Pros and Cons of Stone Driveways: What to Consider First

Stone has been used on driveways, walkways, and paths of all kinds for centuries. Many love the appearance of stone driveways, which add a classic, grand appeal to the home.

However, stone driveways have both pros and cons when it comes to their costs, materials, and maintenance, as well as other factors. Read on to examine the pros, cons and considerations with stone driveways.

Costs

Depending on the choice of stone and the depth of the stone and gravel base, plan to spend $1 to $4 per square foot for a stone driveway. You can keep the costs to a minimum by doing much of the work yourself.

Stone pavers and cobblestones require quarrying, and those square footage costs are significantly higher: $15 to $60 for stone pavers and $20 to $70 for cobblestones, according to HomeAdvisor. Other cost comparisons: Paved concrete driveways cost $4 to $15, and asphalt costs $7 to $13 per square foot.

Pros

• Gravel is the least expensive driveway option and is the easiest to install yourself.
• Gravel or stone pavers have minimal maintenance costs.
• Cobblestones can last for centuries, making them a sustainable, long-term investment.
• Cobblestones and stone pavers increase a home's resale value.

Cons

• Cobblestones are the most expensive stone option to source, and labor costs are high.
• Stone pavers are another pricier option.
• Expect to regrade a gravel driveway every few years.
• Winter can take a toll on gravel driveways, requiring topping off and stone refills.

Materials Used

Everybody knows what a stone is, but choosing the right kind of stone can make a difference when it comes to driveways, patios, sidewalks, and other surfaces. Although using terms like gravel, crushed rock, and stone interchangeably is common, it is useful to recognize the types of driveways you can get with these different materials.

Gravel driveways are often composed of a mixture of rocks, sand, and clay compacted into a reasonably stable surface. A stone driveway typically is just that, loose stones, usually placed over a gravel base.

Pros

• Natural-looking aesthetic.
• Paving stones can be laid out in designs or patterns.
• Broken concrete can be recycled and used as substrate in gravel driveways.

Cons

• Loose stones can make a mess.
  
• For snowy locales, snow removal on gravel driveways can be tricky since snow plows are not recommended for gravel.
• Potholes and divets crop up over time in gravel driveways.
• Gravel is not ideal for sloped driveways since loose gravel can get slippery, especially in the rain.
• It's difficult to ride bicycles and wheelchairs over the surface.

Maintenance and Longevity

Loose stones will stray, so raking around the edges will be necessary every once in a while. However, you can cut down on this small chore by building a border for the driveway with bricks or cobblestones. It will also be necessary to smooth and grade the surface regularly; you can use that same rake for the job. Finally, plan to clear any weeds that grow through the stones.

A loose stone driveway can last just about forever. Certainly, with the minimal maintenance mentioned above, there's no reason your driveway shouldn't be good as new a century from now.

Pros

• Cobblestones and gravel are two of the most durable driveway surfacing options; gravel wears down but is easily replenishable.
• Cobblestone and stone pavers need very little maintenance, nothing more than washing once a year or so.

Cons

• Gravel needs regular replenishment and topping off.
• Gravel needs regular raking and hosing down to remove debris and manage dust.
• Stone and gravel need hand-weeding, especially if you don't use a weed membrane for the base layer.
  
• Stone pavers aren't as durable as cobblestone and require resealing every five years.

Installation Process

A new stone driveway requires that the sod and topsoil be removed, and the surface needs to be graded. Depending on how much stone and gravel you plan to add, you must dig at least 6 inches deep, preferably 10 to 12 inches. Compact the soil, then add a 4- to 8-inch gravel base, topped with 2 to 4 inches of stone.

If you install a border (highly recommended to contain loose stones), plan to set the bricks or cobblestones before spreading the stones.

Pros

• Stone doesn't require any finishing, curing, or drying time.
• Gravel is fast to install.

Cons

• Stone pavers can take some time to install.
• Gravel driveways need at least 6 to 12 inches of excavation and grading.
• Gravel driveways should have a border to keep the stones in place.

Erosion

Stone driveways are prone to erosion from weathering. Gravel allows water to permeate the ground; however, ground stabilizers might be necessary for sloped driveways. Honeycombed, stabilizer cells hold the gravel in place. As gravel wears down, it will need to be replenished.

Pros

• Gravel, cobblestones, and stone pavers are usually porous around the stone, allowing water to permeate the ground.
• Gravel tends to be resistant to weathering and erosion.

Cons

• Stone pavers are susceptible to wear and weathering.
• Frost heaves during drastic temperature changes, moving stone pavers out of place, widening joints, or making cracks.
  
• Gravel may need to install stabilization pavers to keep gravel in place.
• Areas prone to heavy rains or flooding may unset the stones.

Other Driveway Options

Other driveway options include paved concrete or asphalt, concrete pavers, and bricks. Paving with concrete or asphalt is a little pricier than gravel but less expensive than bricks.

Paved concrete driveways are one of the most popular driveway materials. It's a durable surface lasting 25 to 50 years when properly maintained. Asphalt is cheaper than concrete and quicker to install, but it only lasts about 20 years.

Concrete pavers can be made to interlock, not requiring mortar, making them easy to install. They can last up to 40 years, typically costing $10 to $25 per square foot. Bricks cost similarly to concrete pavers, ranging from $10 to $30 per square foot. Brick driveways can last up to 25 years, even longer in areas that don't experience frost or intense weather.