The Importance of Drainage

Water is one of the biggest reasons gravel driveways fail.  Even high-quality material can fail prematurely if water is allowed to:

• travel too quickly
• pool in low spots
• cut across the driveway
• wash out shoulders
• saturate the base
• erode the surface repeatedly

Drainage correction is often just as important as the gravel itself. Proper drainage may include:

• restoring crown
• improving slope
• reshaping shoulders
• creating swales
• redirecting runoff
• correcting washout zones
• installing culverts
• slowing concentrated water flow

A properly shaped driveway sheds water.  A poorly shaped driveway traps it.