What is the Best Type of Gravel for My Winnipeg Driveway?
Introduction
When it comes to building a driveway that lasts in Manitoba’s harsh climate, not all gravel is created equal. We get a lot of calls from homeowners and contractors asking:
“What gravel should I use for my driveway to keep it solid and maintenance-free for years?”
It’s a great question – because the gravel you choose can mean the difference between a driveway that handles trucks and spring thaw without issue, and one that ruts out after a season.
Here’s our straightforward, professional advice on the best gravel types and sizes for driveways in Winnipeg, based on what we see work on real projects every day.
Why Your Gravel Choice Matters
Your driveway is exposed to:
-
Extreme freeze-thaw cycles
-
Spring melt and heavy rains
-
Daily vehicle traffic and heavy equipment
Using the wrong gravel leads to constant maintenance, potholes, erosion, and wasted money. The right gravel creates a driveway that’s strong, drains well, and stays functional for years with minimal upkeep.
Geotextile Membranes – An Overlooked Essential
Before choosing gravel, let’s talk about geotextile membranes.
✅ What are they?
Strong woven or non-woven fabric laid between the soil and your gravel base.
✅ Why use them?
-
Prevents gravel from mixing with underlying soil
-
Improves load-bearing capacity, reducing sinking and rutting
-
Enhances drainage while keeping your base stable
We recommend geotextile membranes for any new driveway build or regrade over clay-heavy or soft soils, which are common throughout Manitoba. They’re an inexpensive addition that protects your investment long-term.
Base Gravel Options – Building a Solid Foundation
A strong driveway starts with a solid foundation. Here are your main options:
1. Pit Run (Bank Run Gravel)
✅ What it is: Naturally occurring mix of clay, sand, and stones up to 4-6”.
✅ Pros:
-
Affordable bulk fill
-
Packs well with proper moisture and compaction
-
Useful for building up areas needing significant elevation change
✅ Cons:
-
Variable quality – may contain oversized rocks or organic material
-
Needs a finer crushed gravel layer on top to create a drivable surface
✅ Our Recommendation:
Use pit run as deep fill to build elevation before topping with crushed gravel products for strength and smoothness.
2. 2” Down Crushed Limestone or Granite
✅ What it is: Crushed rock with particles from 2” down to fines.
✅ Pros:
-
Excellent structural base for driveways
-
Larger stones create strong load distribution, while fines lock everything together
-
Great for stabilizing soft subgrades
✅ Cons:
-
Too coarse for a finished driving surface
-
Requires machinery for spreading and compacting
✅ Our Recommendation:
Ideal as a first layer on new driveway builds where added base depth and stability are needed.
3. 6” Down Crushed Limestone
✅ What it is: Large crushed limestone with sizes up to 6” down to fines.
✅ Pros:
-
Extremely strong structural base
-
Ideal for driveways and approaches expecting heavy truck or equipment traffic
-
Helps stabilize very soft or wet soils before adding finer layers
✅ Cons:
-
Coarse; not drivable as a top layer
-
Requires topping with smaller crushed gravel layers for smoothness and compaction
✅ Our Recommendation:
Use 6” down when building heavy-duty driveways or approaches, particularly for farms, shops, or commercial sites with semi trucks or large equipment.
Surface Gravel Options – Creating a Durable, Drivable Finish
Once your base is solid, here’s what we recommend for your top driving surface:
4. ¾” Down Crushed Limestone
✅ What it is: Limestone crushed from ¾” down to fines.
✅ Pros:
-
Excellent compaction for a strong, stable driveway
-
Fines lock larger stones together to prevent movement and washouts
-
Readily available and cost-effective in Manitoba
✅ Cons:
-
Can create dust in dry conditions
-
Needs proper grading to ensure fines don’t trap moisture and create soft spots
✅ Our Recommendation:
The go-to top layer for most gravel driveways and approaches. Durable, low maintenance, and provides excellent results when installed correctly.
5. ¾” Down Crushed Granite
✅ What it is: Granite version of ¾” down, with fines included.
✅ Pros:
-
Extremely durable and hard-wearing
-
Darker colour for a premium look
-
Excellent compaction, similar to limestone but harder rock
✅ Cons:
-
More expensive than limestone
-
Availability varies by region
✅ Our Recommendation:
Best for high-end residential driveways or commercial properties where aesthetics and durability are top priorities.
6. ¼” Down Crushed Limestone
✅ What it is: Fine crushed limestone with particles from ¼” down to dust.
✅ Pros:
-
Packs very tight for a smooth, hard surface
-
Great for final top dressing or patching potholes
-
Affordable and easy to spread
✅ Cons:
-
Lacks larger stone for structural strength if used alone
-
Can become slippery when wet
✅ Our Recommendation:
Use as a final top dressing over ¾” down gravel to seal and smooth your driveway, or for quick pothole repairs.
7. ¾” Clean Rock (Clear Stone)
✅ What it is: Washed stone, uniform ¾” size with no fines.
✅ Pros:
-
Superior drainage, allowing water to flow freely
-
Doesn’t compact, reducing frost heave when used in drainage applications
✅ Cons:
-
Remains loose; not stable under vehicle traffic
-
Difficult to maintain as a driveway surface
✅ Our Recommendation:
Great for drainage layers or French drains. Avoid using it as a driveway surface layer unless drainage is your only goal.
8. Recycled Asphalt (RAP)
✅ What it is: Crushed, screened reclaimed asphalt pavement.
✅ Pros:
-
Binds together with heat and traffic, creating a semi-paved surface
-
Less dusty than gravel
-
Environmentally friendly option
✅ Cons:
-
Quality varies
-
May soften in extreme heat
-
Requires equipment for proper installation
✅ Our Recommendation:
Ideal for driveways needing a more solid, dust-reducing surface without the full cost of new asphalt paving.
Our Recommended Driveway Build
For a driveway that lasts through Manitoba’s toughest conditions, here’s what we typically recommend:
-
Geotextile membrane over your subgrade, especially on clay-heavy or soft soils.
-
Base Layer:
-
2” down or 6” down crushed limestone, compacted thoroughly for strong support.
-
-
Main Structural Layer:
-
¾” down crushed limestone for compaction and durability.
-
-
Top Dressing (optional):
-
¼” down crushed limestone for sealing and smoothing the surface.
-
This build combination ensures excellent drainage, stability, and minimal maintenance for years to come.
Final Thoughts
✔ Compact every layer properly – it’s the difference between a driveway that lasts a decade and one that shifts within weeks.
✔ Grade and crown your driveway to keep water flowing off.
✔ Use geotextile membrane to prevent gravel loss into the soil and protect your investment.
✔ Regrade and top up as needed, ideally annually or biannually.
Need Help Choosing the Right Gravel for Your Project?
At Terrace Excavation, we’ve built hundreds of driveways, approaches, and gravel parking lots across Winnipeg and Manitoba. We know what works, what doesn’t, and how to build a driveway that stands up to real life.