Is It Okay to Slope a Driveway Addition?

Effects

• It is essential to slope your driveway addition properly or you can form a low area where water collects. This low area allows water to sit which can cause pot holes in dirt or gravel driveways and deteriorate concrete and asphalt over time. These low spots are often the site of ice buildups in cold weather climates, which cause a dangerous area to walk or drive.

Determining Slope

• It may not be necessary to slope the addition the same as the existing driveway as long as the water runs off properly. If the driveway has a downward slope you can continue the gradual slope down and to one side slightly. It is ideal to slope a flat driveway slightly to one side, whichever way the current driveway is sloping or to the side desired to collect the water.

Preparing Ground

• Preparing the ground for the new section of driveway is important to ensure it lasts a long time. Strip all topsoil and grass, being sure to get all roots and objects that protrude from the ground. Place stakes at the edges of the existing driveway to set the grade level. Place a series of stakes along the path of the new driveway to string a grade string from. Set the string height to correlate with the slope direction you plan by raising or lowering the grade stakes. Adjust the soil height to the correct depth for the driveway type and compact accordingly.

Installing Addition

• It is critical to properly align the new and old driveways at the junction point to prevent a rough spot in the driveway that will weaken its integrity and change the direction of water runoff. For dirt and gravel, use a landscape rake to even the line out and use a tamper to compact the dirt. Use the existing portion of your driveway as a starting point for screeding when installing a concrete addition which will allow you to get the junction perfectly level. Installing asphalt requires you to lay the start of the addition and level the seam by hand with a shovel.