Driveway Erosion Repair – Use Large Angular Stones and Some Physics

This brand new blacktop driveway is two weeks old. Driveway erosion repair is needed because the contractor used the wrong gravel at the edge. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Driveway Erosion Repair

DEAR TIM: I need to make a driveway erosion repair. My new blacktop driveway is already falling apart. A heavy rain washed away the gravel on the edge of the driveway.

As a result, the gravel under the new blacktop is starting to erode. Why is this happening?

What's the best driveway erosion repair I can do so it never happens again? I’m handy and not afraid to work. Will your repair method stop soil erosion in other areas of my yard? Sally C., Hartselle, AL (This question was asked in Tim's October 10, 2017 Newsletter.)

DEAR SALLY: I’m sorry your new driveway is not holding up. The good news is you can restore it. Moreover follow my driveway erosion repair advice and you'll have a much better drive than before.

Driveway Erosion Repair & Mother Nature

Erosion is a natural process. I studied geology in college and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on my first major field trip. I witnessed the power of running water over solid rock. Water and gravity are great partners when it comes to erosion!

I also studied physics while in college. A point often overlooked by folks is the simple force equals mass multiplied by acceleration equation . This may seem complex to you, but your driveway erosion is a perfect example of this simple equation.

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CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local driveway contracts who can repair erosion damage.

More Force Required to Move Large Stones

To put it another way, think about how much energy it takes to move a grain of sand. You can move a simple dry grain of sand with a puff of your breath. Use the same amount of breath but aim it at a small angular rock about the size of a grape. Your breath will not budge this small stone.

Size & Shape Of Stones Is Critical

Once you decide to start your driveway erosion repair, focus on both the size and shape of the stones you'll use along the edge of your drive. By all means increase the size of the stones.

Your contractor installed the wrong sized gravel along the edge of your driveway. For one thing the gravel must be the correct shape. Large pieces of angular stone require lots of energy or force to move them. In contrast, small pieces of round stone similar to ball bearings can be moved with a tiny amount of force.

My Own Driveway Repair Project

The gravel on the edge of my own steep driveway used to erode with each moderate rainstorm. I replaced the small 3/4-inch pieces of gravel with 3-inch sized stones. All of a sudden my problem disappeared!

At the present time my town needs to do driveway erosion repair but on its roads! The road crews install small angular stones in the road shoulder. The gravel is eroded by the force of the car and truck tires on right-hand curves. In the long run this erosion can be stopped by installing the same 3-inch sized interlocking angular pieces of rock. Much more force is needed to dislodge these.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local driveway contracts who can repair erosion damage.

Erosion Repair Guidelines

Without delay you need to install the larger pieces of stone. Install the stone a minimum of 6 inches deep by 12 inches wide. Small angular pieces of crushed stone can be used to fill the gaps between the larger stones.

The angular stone is available at local gravel pits. This stone is used beneath new roads built near your home. The gravel pit will deliver the stone to your home. You’ll need to calculate how many cubic yards of stone you’ll need.

Large stones prevent blacktop erosion. These edge stones don't budge in the worst rainstorms. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Place Stone Below Drive Surface

By all means make sure the large stone is about 1 inch below the top surface of your driveway. Lawn mowers, snow plows and string trimmers must not be able to kick up the stones.

On the negative side you may not like the look of these larger stones. In that case think about the anguish you’ll feel as soon as a car or truck drives along the edge of your driveway and a large crack appears in the blacktop! The large stones provide support to the edge of your blacktop.

Prevent Soil Erosion In Yards

Stop soil erosion in your yard using the same method. In general, water flowing in small channels causes erosion. With this in mind make a hardscape feature in the channel. The rock will stop the erosion.

Fill the channel or rut in the yard with larger angular stone and place alongside much larger rocks as you might see in a local stream. Take photographs of a few creeks or streams near your home. The photos will guide you as long as you pay attention to the overall look of the natural stream.

Colorful Stones Add Accent

All things considered I believe you’ll love the look of the large stones next to your driveway. Install about five or ten feet of them and stand back thirty feet to look at your work. Use colorful angular stones to accent to your drive. Do your best to look at all the types of angular stone at the gravel pit and select one that you like.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local driveway contracts who can repair erosion damage.

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