Gravel Driveway- Advice

[Tekno]

So, as much as I like the grass at the front of the house, a colleague had to winch me out during last (our first) winter.

I’m thinking a DIY gravel job with the hexagon strips to allow the stones to stay in place and remain solid.

My query is, on both sides of the driveway I have my neighbours grass (to the left of image) and to the right, grass, perhaps slabs of stone - need to determine the exact boundary. Also the area adjacent to the path. All marked in blue.

How would you approach the divide at the boundary?

Forward of the dropped kerb I’m going to have a cobble strip to prevent stokes spilling onto the path.

[Tekno]

[Simpo Two]

I would park the green car closer to the white one and leave some grass on the left.

[InformationSuperHighway]

Simpo Two said:

I would park the green car closer to the white one and leave some grass on the left.

100% this.

Theres nothing worse that a house with zero front garden and all paving. I've never seen it look nice.. ever.

[5 In a Row]

I'd consider putting gravel where the 2 rows of slabs are and then a diagonal in towards the front door to park the green car alongside the white one.

[DonkeyApple]

InformationSuperHighway said:

Simpo Two said:

I would park the green car closer to the white one and leave some grass on the left.

100% this.

Theres nothing worse that a house with zero front garden and all paving. I've never seen it look nice.. ever.

I'd agree. Make good parking for two cars but leave a bit of grass to the side. I'd also put a hedge or fence along the boundary to retain the gravel.

[Doofus]

Grass grids

[zalrak]

DonkeyApple said:

I'd agree. Make good parking for two cars but leave a bit of grass to the side. I'd also put a hedge or fence along the boundary to retain the gravel.

Agreed. This driveway went from this:


To this:


Not overly impressive to start with but it totally spoiled the front aspect of the house.

[Panamax]

Gravel is very noisy and will almost certainly spill out onto the pavement/road. It's not very neighbour friendly. You might find yourself becoming an unexpected expert on weeds as well.

[TA14]

Tekno said:

need to determine the exact boundary.

Measure the width of his garage from his house all the way along his house and see if that follows the line of his blocks (which it appears to do)

[TA14]

5 In a Row said:

I'd consider putting gravel where the 2 rows of slabs are and then a diagonal in towards the front door to park the green car alongside the white one.

I'd put a diagonal the other way. Park the green car in front of the white one and pave a triangle of grass to allow the white one to drive out around the green one. You'd need two more dropped kerbs.

[PistonBroker]

Simpo Two said:

I would park the green car closer to the white one and leave some grass on the left.

Yep.

Block-paved in front of the garage and the door, leaving grass for the rest of it, would give enough space to park both MINIs alongside each other.

Wouldn't need to do anything with the dropped kerb as there's enough space for green MINI to back on at an angle.

[TA14]

PistonBroker said:

Block-paved in front of the garage and the door, leaving grass for the rest of it, would give enough space to park both MINIs alongside each other.
Wouldn't need to do anything with the dropped kerb as there's enough space for green MINI to back on at an angle.

Yes, you could do it that way but because of the angled nature of the plan view there would be more grass left to do it the other way.

[PistonBroker]

TA14 said:

Yes, you could do it that way but because of the angled nature of the plan view there would be more grass left to do it the other way.

Good shout.

[DonkeyApple]

zalrak said:

Agreed. This driveway went from this:


To this:


Not overly impressive to start with but it totally spoiled the front aspect of the house.

Ideal for caravans.

[ro250]

Panamax said:

Gravel is very noisy and will almost certainly spill out onto the pavement/road. It's not very neighbour friendly. You might find yourself becoming an unexpected expert on weeds as well.

OP mentioned the hexagon base people use now which looks like it holds the stones in well (judging by a neighbour who has it). And also a neighbour who doesn't who doesn't have much gravel left!

[Skyedriver]

Panamax said:

Gravel is very noisy and will almost certainly spill out onto the pavement/road. It's not very neighbour friendly. You might find yourself becoming an unexpected expert on weeds as well.

+1
Folk along our road have gravel and I regularly kick bits back as I walk along.
FIL has red gravel between paving slabs. And red gravel down the road for about 10metres....

[Snow and Rocks]

Choose angular crushed rock instead of round gravel - it locks together so doesn't move around nearly as much and forms a harder surface.

[skilly1]

20mm golden flint locks in well.

[OMITN]

Good advice above.

Gravel drives are a bit of a PH trope - other than if you live in a large detached place in the country where you need to ver a large area easily, they’re a pain.

A decent driveway (needn’t be block paving - they look great when first installed but do need upkeep) will really enhance your house, be more in keeping than gravel and will allow you to retain some greenery (poss turn the Elaine into a small planted area).