You may need to add further amounts of gravel after a period of a few weeks once the surface has been allowed to settle.

Related projects

  • Erecting a close-board fence
  • Erecting a panel fence
  • Hanging a timber gate on a masonry pier

Related cost guides

  • Average cost of a driveway
  • Average cost of a greenhouse
  • Average cost of a shed
  • Average cost of block paving
  • Average cost of decking
  • Average cost of landscaping
  • Average cost of soil
  • Average cost of tree removal
  • Average cost to hire a mini digger
  • Average cost to lay turf
  • Average fence installation cost
  • Average patio cost
Recent Comments
  • Vic on Is Christmas a good time for DIY?
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Potential DIY home improvement trends for 2023

1

Is Christmas a good time for DIY?

0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

Popular Guides

Average retaining wall cost

Average cost of rendering

Average cost of water softener installation

Average ground source heat pump cost

Popular Projects

Building steps

Repairing a tap with poor water flow video

Cleaning a shower head

Air source heat pumps

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

Self Build Guide
How to find a building plot
Evaluating a building plot (2023)
How to get a self build mortgage
Self build construction options
Self build architect and design considerations (2023)
Self build planning permission and legal consents
© 2023 lets do diy ltd | ebuild
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT