Watch for any drainage issues in the area where the driveway will be. It is important to position your driveway so that the water will run off the sides and not pool in the middle of it.
Place sticks or landscape stakes in the ground every 8 to 10 feet along the length of one side of the area that will be your driveway. Place a second set of stakes at least 10 to 12 feet across from the first set of stakes to mark the width of the driveway. You may want to make the width 14 feet if your driveway curves. [2] X Research source
The depth of the gravel can vary, but should be at least 4 to 6 inches. To determine this measurement in feet, divide the number of inches by 12 (for example, 6 inches is 0. 5 feet). If you plan to do two to three layers, each layer will need to be 4 to 6 inches thick, so you will to calculate each layer separately.
Ask if the company has a website that you can use to choose gravel color, size, and shape. If you are planning several layers, schedule each delivery separately, preferably a couple of days apart so that you can install each layer and let it settle before putting the next layer on top. [5] X Research source
You might want to use a tiller to loosen up the soil and make it easier to dig out. The amount of soil you remove depends on how many layers of soil you are planning. You should dig 4-6 inches of soil for every layer of rocks you plan to put down.
Weed barrier is a woven landscaping cloth that allows water to pass through it but does not allow weeds to grow through it, and it is available at most landscaping and home improvement stores. Weed barrier usually comes on a roll. You should be able to lay the roll down at one end of your driveway and unroll it until you have reached the other end of your driveway. Most weed barrier rolls are 4 feet wide, so you may need to get several rolls. Be sure the amount of weed barrier you buy matches or exceeds the square footage (length times width) of your driveway.
You can achieve this by raking in from the sides towards the center so that the rocks are slightly piled higher in the center. You could also add some additional gravel down the center of your driveway and slowly scrape it towards the sides a little at a time. Don’t go too crazy with the grading; you don’t want your driveway to look like a pyramid. The ideal grade is very subtle, with the middle 2% to 5% higher than the sides.
