Chislehurst
Brick piers, stone coping and railings
A brick boundary with pale stone coping and pier caps, finished with decorative railing panels.
View Chislehurst projectMEDWAY · KENT
Gravel Driveways Medway
Choose loose stone with movement, support and containment in mind. We discuss gravel and shingle driveways across Medway, including new installations and top-layer refreshes, with aggregate, edges, gradients and maintenance clearly defined in the scope.
Compare aggregate for driving and walking
Look at colour and shape alongside the house, then discuss grading for the actual use. Rounded shingle and more angular stone can behave differently under movement. Consider vehicle turning, the walking route and compatibility with any grid system.
The choice should include comfort near doors and frequently used paths. A firm connecting route may suit some layouts. Select edge details that retain stone without leaving awkward transitions to planting, paving or the entrance.
Assess the ground beneath the decorative layer
Photograph recurring ruts, soft areas and any slope. Agree which supporting work is needed and whether retained construction can remain. A decorative top-up does not necessarily solve movement in the base.
Specify a separation layer or grid only where its purpose and compatibility are clear. The complete construction needs a suitable water route. Loose aggregate may allow water through the surface while unsuitable ground below still prevents it from draining away.
Calculate quantity for the selected system
Measure the area and agree the construction before deciding stone depth and quantities. A 20mm aggregate description refers to grading, not a universal finished-layer depth. The selected system and use determine what should be specified.
Keep support material and decorative aggregate quantities separate. Convert volume to weight using the supplier’s data and check actual bag weights. Include delivery and unloading access; a material price per tonne does not cover excavation, edges or installation.
Compare a refresh with a rebuilt driveway
For an existing drive, state whether stone will be redistributed, supplemented or removed. Identify base and border repairs separately. A simple refresh and a new driveway may share an aggregate colour but contain very different work.
Allow for raking, weed control and occasional replenishment. Keep the stone name and grading for future top-ups. Compare the complete cost and upkeep with blocks, resin or tarmac, especially where turning or gradients could increase movement.
Keep aggregate quantities and supporting work distinct
Calculate the decorative quantity from the measured area and the agreed depth for the selected stone or grid. Convert volume to weight using supplier data for that material. Check the stated weight of bags and whether delivery is included; a bulk bag is not automatically one tonne.
The supporting aggregate and decorative stone perform different roles and need separate quantities in the proposal. Record the stone name and grading for future top-ups. Where an existing drive is being refreshed, clarify whether old stone is redistributed, supplemented or removed, and which base or edge repairs are included.
What the complete Medway quotation should cover
Use the same agreed scope when comparing proposals. Confirm the materials and work below the visible finish, together with any retained construction. Ask how exclusions or provisional work will be handled and keep the written specification with the quotation.
- Measured parking area and walking-route arrangements
- Excavation or assessment of retained supporting layers
- Named decorative aggregate and specified quantity
- Any compatible grid or separation system and its purpose
- Edge containment, slope assessment and water route
- Delivery, disposal, maintenance guidance, VAT and exclusions
Photographs, dimensions and access details help define the work. They can start the discussion, with a visit or further assessment where needed. A quoted total is useful when it is clear what the finished result includes.
From the first enquiry to handover
- Assess slope, access, turning and the existing support.
- Agree stone samples, construction and containment.
- Install suitable support and any specified fabric or grid.
- Place aggregate to the agreed system requirements and finish edges.
- Explain redistribution, top-ups and what recurrent rutting could indicate.
Agree the programme after the scope and materials are confirmed. Include delivery arrangements, protection of retained features and any periods when the area cannot be used. At handover, confirm how the completed work should be used and cared for, and retain the relevant product details.
COMPLETED PROJECT · CANTERBURY
Tiered garden and paving circles
Retaining walls, shingle infill and riven buff slab circles across connected garden levels.
This project is in Canterbury. The photographs show the documented work at that property.
View this project →How this project relates to your plans
The Canterbury tiered garden uses shingle infill. It shows an aggregate appearance in a garden, not a gravel driveway installation.
Check the official front-garden guidance
Planning Portal: paving your front garden explains the English planning requirements. Check the proposal and any property restrictions before work.
Questions about gravel driveways medway
What are the downsides of gravel driveways?
Loose stone can migrate and needs redistribution, cleaning, weed control and occasional top-ups.
What should go down before the gravel?
Specify suitable support and any justified separation or stabilisation system for the ground and intended traffic.
How deep should a 20mm gravel driveway be?
Grading alone does not define the layer depth. Use the requirements for the selected construction and use.
Is gravel cheaper than block paving?
Compare full preparation, containment, delivery and upkeep rather than decorative material prices alone.
Can a gravel drive be refreshed?
Assess retained support and edges and agree which stone is reused, removed or added.
Can it work on a slope?
Assess gradient, traffic and compatible containment before deciding on the system.
Will gravel prevent standing water?
Only a suitable complete construction and underlying water route can address drainage.
How much aggregate will I need?
Calculate from the measured area and specified depth, converting with supplier data for the actual material.
