Economical Alternatives to Paving a Driveway

Gravel

• Gravel offers an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paved driveways. You can use gravel by itself, although the weight of cars will likely cause unattractive ruts. For a smoother, more attractive gravel driveway, consider using porous pavers or plastic grids that distribute the weight of the car over a larger surface. However, keep in mind that porous pavers should only be used on driveways with a slope less than five percent to seven percent. You might also need to replace some of the gravel occasionally.

Grass

• Although grass by itself would become compacted and damaged from the weight of cars, using porous pavers or paving blocks enables the use of grass for a driveway. Grass will grow between the holes of the plastic porous pavers. Like gravel, loosely arranged brick and other porous materials, grass helps absorb water, is environmentally friendly, and can be much less expensive than a paved driveway. Water and fertilize grass driveways like you water and fertilize the rest of your lawn.

Brick

• Arranging bricks in a loose configuration facilitates the absorption of water, decreasing stormwater runoff while also providing a less expensive alternative to paved driveways. You can also include pieces of natural stone in a loosely arranged brick driveway. Increased absorption can negate the need for expensive water draining management techniques, and is also more environmentally friendly.