Gravel is one of the most versatile and durable materials used in construction and landscaping. It’s particularly useful for walkways and driveways due to its weather-resistant properties and aesthetic value. If you’re installing a gravel driveway, here are four types to consider before you head to the hardware store. 

What Are the Best Types of Gravel for Your Driveway?

1. Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is made of small, round, and rough naturally weathered stones. It comes in a broad selection of colors, including tan, brown, gray, white, red, and blue, making it easy to coordinate with your home’s color scheme. It’s a fantastic top-layer choice, although it’s not suitable as a base layer. Because of the stones’ uneven texture, pea gravel is more likely to move under vehicles or off of the driveway unless there’s edging to keep it in place. 

2. Crushed Stone

Crushed stone is the most common gravel type. It’s composed of limestone, granite, gneiss, or trap rock and is usually white or gray. It comes in different sizes, though always in angular shapes, which helps lock the gravel together to provide greater traction. It’s often used as a middle layer and popular in landscaping, as it is good for drainage due to the size and shape of the fragments. 

3. Jersey Shore Gravel

Jersey Shore gravel, true to its name, is a popular choice at hardware stores in the Northeast. It has a golden yellow color, resembling beach sand, and is slightly larger and rounder than pea gravel, though rougher than river rock. It’s generally used as a surface material and requires edging to keep it in place. 

4. Marble Chips

Marble chips are beautiful with their stunning shimmer, making them a fantastic top layer for a driveway or walkway. However, marble is significantly more expensive than other gravel materials. It also requires an edging to keep it in place and prevent your investment from washing away. 

Gravel is a fantastic choice for residential and commercial driveways. If you need assistance finding the ideal material for your home, speak with the experts at a local hardware store. Ideal Supplies has been Covington, KY’s go-to hardware store and concrete supplies company for over 50 years. If you’re a Kenton County resident, call (859) 491-6666 to speak with a friendly staff member, or visit their website for more information on their products and services.