How to Use Limestone for a Driveway

Excavate the driveway's intended length and width to prepare the subgrade. Create a crown or peak in the middle of the driveway's width that measures approximately 5 to 7 inches higher than the edges of the driveway. Slope each side of the driveway away from the central crown to improve water drainage and to prevent erosion, puddles and rutting.

Dig ditches on either side of the driveway to prevent erosion and carry excess rainwater to a larger ditch or drain. Excavate the ditches to a total depth of approximately 8 inches lower than the edges, or shoulders, of the excavated driveway site. Slope the inner and exterior walls of each driveway ditch to prevent vertical walls from eroding.

Apply sheets of landscape fabric to the sloped, dirt driveway site to prevent weeds and grass from going through the limestone driveway, and to help prevent the soil from eroding. Overlap each section of the landscape fabric for more efficiency. Drape the landscape fabric across the width of the road, over the shoulders and down into the ditches on each side of the road.

Apply coarse limestone gravel measuring approximately 4 inches in diameter over the sloped and crowned driveway site. Apply only one layer of the coarse limestone, leaving a 1- to 2-foot expanse on the edges of the driveway to serve as a shoulder. Smooth and compact this layer into place using a grader. This layer helps to provide a strong base for the driveway to reduce future maintenance costs associated with applying more gravel to the driveway.

Apply a 2-inch-thick layer of medium-sized limestone gravel with diameters between 1 and 3 inches. Smooth this layer over the crown of the road with a grader.

Apply a final layer of fine limestone gravel with diameters less than 1 inch over the two previous gravel layers. Build this final layer up to approximately 4 inches and smooth over the road surface with a grader.