Lay a gravel path — HomeGraft

Mark out, dig, edge, add sub-base and membrane, then spread and compact gravel for a firm, tidy path.

GP-01Plan and mark out the routeDecide the width and shape of the path, then mark it out with pegs and string, or spray marker paint on grass. Check the line clears drains, manholes, tree roots, and any plants you want to keep. If the path is in your front garden, check the planning note below before you start digging.

RULES

1 pack · Wooden pegs (pack of 10, 50x50x300mm)

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1 each · String line, 30m

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1 can · Spray marker paint

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1 each · Tape measure, 5m

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KNOW THE RULES

In England, hard surfacing over 5m² in a front garden usually needs planning permission unless it's permeable, like gravel over a properly draining base. Gravel paths normally count as permeable, but check with your council if you're at all unsure.

GP-02Check for buried cables and pipes before diggingGarden cables for lighting or sockets, and pipes for outside taps or drainage, can run almost anywhere and are often shallower than you'd think. Sweep a cable and pipe detector along the marked route, then dig the first 100mm by hand with a spade rather than a powered tool, especially near the house or existing outside taps. If you feel something solid or see a cable or pipe, stop and dig around it by hand.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector, hire (per day)

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GP-03Excavate the path bedDig out the marked area to about 100-120mm below the finished path level, keeping the base flat and removing large stones and roots. Save turf or topsoil for use elsewhere in the garden, and bag the rest for green waste or a skip. Give the base a very slight slope, about 1 in 60, away from the house or into a lawn, so rain drains off the finished path.

1 each · Round-nosed spade

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1 each · Wheelbarrow

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1 pack · Rubble sacks (pack of 10)

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GP-04Fit the edgingFix timber gravel boards or metal edging along both sides of the path to hold the gravel in and keep the line neat. Drive wooden pegs into the ground every 900mm and screw the boards to them, with the top of the board level with the finished gravel height. Check the edging is straight and level along its whole length with a spirit level before moving on.

6 each · Treated timber gravel board, 1200x100x22mm

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10 each · Wooden pegs, 50x50x300mm

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1 box · Galvanised screws, 50mm (box of 100)

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1 each · Spirit level, 600mm

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GP-05Lay and compact the sub-baseSpread MOT Type 1 sub-base across the excavated area to a depth of about 50-75mm. Rake it roughly level, then compact it firmly with a plate compactor or a hand tamper, working along the path and then across it, until the surface feels solid underfoot.

1 bag · MOT Type 1 sub-base, bulk bag (~850kg, covers ~9m² at 50mm)

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1 each · Plate compactor, hire (per day)

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1 each · Hand tamper

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GP-06Lay the weed-suppressant membraneRoll out a heavy-duty weed-control membrane over the compacted sub-base, overlapping any joins by at least 150mm. Trim it to fit inside the edging with scissors or a sharp knife, and hold it in place temporarily with a few stones or membrane pins until the gravel goes on top.

1 roll · Weed-control membrane, roll (1m x 10m)

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1 pack · Membrane pins (pack of 20)

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1 each · Utility knife

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GP-07Spread the gravelTip the gravel onto the membrane in small heaps along the path, then spread it out evenly with a rake to a depth of about 30-40mm. Work from one end to the other, checking the depth and level as you go with a spirit level or a straight length of timber.

1 bag · Decorative gravel, 20mm, bulk bag (~850kg, covers ~8m² at 40mm)

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1 each · Garden rake

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GP-08Compact and settle the gravelLightly compact the gravel with a plate compactor on a gentle setting, or firm it down with a hand tamper if you don't have one. Top up any thin patches and rake level again, so the finished gravel sits about 10-15mm below the top of the edging.

1 each · Plate compactor, hire (light setting, per day)

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1 each · Hand tamper

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GP-09Tidy upSweep any stray gravel off nearby paving or lawn, and check the edging is secure along its whole length. Bag up leftover sub-base, membrane offcuts and spoil for disposal, and rinse tools before putting them away.

1 each · Stiff outdoor broom

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1 pack · Rubble sacks (pack of 10)

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