Crushed stone, as the name suggests, is the product of large stones crushed by a rock crusher. Crushed stone is an excellent material for a driveway when you’re looking for a material that is affordable and easy to install.
Crushed stone driveways look great against any landscape, making them a preferred option for homeowners looking to bring a rustic aesthetic to their property.
Unfortunately, crushed stone driveways are prone to developing ruts over time, especially in areas with high rainfall and floods. A rut is a long deep groove formed on a driveway due to the repeated passage of wheels or due to erosion.
It is best to fix ruts early enough because if you allow them to enlarge, they can damage vehicles using the driveway.
- Crushed stone driveways are popular among homeowners looking for an affordable, easy-to-install driveway solution. However, they are prone to the formation of ruts after a long time of using them or when exposed to floods.
- To fix ruts on your crushed stone driveway, you need a rake, tractor, box scraper, a new supply of crushed stone, a compactor, or a steel tamper. If you don’t have access to these items, you can hire a professional to do the repairs for you.
- Ensure proper installation, consider creating a crown in your driveway, use a geotextile grid when installing the driveway, put up a border on the sides of the driveway, and ensure proper drainage. This will prevent rutting in your crushed stone driveway.
This article discusses the steps you can follow to fix ruts in a crushed-stone driveway. We’ll also discuss tips on how to prevent ruts from forming on your driveway.
Steps To Fix Ruts on a Crushed Stone Driveway
It is best to fix ruts on your driveway in their early stages. If you allow them to enlarge, they make your take away from the aesthetic of your driveway. They can also damage vehicles that use the driveway.
Luckily, due to the simple structure of crushed stone driveways, fixing them involves a straightforward process, unlike repairing asphalt or concrete driveways.
Here are the steps to fix ruts in a crushed stone driveway.
- Start by raking the driveway to even out the crushed stone from the high sections to the ruts.
- Attach a box scraper to a tractor and set it to dig an inch deep into the driveway. Drive the tractor out as it faces the street. You can hire a landscaping specialist if you don’t have access to a tractor.
- Drive the tractor slowly over the driveway so that the scraper can loosen the top layer of the crushed stone driveway and even it out. For the surface to be sufficiently smooth, you can drive the tractor over the driveway twice or thrice.
- Add a new 2-inch layer of crushed stone over the driveway. To enhance drainage, rake the crashed stone into a crown so the sides are lower than the middle.
- The next step is to compact the crushed stone. You can use a compactor machine or a steel tamper to press down the crushed stone. Alternatively, you can lay wood boards on the driveway and drive over the new layer of crushed stone to ensure compaction.
Preventing Ruts on a Crushed Stone Driveway
Unfortunately, if the crushed stone driveway was installed poorly, making repairs can not solve the issue. However, here are tips that can help you prevent the formation of ruts on your crushed stone driveway.
1. Proper Installation
The ground below the driveway plays a massive role in the formation of ruts and potholes. It is vital to ensure that you adequately prepare the underlying ground by digging 8-12 inches below the level of the driveway and removing all the roots that might be there. Also, ensure that you use a roller or compactor to compact the soil before pouring the crushed stone.
Additionally, ensure you pour the crushed stone at least four inches high and compact it properly.
2. Create a Crown on Your Driveway
When installing a crushed stone driveway, it’s important not to lay it flat but instead create a ridge at the center that slopes gently to the sides. This ensures that rainwater will shed off, protecting your driveway from water-induced erosion.
3. Use a Geotextile Grid
Geotextile grids are commonly used for gravel driveways, but you can equally use them for crushed stone driveways. Place the geotextile grid on the driveway before pouring the crushed stone. When you compact the crushed stone, the grid will prevent the stone from sinking into the ground and keep it in place.
This will prevent ruts and potholes from forming on your crushed stone driveway, especially if the driveway is on a slope.
4. Control the Crushed Stone With a Border
Create a border on each driveway side to prevent the crushed stone from sliding and spreading outward. The border can be of bricks, pavers, or rocks. In addition to holding the crushed stone, a border adds an attractive feature to the driveway.
However, ensure proper drainage around the driveway to ensure the border doesn’t become a water trap.
5. Ensure Proper Drainage
A significant cause of driveway ruts is washouts and flooding. You can construct stone-lined tunnels alongside the driveway for proper drainage to catch and redirect runoff. Also, if you are installing the driveway for the first time or re-installing it, consider putting concrete culverts beneath the crushed stone.
This directs water below the driveway instead of over the top of it. A dry driveway has a higher chance of remaining intact than a poorly drained one.
Conclusion
While many homeowners prefer crushed stone driveways, they are prone to developing ruts and potholes over time. It is best to know how to fix ruts as soon as they start forming. You’ll need equipment such as a tractor, a steel tamper, and a box scraper when fixing ruts in your driveway.
If you don’t have this equipment, you can hire them or engage a professional to repair the driveway for you. You should also consider the rut prevention tips in this article, especially if you are installing a new crushed stone driveway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Put Under the Crushed Stone Driveway To Prevent Ruts?
You can use a geotextile grid. Place the geotextile grid on the driveway before pouring the crushed stone. When you compact the crushed stone, the grid will prevent the stone from sinking into the ground and keep it in place.
What Causes Ruts To Form on Crushed Stone Driveways?
Ruts can form on a crushed stone driveway due to vehicle or erosion from rain or flooding.
