A driveway that keeps washing out

A driveway that keeps washing out FAQ

Questions we get about this problem

Q01The gravel drive ruts, washboards, and washes to the low end every wet season

A driveway fails when it's just rock dumped on dirt with no base, no crown, and no drainage. On the rolling grades of Van Zandt, Wood, and Henderson counties, runoff concentrates and carries loose rock downhill, and on sandy ground the rock simply sinks into the soil without a compacted base under it. We rebuild the drive the way it should have been built: the right material for the traffic, a compacted base in lifts, a crown so water sheds to the sides, and culverts or drainage where the drive crosses a low point. Base and drainage are what make rock last, not the amount of rock.

Q02How do you fix a driveway that keeps washing out?

We rebuild the drive the way it should have been built: the right material for the traffic, a compacted base in lifts, a crown so water sheds to the sides, and culverts or drainage where the drive crosses a low point. Base and drainage are what make rock last, not the amount of rock.

Q03What does it cost to fix a washed-out gravel driveway?

Length is the biggest driver, then how much of the base survived, whether the drive needs culverts, and which material fits the traffic. Re-crowning a drive with a sound base is a light job; rebuilding base and setting culverts on a long ranch drive is a real one. We walk it and quote firm, free.

Q04Which rock is best for an East Texas driveway?

Depends on your soil and traffic. Caliche packs into a tight surface on dry ground, crushed limestone and road base hold up better under heavy or daily traffic, and the honest answer is that the base under the rock matters more than the rock. Our guide on which rock to use for a driveway walks the options.

Q05Why does my new gravel disappear every year?

It's sinking, not washing. Rock placed straight on dirt gets pushed down into the soil under every axle load, fastest on wet clay and loose sand. A compacted base, with geotextile fabric where the ground is soft, gives the rock something to sit on, that one change ends the annual re-rock cycle.

Q06Do I need a culvert under my driveway?

If the drive crosses any path water takes, even one that only runs in storms, yes, and it needs sizing to the watershed feeding it, not to whatever pipe was cheap. An undersized culvert backs water over the drive and cuts the base out from both ends. New connections to county roads can also carry a permit requirement, which we flag before work.

Q07How long does a driveway rebuild take?

Most residential drives are done in 1-2 days. Long ranch drives with culvert sets and full base rebuilds run longer, the material haul is usually the pacing item. We stage deliveries so the drive stays passable while we work.

Q08How long will a properly built gravel driveway last?

With a compacted base, a crown that sheds water, and working culverts, the structure lasts for years, maintenance drops to occasional top-up rock and a re-grade when the crown wears flat. What kills gravel drives is water sitting on them; keep the water moving and the drive keeps working.