New entrance/driveway/parking area (GRAVEL GRIDS)

[Hobo]

I'm shortly to create a new driveway/entrance/parking area at home, which will create a parking area of 10m x 25m in size, and the intention is to gravel it, but want to put a grid down before the gravel to keep the gravel in place better as just think gravel can look a bit unruly without.

Can anyone recommend any suppliers, as there is obviously a chunk of it to purchase, and prices seen to vary online, and I'm wanting something which will last.

[Griffith4ever]

Just as an FYI - the gravel will largely stay in place so long as you put down (and whack) a decent bed of scalpings (20mm to dust). I've just done it, advised by people in the know. 9m x 4m.

[WH16]

Gravel grids are only really necessary if the drive is on an incline IMHO. On a large driveway it adds a significant cost, and even with them you'll still have gravel transferred onto the road via your tyres.

[Ste-EVo]

Hobo said:

I'm shortly to create a new driveway/entrance/parking area at home, which will create a parking area of 10m x 25m in size, and the intention is to gravel it, but want to put a grid down before the gravel to keep the gravel in place better as just think gravel can look a bit unruly without.

Can anyone recommend any suppliers, as there is obviously a chunk of it to purchase, and prices seen to vary online, and I'm wanting something which will last.

Most of the big building suppliers sell it, JT Dove, Selco etc. Also, worth checking out local stone/aggregate merchants too.

Its often known as 'Geogrid'. Depending on what is going to be running over it I.e. car or 30t excavator will determine which one and the price. Presuming its just cars running over it so won't need anything super heavy duty.

Edited by Ste-EVo on Monday 18th May 07:36

[Out2Lunch]

Have you considered having it Resin Bonded ?
IMHO this looks better, stops the stones spreading, getting caught in tyres and stops it adding to stone chips to our cars paintwork and windscreens when they come out of tyres at speed - and surely no one here likes that.

[Hobo]

Couple of answers to above comments;

1. I did look at resin bonded, but it say it could cause water pooling as not permeable (and its likely to be where I wash the cars so thats not ideal), plus it obviously will add a considerable cost to the area in question as suspect I'd be looking at a minimum of £100/m2 of which there is 250, so thats 25k !!! whereas the gravel grid is likely 2.5k and the gravel another 2k (for around 13 tonne) using quick internet prices

2. The area is purely to be used for cars, nothing heavier

3. Re the levels, its will be, hopefully), be perfectly flat (or ideally slightly sloped to the front). From what I have read of gravel grids, they are only for use on flat surfaces anyway, and are not suitable for sloped area

[Hobo]

I was thinking something like this;

https://www.ibran.com/collections/ibran-x/products...

I'm guessing I wouldn't need to do the whole area, but just the area that the vehicles would be going over routinely, so for example I could leave the outer 0.5m for example as the wheels on the cars would never tough that area.

[Out2Lunch]

I guess its personal choice, especially regarding the edges and if you are happy for stones to spread if you are outside of the grid.
I do agree the grid appears to be a good idea, and better than nothing though.
I understand the issue with resin being non-permeable (including the environmental 'concrete jungle' effects), however it is normally best laid with a slight slope/camber and not into any dips.
Resin would also make for a cleaner area to clean the car/s.
By the way, i have no affiliation of direct experience with resin. i have seen some great looking finished driveways and know of one at least 5 times the size of yours that did not cost in excess of 100K, so maybe economies of scale comes into it. In your position i would think about getting a quote at least.
.... ultimately it depends on the finished look that you want, and what goes with the rest of the house\garden i guess.

[Hobo]

Out2Lunch said:

I guess its personal choice, especially regarding the edges and if you are happy for stones to spread if you are outside of the grid.
I do agree the grid appears to be a good idea, and better than nothing though.
I understand the issue with resin being non-permeable (including the environmental 'concrete jungle' effects), however it is normally best laid with a slight slope/camber and not into any dips.
Resin would also make for a cleaner area to clean the car/s.
By the way, i have no affiliation of direct experience with resin. i have seen some great looking finished driveways and know of one at least 5 times the size of yours that did not cost in excess of 100K, so maybe economies of scale comes into it. In your position i would think about getting a quote at least.
.... ultimately it depends on the finished look that you want, and what goes with the rest of the house\garden i guess.

