Over the years, a few customers have asked us about the wisdom of using gravel grids. We did a deep dive into this topic, examining options on the Internet, calling dealers and supply yards, and comparing product data. We ended up with so much information that we decided to split our findings into three blog posts:
- “What are Gravel Grids?” (this article)
- “What are the Pros and Cons of Gravel Grids?”
- “How Do I Pick a Gravel Grid Product?”
Let’s start with the basics.
What are gravel grids?
Gravel grids are sheets of interlocking cells made from plastic. They’re laid on the ground, usually on top of a gravel base, and filled with gravel. Their purpose is to provide extra structural strength to gravel surfaces.
Typically gravel surfaces like driveways are built with thick layers of gravel, often with a larger gradation (stone size) for the base layer (i.e., base course) and a smaller gradation for the top layer (i.e., top course). Gravel grids are used in place of the top layer of gravel. Many manufacturers claim that the cell structure provides enough strength to reduce the amount of gravel needed in both the base layer and the top layer.
Gravel grids are manufactured in three distinct styles:
- Paver tiles
- Rolled mats of fixed cells
- Collapsed sheets of expandable cells
Each gravel grid brand has its own unique design and dimensions. Some brands have hexagonal cells like honeycombs, some look like square grids, some have round cells—the variations go on and on. Some grids also have a fabric or mesh backing. This backing helps to hold the gravel in place and can also prevent weeds or filter water, depending on the material used.
Cell height varies by brand, commonly ranging from 1” to 2” for light-duty applications and 2” up to 8” for heavy-duty applications. The taller the cell, the more gravel needed.
Each style of gravel grid strengthens and stabilizes gravel surfaces. However, because of their fixed cell structure, a few commercial brands of pavers and mats are so tough that they can be driven on while empty. On the other hand, collapsible panels require infill material before being driven on.
Gravel grids are also marketed with other terms: gravel stabilizer grids, aggregate grids, geocells, gravel pavers, ground grids, paving stabilizers, and more. Note that gravel grids are not the same as geogrids, which are two-dimensional mesh grids.
Where are gravel grids used?
Depending on the brand, gravel grids can be used to pave a variety of surfaces:
- Patios
- Paths and trails
- Driveways
- Parking lots
- Emergency vehicle access
- Barn flooring
- Horse paddock flooring
- Municipal paving projects
- Construction entrances
- RV Pads
- Access roads
- Road shoulders and medians
Many brands have two or more variations of their product: one or more variations for light-duty applications like patios and paths, and one or more variations for heavy-duty applications like driveways and parking lots.
How are gravel grids installed?
Most manufacturers have detailed installation guides, so we’re only covering the basics here to give you an idea of what the installation process entails.
The subgrade (the earth surface) must be excavated, leveled, and compacted. The depth of excavation depends on the height of the gravel grid and the recommended gravel base depth.
If required, a gravel base is then installed, leveled, and compacted. Some brands of gravel grids can be installed directly on the subgrade.
Gravel grids are then laid out on top of the gravel base or subgrade. Some grids have interlocking pieces that snap together. Some grids must be stapled or clipped together, and some must be anchored with stakes. (Most gravel grids have to be anchored with stakes on steep slopes.)
Once laid out, the gravel grids are filled in with gravel—hence why the generic term for the top layer of gravel is infill in marketing literature. The infill layer may also need to be compacted. Some brands recommend an extra “top dressing” of gravel to hide the grid.
Some gravel grids can be filled with soil, sand, concrete, or asphalt instead of gravel. In fact, there are several grass-grid products on the market made specifically for making lawns drivable. But we’re focusing on gravel for the purpose of this article.
Why use gravel grids?
There are many reasons why gravel grids are used on projects rather than simply building up layers of gravel. Check out “What are the Pros and Cons of Using Gravel Grids?” for a full explanation of each point.
- Gravel grids add structural support to gravel surfaces, preventing issues like gravel migration and rutting.
- Gravel grids can reduce the amount of gravel needed on a project and the depth of excavation required.
- Gravel grids can create a permeable driving surface.
- Gravel grids can maximize the amount of driving surface on a property without running afoul of paving restrictions.
- Some gravel grids meet accessibility standards.
- Gravel grids can give patios, walkways, and driveways a neat, uniform appearance.
- Gravel grids can reduce driveway dust.
- Gravel grids may be more “green” than asphalt or concrete.
Note that these benefits vary by brand.
Which brand names are out there?
We created a chart of more common North American brands based on our conversations with dealers and landscape suppliers and a review of popular Internet retailers. The chart provides information about these products, such as their variations, dimensions, material composition, and price per square foot. The chart does not represent an endorsement of any brand.
The chart includes information about BaseCore, CORE Gravel, DuPont GroundGrid, HEXpave, EasyPave, EcoRaster, EZ-Roll, GeoPave, GRAVALOCK, Gravelpave2, and TrueGrid as well as VEVOR and Vodaland generic brands.
We chose to exclude UK brands (e.g., GroundGuard, X-Grid, Gravelrings, Eccogravel, etc.). We also excluded well-known grass-paver brands like Tufftrack in order to focus on gravel-specific grid systems.
Note that we included GRAVALOCK and unbranded VEVOR and Vodaland products because they’re widely available online through retailers like Home Depot and Amazon. While a lower price per square foot may be enticing, we caution against selecting a brand based on price alone. Many cheap or generic products lacked installation guides, test data, warranties, and customer support. These products may resemble trademarked brands but differ in their manufacturing quality.
This article does not represent an endorsement of any brand and is meant for educational purposes only. There is a possibility of errors in the data. If you notice any errors, please send us a note through our contact form.
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