Dirt and gravel driveways tend to have less overall form than concrete, asphalt, or brick driveways, but dips, bumps, and potholes are just as great a problem. Because of their simple structure, filling a pothole in dirt or gravel driveways is very easy and requires minimal effort to smooth it out.
Remember: potholes won’t fix themselves; if they get big enough, they can damage your car. It’s best to attack the problem as soon as it is discovered. It is not just for your car but for the appearance of your driveway.
Table of Contents
Causes Of Portholes Formation
After heavy rains, a puddle settles in this spot and begins to erode the underlying dirt as vehicles drive over the area. A pothole is formed when there is a weak spot in the driveway. This is usually an area where the underlying sand or dirt is exposed.
This causes depression, and the hole becomes more profound and a pothole. Moreover, a pothole is created when there is a weak spot in the driveway. This is usually an area where the underlying sand or dirt is exposed.
This causes depression; the hole becomes more profound and becomes a pothole. After heavy rains, a puddle settles in this spot and begins to erode the underlying dirt as vehicles drive over the area.
Filling A Pothole In A Gravel Driveway
- Start by filling the pothole with coarse gravel up to about three inches below the driveway’s surface.
- Next, you should compact the coarse gravel using a steel tamper or a 4×4 wooden post.
- For a dirt driveway, fill the hole with dirt up to three to four inches above the desired surface level.
- Water the soil and compact the area using the steel tamper or 4×4.
- If necessary, repeat the process until the dirt is compacted to the desired level.
- For a gravel driveway, fill the remaining three inches with gravel that matches your driveway, then add a small mound of rock on top that can be used to smooth out the area.
- Rake the area, blending the gravel into the surrounding areas of the driveway.
For either dirt or gravel driveway, run a car over the affected area to ensure further compaction and that your repairs have had the desired effect. Otherwise, you may need to add more dirt or gravel and repeat the previous process.
Fill Potholes With Concrete Ready Mix
The concrete ready mix can also be used to fill potholes. Purchase a bag of the concrete ready mix for every two potholes you need to fill. Scrape any loose gravel from the pothole and pour the dry mixture into the hole, leaving a space two inches from the top.
It is essential to leave some room to compensate for expansion. Ensure that the concrete ready mix is packed smoothly and tightly inside the hole. Overlay the dry mixture with dirt or sand, followed by a layer of gravel.
Rain will blend with the dry concrete, and it will eventually solidify. You will then have an impenetrable cement filling inside the pothole.
Filling Potholes Manually
Most potholes in dirt or gravel driveways are caused by water trapped below the surface, so be sure to maintain or improve the quality of underground drainage to avoid potholes reappearing in your driveway.
Before filling the pothole, ensure that the hole is cleared of debris or loose stones that might prevent it from leveling. If necessary, you can use a rake, shovel, or even a small garden tool. If the sides of the pothole are not solid, dig down with a shovel to create firm edges. This will ensure that the filler material compacts easily.
The Easiest Method To Fix Potholes
Using a driveway grader to fill up potholes and even stop them from forming is far easier than moving heavy tools and gravel around your driveway to fix them. These come in a variety of variants, the simplest of which can be pulled by a truck or riding a lawnmower.
The machine is tethered to your towing vehicle, and as you drive over your driveway, the metal teeth in the machine dig deeply into the gravel to release compaction and fill potholes. A few times a year of grading will ensure a smooth, comfortable surface free of potholes on your driveway.
Conclusion
This means that the layer of gravel on the driveway should be higher in the center and lower along the sides. This will also create graded sides that allow water to run off instead of collecting in puddles. Scraping the entire road will improve the general condition of the surface and make it less inclined to form potholes.
It is best to scrape the road a few days after it has rained because the road surface will be softened and easier to grade.
