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Thought I’d consult the STW hive minds for this one.
I’ve got a driveway that starts from a dropkerb across a footpath- pictured. I’ve up until now made some short term fixes using varying grades of gravel, but with it being on a slope and 5 cars driving in out daily, it erodes/washes/disperses fairly quickly. It leaves a drop that isn’t great for the cars and makes joining the busy road difficult.
Currently there’s some old smashed up tarmac, concrete bits and gravel from the previous owner. So how do I go about fixing this? We need access to the driver 24/7. It is wide enough for two cars to pass, so could fix half first and then the other half?
Thoughts are to remove what’s there and dig down to level it, then quick set concrete topped with matching gravel with the driveway?
I’m looking for a cheap and durable solution. Happy to get my hands dirty.
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You need some kind of trap for the gravel from the looks of that.
The paving expert website recommends either a very low 'speed bump' or a hollow.
They call them 'thresholds', here if you scroll down a bit:
http://www.pavingexpert.com/gravel01.htm
You could always lay some block paving across it in alternating rows of flush and slightly raised (perhaps 3 or 5 rows of each), which would be slightly lumpy to drive over, but would probably create a separating area to divide the gravel from the path.....
I'd suggest some kind of gravel grid system, but you will always end up with a point somewhere were the gravel will be eroded.
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Thanks for the advice.
It's going to be a pig removing what's currently there to level it out.
Just to confirm- gravel is migrating down the drive, not on the road/footpath.
Although ugly, isn't the quick set concrete a good long term solution?
no. Assuming your not putting any mesh down, the concrete on its own will probably break up. (by quick set I assume postcrete or similar pre-mixed stuff?)
Why not tarmac?
Open to any suggestions!
Is there a way DYI-ing tarmac? I've not got a roller, etc.
Also not sure how durable it is. The tarmac that's there is broken up.
[quote=cokie ]Open to any suggestions!
Is there a way DYI-ing tarmac? I've not got a roller, etc.
Also not sure how durable it is. The tarmac that's there is broken up.
DIY tarmac looks shite I take it its above your budget to get it done professionally.
Possibly not- any idea what the cost would be?
The problem isn't really between the gravel and the pavement, it between the gravel at the top of the slope and the rest of the slope, i.e. because there's nothing to control it, it will always fall down the slope.
From the paving expert site above, I guess you could put some of these: [img] 
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going down the slope to almost 'terrace' the slope. It might stop the gravel from falling all the way down, it'll just fall to the bottom of it's section.
But without sticking the gravel to the ground it's always going to move.
Depends how you approach the problem- if I use gravel then yes, it's the holding wall/lip that I'd need to create, but if I use tarmac, concrete or other solid material then the issue is between the road and gravel.
If you tarmac it, you can still glue rice krispies to your tyres for that classy gravel drive sound
Even without a slope you'll always get a pothole/ drop where the gravel meets a hard edge. Best thing to sort it is a proper tarmac job or at least enough tarmac to make sure and slowing down/ speeding up/ turning is done on the tarmac, not the gravel.
I know about this. Have the same problem on 130 gravel car parks where they meet the road. 5 m tarmac aprons are the answer for us. Expensive though, diy tarmac is not going to be cost effective.
Put a holding lip etc in and use gravel and the problems will then occur at the holding lip as well as at the kerb edge.