The house is a built from large punched stone, so I think using a cotswold gold gravel will suit very well. The parking area will need to be dug around 1m down into the existing lawn, and then have a natural stone wall around its perimeter. The entrance itself is very private so you won't see much from the outside as there is a 1m wall wall, with then maybe 2m hedge, so the new gates will be the lowest point, and am looking at something like the below for the entrance itself (which is a very similar house);

[OutInTheShed]

Hobo said:

I was thinking something like this;

https://www.ibran.com/collections/ibran-x/products...

I'm guessing I wouldn't need to do the whole area, but just the area that the vehicles would be going over routinely, so for example I could leave the outer 0.5m for example as the wheels on the cars would never tough that area.

My brother has grids just on the sloped areas and immediately outside the garage.
They are a hexagonal pattern, don't know the make, no complaints.

Still need a slab for the side stand of a bike though!

I've seen them in NT car parks. Packed with '10mm to dust' they become very solid.

[Tisy]

Hobo said:

The house is a built from large punched stone, so I think using a cotswold gold gravel will suit very well. The parking area will need to be dug around 1m down into the existing lawn, and then have a natural stone wall around its perimeter. The entrance itself is very private so you won't see much from the outside as there is a 1m wall wall, with then maybe 2m hedge, so the new gates will be the lowest point, and am looking at something like the below for the entrance itself (which is a very similar house);

Gravel and overhanging trees/foliage is a recipe for disaster. I guarantee after 12 months you will be regretting your decision when your nice new gravel is encased in brown slime from the rotting leaves, which in turn provides the perfect environment for weeds to grow in.

[Hobo]

Tisy said:

Gravel and overhanging trees/foliage is a recipe for disaster. I guarantee after 12 months you will be regretting your decision when your nice new gravel is encased in brown slime from the rotting leaves, which in turn provides the perfect environment for weeds to grow in.

To be fair, there will be little actual 'overhanging' trees/foliage (to the parking area itself, but there is a lot in other areas of the garden), and what there is I generally clear up weekly at worst as the same destroys the lawn is not kept up on, and I'm a stickler for having nice grass.

[TimmyMallett]

Done properly the stones don't really move. Over time it will need topping up as it gets compacted but that only makes it better. Just make sure its thick walled stuff, 2/3mm. They then get compressed into the cubes. This a slight incline but nothing rolls off.

Overhanging trees are not an issue, you just get a blower.

Edited by TimmyMallett on Monday 18th May 11:13

Edited by TimmyMallett on Monday 18th May 11:14

[Tisy]

Hobo said:

To be fair, there will be little actual 'overhanging' trees/foliage (to the parking area itself, but there is a lot in other areas of the garden), and what there is I generally clear up weekly at worst as the same destroys the lawn is not kept up on, and I'm a stickler for having nice grass.

OK. I just wanted to make you aware that gravel is not lay and forget. Seeds and leaves blow in the wind and despite your best efforts you will end up with your nice gravel filled with detritus as time goes on, which will either require chemicals to kill the weeds or you'll be pulling them up yourself if you can't afford a gardener.

Having been through through the bitter experience (!) I would always go for either tarmac or concrete now and trade the small hit on 'looks' for practicality. Suppose it depends whether or not you're working a full-time job, with wife and kids, or are retired and have all the time in the world to spend maintaining it all.

[Hobo]

Tisy said:

OK. I just wanted to make you aware that gravel is not lay and forget. Seeds and leaves blow in the wind and despite your best efforts you will end up with your nice gravel filled with detritus as time goes on, which will either require chemicals to kill the weeds or you'll be pulling them up yourself if you can't afford a gardener.

