How Much Does Gravel Driveway Cost
Dorothy is tired walking the yellow brick road. She now wants to go to your home and ask for a glass of water, but only she can walk on a gravel driveway. It’s sad that you don’t have one and your family can’t meet and greet Dorothy. A funny thought came into your mind, wanting to build gravel driveway. Puzzled, you sat down and ask yourself: How much does gravel driveway cost?
There are more reasons why you should have a gravel driveway. It gives convenient driving experience and long lasting. You can do it yourself and it requires very little maintenance.
Gravel Driveway Price
The price of making a gravel driveway varies on so many factors. Grab your pad and pen; you might need to write things down.
The thickness of the driveway is first to be considered. The wider it is, the more expensive it becomes. Gravels are small edgy stones, and since they’re small, you’ll need a lot of it. And a lot of it means tons of it.
If trees and stumps dwell on your prospect site, then you have to expect that there will be more jobs to be done to complete your driveway. The average cost for tree removal is from $150 to $1500 and may go higher. Stump removal ranges from $60 to $350 and stump grinding ranges from $75 to $1000.
You may also need complete site cleaning. They typically cost $0.50 per square foot. The average price of complete site cleaning ranges from $65 to $450. Chipping of large trees will mostly cost $20 to $40 per hour per worker.
Bulldozers may be necessary. They cost $435 to $465 for 4 hours use; price varies on the bulldozer model. You also need other tools and machinery to complete your gravel driveway.
The land structure of the driveway will either make the price low or high. It is best suggested to consult an engineer.
Gravel driveway price is $1 to $3 per square foot. A 100-meter driveway will cost up to $900 for the gravel itself. The gravel type is also to consider. There are types of gravels, the pea-like gravel and the crushed gravel – the edgy gravel we commonly know.
It requires two layers of gravel to make a durable and long lasting gravel driveway. Large chunks of gravels will be installed on the first base, which is 4cm deep. Smaller gravels are then applied for the second base.
The cost of driveway stone varies on the design and size. The larger chunks of gravel, necessary for the first base, costs $1 to $3 per square foot. The smaller gravel stones price varies by its type. Decorative stones basically cost $4 to $7 per square foot, and the sifted thumb-size gravels costs $3 to $6 per square foot. Brown river rocks cost $5 and higher for 5 gallons.
As posted by CostHelper, gravels can be bought by bags or by tons. Small bags of gravel that typically weigh 50 pounds costs from $2 to $8.
Gravels can be bought in major home improvement centers, landscaping companies, material suppliers, or to sand and gravel suppliers. Well known companies like Home Depot and Weidle Corporation can be of choice.
You can’t carry tons of gravels on your basket. Buying gravels means you understood that it will be delivered to you. Consider paying cash for transport fees. Some companies add charge for every mile. The farther you are, the more it will cost you.
The Driveway Project
How much gravel do you need? That depends on the type of gravel you’ll be using. Small gravels will require more of it to cover an area. One cubic yard demands 1.13 tons of gravel. To know how much gravel you need, you’ll have to get the total cubic foot of your driveway by multiplying length by width and then by depth. Then, convert it to cubic yards by dividing 27 and multiply the answer to 1.13.
This project can be done DIY with at least basic landscaping skills and common set of tools like shovel and hoes and rakes.
Seek for professional landscapers to help you get through bigger driveway projects. They can handle sophisticated slopes and bumps that are out of your hands.
How much does gravel driveway cost? Gravel driveway drastically ranges from $300 and more, depending on the area of coverage. For DIYs, gravel driveway will cost you from $100 to $1000 for materials. For professional quality-driveway installation, the price ranges from $300 to $2000. Taxes and permit fees are yet excluded. The prices still vary by type of gravel to be used and the thickness and complexity of the driveway. The average cost of driveway stone ranges from $3 to $10 per square meter for sifted, all-purpose, or river rocks. The prices of gravel driveway still vary by region. Call the nearest landscaping company near you and get free estimation.
Driveway Will Drive You Crazy
Why did the chicken crossed the road? To get to your gravel driveway! Yes, gravel driveway is widely installed around the states. Gravel driveway is the best choice among asphalt and concrete driveway since it is far more affordable with easy installation. Water just run through it; good flood prevention, indeed.
It requires very little maintenance. If gravels scatter around the path, you can just toss it back to the driveway. To prolong driveway’s life, remove grass and weeds that grows amidst.
Gravel driveway is indeed a good choice of driveway. It’s durable and cost-effective. You can drive your car with satisfactory convenience. Get the lemonade out of the fridge, Dorothy will come soon walking on your gravel driveway!