Gravel driveways

Driveway Building (Gravel): How to Build a Driveway That Lasts

A good gravel driveway is mostly about what you don't see: base preparation, grading, and drainage. In the Greater Chattanooga area, heavy rain events make water control especially important.

This guide explains the driveway-building process and how to avoid common failure points like ruts, potholes, and washouts.

What a gravel driveway build includes

• Clearing and access setup
• Cutting and shaping the driveway corridor
• Establishing crown or slope for drainage
• Base material placement (as required)
• Surface stone placement and shaping
• Optional turnarounds, parking pads, or ditches/swales

Drainage is the difference-maker

Most driveway problems come from water:

• Water running down the driveway
• Water sitting in low spots
• Soft subgrade from poor shedding

A good plan uses slope, crown, and drainage features to move water off the drive.

The typical process

1. Define alignment, width, and tie-in to the road.
2. Clear and rough grade.
3. Shape subgrade and drainage.
4. Add base material as needed.
5. Add surface stone and finish grade.

What affects cost?

• Length and width
• Slope and soil conditions
• Amount of base needed
• Culverts/drainage features
• Material delivery and access

Recent work