Picking the right stone
| Stone | Behaviour | Verdict for Redcar |
|---|---|---|
| Fine pea shingle (6 to 10mm) | Rounded, rolls and scatters | Avoid on drives |
| Angular gravel (14 to 20mm) | Locks together, stays put | Recommended |
| Slate chippings | Flat, can shift under tyres | Better for borders |
| Golden or buff flint | Attractive, angular grades available | Good with grids |
Heavier, angular stone resists both tyres and wind. Pale golden stones suit Redcar's sandy setting and painted houses.
Grids stop rutting
Plastic cellular grids, laid on the sub-base and filled with gravel, hold the stones in small cells. They stop ruts forming and keep a level surface under the car. They are especially worth having on soft or sandy ground.
The apron
Gravel on the pavement is a hazard and a nuisance. A metre or so of block paving or tarmac at the entrance, set slightly higher than the gravel, catches stones before they reach the footway.
Building it
- Excavate about 150mm.
- Lay a geotextile membrane.
- Compact a crushed-stone sub-base.
- Fix edging (setts, timber or steel).
- Lay grids and fill with gravel.
- Build the apron at the road end.
Cost
About £60 per m² on Checkatrade's April 2026 figures (cost guide). Grids, edging and the apron add to the base price but are what make gravel practical.
Drainage and permission
Gravel is permeable, so it normally needs no planning permission under the front-garden rule. A new crossing still needs the council's approval. See dropped kerbs. For a sealed, smooth finish that still drains, see resin.
Where gravel suits Redcar homes
Gravel sits naturally with Redcar's coastal setting. A golden or buff stone echoes the beach, and it suits larger plots in Kirkleatham and the bigger gardens in Zetland, where a long drive in blocks or resin would be expensive. It is also a sensible stopgap for owners planning a bigger project later: lay a good sub-base and grids now, use gravel on top, then upgrade to block or resin in a few years without redoing the groundwork. For terraced streets in Newcomen and Coatham, gravel is less practical, because short frontages put loose stone too close to the pavement. In those cases a bound surface is the better choice.
Common questions
Will gravel blow away in Redcar?
Fine shingle can. Heavier angular stone in grids stays put.
How do I stop weeds?
A membrane under the gravel and an occasional rake and top-up.
Is gravel noisy?
Yes, a little, which some people like for security.
Can I use gravel on a slope?
Only gentle ones, and with grids.
How often does it need topping up?
Every year or two, depending on use.