Having been through through the bitter experience (!) I would always go for either tarmac or concrete now and trade the small hit on 'looks' for practicality. Suppose it depends whether or not you're working a full-time job, with wife and kids, or are retired and have all the time in the world to spend maintaining it all.

Oh, rest assured, I appreciate your comments.

I currently have around 325m2 of gravel area which is being put back to lawn as part of the works as well. This was done by previous owners of the house and they didn't put down any weed membrane or anything so I'm constantly going around levelling it and picking green shoots out of it, hence me wanting to do it properly this time. And the gravel isn't really great stuff, hence not looking to reuse it (albeit it may come in handy elsewhere, or simply be buried).

I'm conscious whatever I do is going to need ongoing maintenance, but just want it to look as nice as possible, and I don't find loose gravel that nice hence the grid though as keeps it level, but also firmer under foot, whilst still being in keeping with the house, and the planning conditions.

[sherman]

I bought these gravel grids when I redid my garden .
https://amzn.eu/d/0hWP5PtR

You dont need grids all over only over the bits you are driving and parking all the time.

[brian_H]

I used the IBRAN on my sloping gravel drive and had good results. I used a Whacker Plate to compress the stones into the grid. Only been down a couple of months but holding up well.

I did get some others from my local builders merchants that where around 20mm thicker (60mm v 40 ish), they didn't work nearly as well. Much more difficult to get the stones into place, even with the whacker.

I ended up sat on my ar$e with a trowel, scraping out lumps and bumps and getting them as level as possible. I am going to re visit and put more down soon. I only did 2 tracks down the slope to my garage.

The big improvement is I can now drive up to my garage in my Auto CLK and then just reverse up the hill. Previous attempt resulted in my towing the merc up my drive with my 23 y/o shogun!!

:-)

[Murph7355]

I looked at these for my drive/parking area.

Costs rack up quickly, and I think a properly prepared traditional approach on a level surface will do the job just as well. Prep is key (and perhaps interlocking gravel - which I mistakenly didn't specify ).

Grids won't help massively with weeds IMO, but would stop gravel build up when the OH drives out like Hannu Mikkola. Though to really stop edges blurring the space needs to be... Edged.

Resin? Expensive and on a large area if/when it cracks, it will look rubbish. Even when repaired.

Weeds from top - chemicals and a leaf blower.

And get a gravel rake...and someone to operate it

[Ste-EVo]

Have you considered imprinted concrete? (I think thats what its called). Some looks gash as hell, but some look nice. My Mam has it and Although im not a fan of the sea of grey (other colours available) it does serve a purpose and serves it well.

More practical than gravel, considerably cheaper than resin or traditional block paving and pretty easy on maintenance.

Although not permeable.

[andyxxx]

Tisy said:

Hobo said:

The house is a built from large punched stone, so I think using a cotswold gold gravel will suit very well. The parking area will need to be dug around 1m down into the existing lawn, and then have a natural stone wall around its perimeter. The entrance itself is very private so you won't see much from the outside as there is a 1m wall wall, with then maybe 2m hedge, so the new gates will be the lowest point, and am looking at something like the below for the entrance itself (which is a very similar house);

Gravel and overhanging trees/foliage is a recipe for disaster. I guarantee after 12 months you will be regretting your decision when your nice new gravel is encased in brown slime from the rotting leaves, which in turn provides the perfect environment for weeds to grow in.

If you don’t clear leaves away, any drive will become a mess.

I did my drive over 20 years ago using 20mm granite over the grid and my drive is slightly steeper than recommended. I can’t remember which brand I purchased (It is slightly clear/translucent so seems to be less visible than the black or green plastic.
I have five mature trees next to it and the leaves are a pain – but would be whatever finish I had chosen.
The stihl blower removes the leaves easily and you soon get the knack of the correct angle to blow the leaves without moving any gravel.
Weeds will grow if you let them. I spray weedkiller on them three or four times a year.

The drive looks the same now as it did when I laid it.