Gravel

14-20mm angular gravel is optimal for UK driveways. We recommend our premium Black Basalt Gravel (£829.99/tonne, 25-30 year lifespan) for dramatic contemporary driveways, or Bianco Carrara White Gravel (£829.99/tonne, 20-25 years) for luxury traditional properties.

Angular shapes interlock when compacted, preventing shifting under vehicle weight. Both premium options add £3,000-£5,000 to property value.

Black Basalt is volcanic Portuguese stone with a glossy jet-black appearance when wet. It's exceptionally hard (25-30 year lifespan), perfect for modern and contemporary properties.

Bianco Carrara is Italian marble from the same Tuscan quarries as Michelangelo's sculptures. It offers bright white elegance (20-25 years), ideal for traditional and luxury homes.

Both are premium at £829.99/tonne. Choice depends on your aesthetic preference: dramatic black or timeless white.

Use our free gravel calculator for instant calculations. Simply enter length, width, and depth.

Quick reference for a standard 10m × 4m driveway at 125mm depth:
• Total needed: 8-9 tonnes
• Sub-base (MOT Type 1): 5 tonnes
• Top gravel: 3.5 tonnes

Formula: Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (m) × 1,680 kg/m³. Always order 10-15% extra for compaction.

14-20mm is the optimal size. Our Black Basalt is 16-22mm and Bianco Carrara is 12-16mm — both perfect for driveways.

This size provides:
• Excellent interlock when compacted
• Superior drainage (3-5mm gaps)
• Comfortable walking surface
• Professional appearance

Avoid smaller sizes (shift like sand) or larger sizes (uncomfortable, poor compaction).

Yes! We strongly recommend ordering samples (£6.99 each) to test colors in your actual driveway lighting.

Premium gravel looks dramatically different wet vs dry, and in morning vs afternoon sun. Take advantage of our 3FOR1 offer — buy 3 samples, pay for just one.

35-45% of sample buyers order bulk within 2 weeks. A £7-£21 sample investment prevents a £7,000+ regret.

125mm total depth minimum for standard driveways:
• 75mm MOT Type 1 sub-base (compacted)
• 50mm decorative gravel top layer

For heavy vehicles (vans, motorhomes): 150mm total (100mm base + 50mm top).

Insufficient depth causes rutting and sinking within 6-12 months. The sub-base distributes vehicle weight; the top layer provides aesthetics and drainage.

Yes — absolutely essential. Use 125gsm woven geotextile membrane (heavy-duty landscape fabric).

Professional installation:
1. Install first membrane on compacted soil
2. Add 75-100mm MOT Type 1 sub-base
3. Optional: Second membrane on top of sub-base
4. Spread decorative gravel 50mm deep

Membrane prevents gravel sinking into soil, stops weed growth, and keeps colors pure. Without it, your driveway fails within 6-12 months.

Our premium gravels offer exceptional longevity:
• Black Basalt: 25-30 years (volcanic hardness)
• Bianco Carrara: 20-25 years (marble durability)

Maintenance required:
• Annual raking/leveling (1-2 hours)
• Top-up every 5 years (10-15% volume, £250-£400)

With proper installation and maintenance, premium gravel driveways can last decades longer than standard options.

Annual maintenance (1-2 hours):
• Rake to redistribute gravel
• Hand-pull any weeds
• Top-up displaced areas
• Edge trimming

Every 5 years (major service):
• Add 10-15% new gravel top-up
• Re-compact if needed
• Inspect membrane

Seasonal tips:
• Spring: Deep rake
• Autumn: Leaf removal
• Winter: Avoid rock salt (use sand instead)

No planning permission needed if your driveway is under 5m² OR uses permeable gravel with proper drainage.

Standard gravel driveways (14-20mm on membrane and sub-base) are considered permeable and don't require permission.

Exceptions:
• Listed buildings (check with council)
• Conservation areas (may have restrictions)
• Driveways over 5m² without drainage

Our premium gravels are fully permeable and SUDS-compliant.

Over concrete/tarmac in good condition: Yes — add 50mm gravel directly. Creates permeable surface, saves £1,200-£4,000 on excavation.

Over damaged concrete/tarmac: No — remove first to prevent uneven settling.

Over existing gravel: Yes if stable; remove and replace if contaminated with soil/weeds.

Over bare soil: No — must install proper membrane and sub-base first for long-term stability.

Yes! We offer free UK-wide delivery on all our premium gravel orders.

Delivery details:
• Free for all tonne bags and bulk orders
• Delivered on pallets for easy placement
• 3-5 working days to most UK addresses
• Expert advice included with every order

Order samples first to test colors (£6.99 each, 3FOR1 available), then order your bulk quantity with confidence.

Yes for visible front driveways on properties £300K+. Premium gravel adds £3,000-£5,000 property value.

ROI calculation (40m² driveway):
• Full premium cost: £7,470
• Property value increase: £3,000-£5,000
• Net cost: £2,470-£4,470

Benefits beyond ROI:
• 25-30 year lifespan (vs 15 years standard)
• Dramatic curb appeal
• Premium positioning
• Luxury aesthetics

For back driveways or budgets under £3,000, consider our Smart Hybrid method.

Professional 7-step method:

1. Excavate to 150mm depth
2. Compact soil firmly
3. Lay membrane (125gsm geotextile)
4. Add sub-base (75-100mm MOT Type 1)
5. Compact base with plate compactor
6. Optional second membrane on top of base
7. Spread gravel 50mm deep, light compaction

DIY-friendly (3-day project) or hire professional installer (adds £800-£1,500 labor).

Our most popular cost-saving strategy: MOT Type 1 base (from local supplier) + premium Black Basalt or Bianco Carrara top layer.

For 40m² driveway:
• MOT Type 1 base (5t): £140
• Premium top (1.4t): £2,905
• Total: £3,045 (vs £7,470 full premium)
• Savings: £4,425 (59% less)

You get the same stunning visual result — the base is hidden underground, only the premium top layer is visible. Smart luxury.