Related Medway services
Landscape Gardener MedwayTurn a collection of garden improvements into a practical plan. Landscape Gardener of Kent discusses landscaping across Medway, including patios, decking, lawns, boundaries, garden walls and driveway work. Share your location and the changes you want for a free, no-obligation quotation.Patio Installers MedwayCreate a terrace that fits outdoor dining, seating and movement through the garden. We discuss patio installation across Medway with porcelain, natural stone and concrete paving, alongside preparation, thresholds, joints, edges and the route for rainfall.Driveway Installers MedwayPlan a frontage around parking, walking access and water management. We discuss new and replacement driveways in Medway, comparing resin, blocks, tarmac and gravel on the same measured brief, with any retained construction assessed before resurfacing is proposed.Resin Driveways MedwayExplore aggregate blends and a continuous finish for your Medway driveway. We discuss resin surfacing with the application system, support, traffic, edging and water route named in the proposal, separating an overlay from work that requires a new base.Block Paving MedwayBring patterns, borders and practical repair access into your Medway paving plan. We discuss block paving for driveways, patios and paths with units, supporting layers, bedding, joints and drainage specified for the actual intended use.Tarmac Driveways MedwayConsider a continuous asphalt surface for parking or an access drive in Medway. We discuss new tarmac installation and possible resurfacing, with vehicle use, retained layers, edges, covers and gradients assessed before the construction is agreed.Fencing Contractors MedwayPlan privacy and access around a clearly specified garden boundary. We discuss fencing installation and replacement in Medway, including closeboard, panels, posts, gravel boards and gates, with repair enquiries assessed separately from a complete new run.Fence Repairs MedwayDescribe the damaged panels, posts, rails or gate at your Medway property. We discuss fence repairs after considering the failed component and neighbouring support, with retained materials, replacement parts, access and reinstatement made clear before work is agreed.Decking Installers MedwayCreate a terrace with boards, frame and access designed together. We discuss timber and composite decking across Medway, including replacement structures, steps, fascia and balustrades, with the garden levels and complete support considered before boards are selected.Artificial Grass MedwayCompare a synthetic lawn product with the construction and care it requires. We discuss artificial grass installation in Medway, including family and pet use, with measured roll layout, joins, edges, support and water management included in the proposal.Turfing MedwayPrepare a living lawn around the soil, levels and use of your garden. We discuss turf laying and re-turfing across Medway with removal, ground preparation, delivery, edges and establishment care included, distinguishing turf supply from a complete lawn installation.Garden Walls MedwayGive garden boundaries, terraces and planted areas a defined structure. We discuss garden walls and landscaping brickwork in Medway, including repairs, piers, steps and retaining features, with the wall’s purpose, support and adjoining levels established before materials are selected.
OUR WORK · KENT
Explore our completed projects across Kent.
St Margaret’s Bay
Composite decking and glass balustrade
Grey composite decking, glass panels, powder-coated steel posts and matching steps.
View St Margaret’s Bay project
Folkestone
Academy entrance landscaping
Timber-topped gabion benches, resin-bonded surfacing, shingle and a boat feature at the academy entrance.
View Folkestone project
Canterbury
Rockery stones reused in a ragstone wall
The stones from a customer’s late husband’s rockery kept and reused in a new front wall.
View Canterbury projectCanterbury
Tiered garden and paving circles
Retaining walls, shingle infill and riven buff slab circles across connected garden levels.
View Canterbury project
Ashford
Timber decking replacement
Before, during and after a timber decking replacement, from the old deck to the finished terrace.
View Ashford project
Borough Green
Complete garden landscaping
1800mm closeboard fencing, softwood sleeper planters, a 450mm buff slab patio and new turf.
View Borough Green project
Canterbury
Patio, artificial grass and steel pergola
Porcelain paving, artificial grass and a custom steel-frame pergola with polycarbonate roof.
View Canterbury project
Strood
Porcelain patio and sleeper planters
Grey porcelain paving framed by timber sleeper planters, white decorative stones and planting.
View Strood project
West Malling
Paving, walls and fencing
Block paving, porcelain patio, brick retaining walls and two styles of timber fencing.
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Ashford
Sandstone patio and sleeper walls
Sandstone paving across two levels, with timber sleeper retaining walls.
View Ashford project
Deal
Patio, composite deck and pergola
A sandstone patio, ash-coloured composite decking, pitched-roof pergola and sleeper planters.
View Deal project
Sevenoaks
York stone patio and garden walls
75mm thick York stone paving, curved paths, brick walls and Kentish ragstone walls.
View Sevenoaks project
Herne Bay
Garden transformation
Porcelain patio, raised bed, artificial grass and slatted fencing. See the garden before and after.
View Herne Bay project
Sittingbourne
Garden decking
A broad decking terrace with defined board lines and steps connecting the house to the lawn.
View Sittingbourne project
Deal
Decking and railings
Raised grey decking with black railings, inset steps and a matching handrail.
View Deal projectYOUR MEDWAY PROJECT
Tell us what you want to improve.
Send your postcode, photographs, measurements and access details for a free, no-obligation quotation.