Gravel driveway levelling in Exeter
Professional gravel driveway levelling services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Gravel driveway levelled properly - ruts filled, soft spots firmed up, gravel redistributed evenly and compacted down. You're left with a smooth, stable surface that drains properly.
Stop Fighting Those Ruts Every Month
Constantly raking gravel back to the middle? Puddles forming in wheel tracks? Your base has gone soft - just moving gravel around is a never-ending battle.
💡 Pro tip: Gravel driveways need a solid compacted base. Without it, vehicle weight just pushes everything down and you're raking every few weeks. Fix the base once and the surface stays level for years.
Why Gravel Driveways Fail
| Problem | Cause | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel ruts | Soft or thin base layer | Compact existing, add hardcore where needed |
| Gravel at edges | Vehicles push it sideways | Rake back, compact centre, add edging |
| Puddles forming | Wrong fall or sunken spots | Re-grade surface for drainage |
| Gravel disappearing | Sinking into soft ground | Add membrane, rebuild base properly |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Work out why it's rutting (base, drainage, edging) |
| Prepare | Deal with soft spots, add hardcore if needed |
| Level | Redistribute gravel evenly across surface |
| Compact | Proper mechanical compaction for stability |
📦 You're Left With
- Smooth, level surface
- Firm base that won't rut again quickly
- Improved drainage
- Gravel evenly distributed
Pricing Guide
| Drive Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small (single car) | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Medium (double width) | 2.5-3 hrs | £135-£160 |
| Large or badly rutted | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes labour and compaction. Extra hardcore/gravel charged separately if needed (usually £30-60 depending on quantity).
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Deep wheel ruts - fed up with constant raking
✅ Puddles forming - drainage isn't working
✅ Before visitors arrive - make the drive look cared-for
✅ Regular maintenance - level it annually before problems start
Why Choose Us for Gravel driveway levelling in Exeter?
Ruts filled and compacted properly
Gravel redistributed for even coverage
Base sorted if it's causing the problem
Drainage improved where needed
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
I'll walk the drive to see where the soft spots are and why it's rutting. Sometimes it's obvious (thin gravel over mud), sometimes less so (failed drainage underneath).
Step 2: Base Work
Rake gravel aside from problem areas. Add and compact hardcore where the base has failed. This is the bit that makes the fix last - skipping it means the ruts just come back.
Step 3: Level & Compact
Redistribute all the gravel evenly across the surface. Compact it thoroughly with a plate compactor (vibrating machine). Creates a firm, stable surface that resists rutting.
🔧 DIY Tips
Levelling a gravel drive is achievable DIY if you hire the right gear:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Garden rake (landscape rake ideally, but any will do)
- Wheelbarrow
- Spade for dealing with soft spots
- Plate compactor (hire from tool shop - £40-60/day)
- Spirit level or straight edge to check levels
📋 Process
- Rake gravel to the edges to expose the base
- Check for soft/sunken areas - mark them
- Add hardcore to soft spots, compact it down
- Rake gravel back evenly across whole surface
- Compact with the plate compactor in overlapping passes
- Rake smooth again after compacting
- Do a final light compaction pass
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Just raking without compacting (ruts return immediately)
- Not dealing with soft base areas (waste of time)
- Gravel layer too thick (should be 40-50mm compacted depth)
- Compacting in one direction only (do multiple passes, different angles)
- Skipping edge restraint (gravel spreads and thins)
💡 Pro trick: If puddles form, your drive doesn't have enough fall (slope). You need a gradient of at least 1:60 (roughly 15mm drop per metre) for water to run off. Check levels before you start - might need to adjust the whole grade, not just fill low spots.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚗 Heavy vehicles using it regularly? Builder's trucks, delivery vans, even modern SUVs are heavier than older cars. Your base might have been fine originally but isn't coping with modern vehicle weights. Beefing up the base now prevents constant re-levelling later.
No edge restraint? That's why your gravel keeps spreading and thinning. I can install proper edging (timber, brick, or metal) to contain it - worth doing at the same time as levelling so it stays put.
Exeter's clay soil? Clay base without hardcore is a losing battle - it just stays soft and squidgy. You really need a proper sub-base layer (Type 1 hardcore, compacted) to create stability. I'll tell you honestly if that's what your drive needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my gravel driveway keep forming ruts?
Usually the base underneath is too soft or poorly compacted. Vehicles push down, gravel migrates to the sides, and you get wheel ruts. Just raking more gravel over doesn't fix it - you need to compact the base properly or add hardcore where it's weak. I'll do whichever makes sense for your drive.
Can you level my gravel drive without adding more gravel?
Often yes - drives typically have plenty of gravel, it's just all pushed to the edges or in heaps. I'll rake it back to the centre, deal with any soft spots in the base, then redistribute and compact everything evenly. If you genuinely need more gravel I'll tell you, but it's not always necessary.
Will you need to bring equipment or is it all hand tools?
Depends on the state of it. Light levelling is rake and wheelbarrow work. If the base needs proper compacting, I'll bring a plate compactor (vibrating machine that firms everything down). That's what makes the difference between a temporary tidy-up and a proper fix.
How long does a typical single driveway take?
Average single drive is usually 2-3 hours - rake out ruts, deal with soft spots, redistribute gravel, compact it all down. Badly rutted drives or those needing extra base work might take 3-4 hours. I'll give you a realistic estimate once I've seen it.
How long before I can drive on it after levelling?
Immediately if I've used a compactor - the surface is solid straight away. If I've just raked and hand-tamped (lighter jobs), give it 24 hours to settle in properly before heavy use. I'll let you know which applies to your job.
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