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.