Paving or Gravel which is better?

3/9/2022

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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.

Practicality

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.

Installation

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.

Affordability

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

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.

Practicality

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.

Installation

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.

Affordability

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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4 Comments

Charlotte Fleet link

10/27/2022 04:07:57 pm

My wife and I need to choose the best option for the driveway of the house we are currently building. I loved learning that gravel is a significantly more affordable option than paving. We'd like to keep our budget as small as possible, so we'll have to invest in high-quality gravel from a reputable supplier.

Mia Evans link

1/6/2023 02:40:44 am

It got me when you talked about how less time-consuming gravel is when used for driveways and patios. With that in mind, you probably consider this material when you want the project to be done in a short period of time. My sister should learn about this because you mentioned about wanting a driveway installed before summer of 2023, so she can have parties invite guests over at her place easily.

Scott Bullins link

3/2/2023 05:42:59 am

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether to pave or gravel your driveway. Gravel is typically much cheaper than paving, so it may be the more budget-friendly option. Paving will usually last longer, however, so it may be worth the extra investment.

Eli Richardson link

4/24/2023 08:24:36 am

My wife and I are interested in renovating our house's exterior look next month, so we'd like to know which materials are better for our project. We loved what you explained about paving and how it's a solid base that lasts for a lifetime, so we'll keep this in mind for our project. Thanks for the information on paving our yard to eradicate our need for weeding the area.

The
Author
Paul Nicolaides
BA (Hons) Dip

Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening.