Where gravel suits
Around Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Dunnington and the Poppletons, gravel sits comfortably in front of brick and pantile houses. It also works well on long drives in Fulford and Heslington. On a small terraced frontage it can be fiddly, so we may suggest resin or permeable paving instead.
Making it practical
Loose gravel on soil quickly turns into ruts and weeds. We excavate, lay a compacted sub-base and then a honeycomb stabilising grid, which is filled and topped with stone. The grid stops ruts, keeps a level surface and makes it easier to walk or wheel bins across. A firm edging of brick, setts or steel keeps borders clean.
A paved threshold
Stones carried onto the pavement are a nuisance and a hazard. A short apron of setts or block paving where the drive meets the footway, laid slightly lower than the gravel, catches stray stones and gives a neat entrance.
Choosing stone
Angular stone between 10 and 20 millimetres compacts better than rounded pea shingle. Golden flint, Cotswold buff and grey granite all work, depending on the house. Gravel is permeable, so a gravel front drive normally meets the planning rules without extra drainage.
