Paving or Gravel which is better?

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Both paving and gravel are two of the most familiar and popular garden surfaces. Both are extremely effective in the correct situation having both functional and aesthetic attributes.

Paving and gravel can be used to surface areas which can take both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. They both come in a wide variety of colours, materials, and textures.

Consequently the question is often asked; paving or gravel which is better? In this article I will break down the advantages and disadvantages of using each surface.

Then we will summarise our findings to see which is actually better for what situation. 

Gravel

Aesthetics

The primary aesthetic of gravel is it comes in a wide variety of colours, materials and size grades.

​This provides you with a lot of choice allowing you to conform to contemporary or more traditional styles. The best aesthetic attributes of gravels however is they provide visual textures.

These are visually satisfying to the eye and can provide contrast to more flush surfaces.
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Practicality

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A great plus for installing gravel surfaces is they are very practical. Loose gravels are easy to transport, hard wearing and quick to spread around. This makes them particularly favourable for surfacing large and expansive areas.
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Installation

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The installation of gravel is a very simple process, if you are covering flowerbeds simply cut a weed membrane around plants then lay gravel on top.

​For driveways you will need to excavate a minimum of 200mm spreading 150mm of sub base (type 1) and 50mm of gravel.

Paved areas taking light, pedestrian traffic, can make do with 100mm of sub base. 
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Affordability

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Garden gravel costs anywhere from £50-200 a ton depending on the grade and material. The great thing with gravel is it is quick to lay not requiring any skilled labour. This makes it much cheaper to install than paving. 

Paving

Aesthetics

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Paving also comes in a wide variety of colours, materials and sizes. Patios can be laid in multiple sized patterns or using the same sized paver in a continuous pattern. Particularly with natural stone there is a wide variety of surface textures and finishes from smooth to riven.
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Practicality

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One of the best things about paving is it provides a flush, hard wearing and level surface. This makes it easy to manoeuvre wheeled carriages and is easy to keep clean. If installed correctly on a solid base paving will last a lifetime. This eradicates the need for weeding and expensive revamp projects. 
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Installation

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​For basing up driveways and patios there is little difference between installing gravel or paving. However when it comes to laying paving it is much more time consuming than gravel. This is because each unit needs to be individually secured level with the surrounding surface. 
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Affordability

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Paving generally ranges between £20 – 120 a square metre which is much more expensive per coverage than gravel. Also paving installation requires skilled labour which is much slower than spreading gravel resulting in a higher cost. 

Advantages of paving

• Provides a level and even surface
• Easy to conform to a specific theme
• Looks clean and consistent
• Easy to walk across
• Can take heavy loads without displacement
• Easy to clean
• Minimal risk of weeds establishing

Disadvantages of paving

• Can stain
  
• Colours can eventually fade
  
• If broken difficult to repair
  
• Susceptible to ground movement
  
• Requires skilled labour to install
  
• Preparation and installation expensive
  
• Accelerates surface run off 

Advantages of gravel

• Comes in a wide range of colours materials and grades
• Requires less excavation and sub base
• Can allow for interspersed planting
• Does not require skilled labour to lay
• Is significantly cheaper than paving
• Allows water to pass through
• Draws attention to intruders
• Colours rarely fade

Disadvantages of gravel

• Is difficult to clean
  
• Is susceptible to weeds
  
• Can be walked into the home
  
• Can be susceptible to animal faeces
  
• Can be uncomfortable to walk across
  
• Is challenging for wheeled carriages
  
• Is susceptible to temporary flooding 

Conclusion

​If you require a consistent, level, attractive, surface and have a healthy budget paving is the best option. Its durability, accessibility and ability to clean easily make it the superior surface. However if you require an affordable and quick surface which is permeable that looks good gravel is best. 

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