Why a Gravel Driveway May Your Best Choice

Choosing the right driveway is important to your home and lifestyle. You may consider cost, maintenance and aesthetic appeal as you search for the perfect driveway material. With so many options, which one is for your home? You may be surprised to learn that the common gravel driveway can best serve your purposes.

Maintenance

Gravel driveways are inexpensive to install and easy to maintain. You will have to fill up holes caused by snow and rain a few times a year, but in general, you won't be spending much time on maintenance. Also, since these driveways are pervious, your driveway allows the water to simply resupply the water table and not pool on the surface or drain into your yard.

If you invest in chip sealing, a coating of stone and a tar-like substance sprayed on your driveway gravel, you will have even less maintenance. Your gravel will stay in place, so you won't need to fill holes as often or rake rocks out of your grass and back onto the driveway. The coating dresses up the gravel a bit, making it look smoother and more sophisticated. You will also be able to use the same snow-removal methods on your driveway that you use on pavement. 

Other Advantages

Gravel is one of the more affordable substances that you can use for driveways, and it is quickly installed. In a day or two, you or a contractor can have the job finished. Also, gravel gives you the opportunity to choose from different types of stone, including pea gravel and river stone. Angular rock tends to stay in place better, but If you like to go barefoot on your driveway, the rounded stones will go easier on your feet. Larger stones will be less likely to sink and create holes and ruts. Your choice of color, size, and shape can give your driveway a unique look that complements the exterior of your home. 

You may not think of gravel first when you consider a driveway, but it may well be the best choice for you. It's affordable, attractive, and low maintenance. You or a skilled contractor can install the driveway in a short amount of time. If you use a little creativity, your gravel driveway can be truly stunning, due to the type and color of gravel you choose. If you're thinking of using gravel, consider looking into local gravel hauling services, such as McNabb Construction Ltd, to collect more information.