When considering a new driveway, there are three common materials to use which consist of gravel, asphalt or concrete. The least expensive and easiest to install is gravel. In rural areas of the United States, many people use gravel driveways and they are extremely popular and inexpensive compared to concrete and blacktop. Gravel does not require sealing or cleaning which makes it a low-cost
. alternative. Although many view gravel driveways as not attractive when compared to concrete, their low-cost and low-maintenance aspects can make them a great alternative solution.Crush and run gravel is finely crushed gravel which is good for a base layer but not recommended for the top surface. The fact that it is crushed and not round or uniform in size helps the stability of the base. Proper drainage needs to be considered and the soil underneath should be free of leaves and topsoil making a firm surface on which to install the crush and run gravel. It is necessary to slope the driveway to ensure drainage and cut down on potholes and ruts.For maintenance, crushed gravel driveways are easier and more economical to maintain then cement or asphalt. They do not crack with time. The only maintenance usually required is to fill any potholes created by settling of the soil or water run-off. This will not be an issue if the base is prepared well in advance.When installing a gravel driveway, it is best to lay a specially designed driveway fabric as the first layer to prevent the soil or clay from moving. A good second layer ideally should be rocks a little larger than gravel. The third layer should be crush and run gravel acting as the subsurface. This can be topped with smaller gravel such as 20 mm gravel. It can be rolled or simply driven over multiple times to flatten it. For more information on gravel driveways and how to measure visit http://www.ehow.com/about_4760031_driveway-gravel.htmlMore reference links: http://www.everleaf.com/fred3/gravel.htm http://www.thkinsella.com/products.html
