Gravel Driveways, Cheaper Than Asphalt or Concrete

Lindsay ~ 30 November 2006

Whether you’re installing a new driveway to a new home or trying to figure out what to do with an old worn existing drive, you have several options for materials. Popular choices are gravel, asphalt, and concrete, while more exotic options are brick, patterned concrete, or pre-cast pavers.

Depending on the size of the driveway you need and the climate you live in, gravel can be a very economical choice. It starts out at about 50 cents a square foot, which makes it the cheapest driveway material (asphalt starts at about $1 per square foot and concrete about $2–less if you install it yourself). Gravel can make a lot of sense if you have a long driveway with a lot of space to cover. There are some downsides to the material however:

Gravel is a fairly high-maintenance surface.
It’s hard to keep it on grades of more than 8%.
Gravel tends to escape its boundaries, and it can wreck havoc with your lawn mower.

If well-maintained, though, gravel can be a reasonable choice, especially with homes on acreage where it can be quite a trek off the main road to the front door of the house.

Source: IdeaWise Garages: Inspiration & Information for Do-It-Yourselfers