- 1). Remove the gravel from the driveway with a shovel and dump it onto a tarp for reuse. If the driveway is long, consider renting an excavator machine to reduce the labor.
- 2). Rake the bottom layer of gravel into small piles and dump the piles into buckets if they're caked in dirt. Pour warm water into the buckets and leave them out in the sun to remove as much dirt as possible before returning the gravel to the driveway.
- 3). Unearth all topsoil from the driveway site with a shovel or excavator machine. Dig down until you hit the hard dirt beneath the topsoil. The amount of dirt to remove can range from 6 to 12 inches, depending on the amount of topsoil you have. Dump the soil on a separate tarp and use it to even out low-lying areas in your landscape.
- 4). Begin at the end closest to the house and dig down 1 inch more with every 8 feet of length to pitch the driveway toward the street for drainage.
- 5). Go over the subsoil with a compactor machine two or three times, or until the subsoil resists pressure. Compacting the dirt will help prevent gravel from sinking down again.
- 6). Lay the bottom layer of gravel over the compacted dirt and spread it with a rake.
- 7). Add medium gravel into the site to replace the topsoil you removed. Compact it until the rocks feel firm and stable.
- 8). Add the top layer of gravel over the driveway. Rake the surface into a crown so the highest point runs down the center and the lowest is along the sides for drainage.
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