The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
Driveways2026Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga, Collingwood
How to Fix Gravel Driveway Potholes and Washouts
Potholes, washboard and washouts are almost always a water problem: no crown, no real base, or nowhere for the water to go. Filling holes buys you a month; the lasting fix is to cut out the soft spots, rebuild with Granular B and Granular A, crown it and give the water a ditch or culvert. Here is how, when to do it, and when you need a machine.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Why Your Driveway Keeps Falling Apart
Gravel does not wear out on its own. Water gets in, softens what is underneath, and tires do the rest. Every pothole started as a puddle that sat there long enough to make friends.
Potholes
Flat driveway, water sits, base goes soft, tires pump the fines out and a hole grows. Classic sign of no crown.
Washboard
Ripples across the lane from braking and accelerating on loose gravel with no fines left to bind it. Speed makes it worse.
Washouts
Rain running down the driveway instead of off it. Common on slopes and where the ditch or culvert is missing or plugged.
Ruts and soft spots
Gravel laid straight on topsoil or wet clay. The stone sinks into the mud every spring. No amount of top-up fixes a missing base.
Builder truth: if you have bought gravel for the same pothole three years running, you have not been fixing a pothole. You have been feeding it.
The Fixes That Actually Last
- Crown it. The centre of the driveway should sit a little higher than the edges so water sheds sideways. As a rule of thumb, aim for a fall of about 2% to 4% from centre to each edge. Flat is where puddles live.
- Cut out soft spots. Dig the mushy area down to firm ground, not just the top inch. Backfill with Granular B in layers and compact each one.
- Granular B for the base. Coarser crushed material that carries the load and drains. On a proper build we usually see 150 to 300 mm of it, more on soft ground.
- Granular A on top. Finer crushed stone with fines that pack hard. Usually 75 to 150 mm, compacted. Round pea gravel rolls around like marbles, so skip it for driving surfaces.
- Geotextile on soft soil. A woven fabric between clay or wet soil and the base stops the stone sinking into the mud. It is cheap compared to losing a whole base.
- Ditches and culverts. Water needs a place to go. A shallow swale beside the lane, and a culvert where it crosses a low spot or a road ditch. See entrance permits and culverts by town.
- Re-grade, do not just fill. On washboard and shallow potholes, scarify the top, pull the gravel back into shape with the crown, wet it if dry, and compact it.
DIY or Call a Machine?
| Problem | DIY? | Rough range (2026) with a machine |
|---|---|---|
| A few small potholes | Yes. Dig them square, fill with Granular A, tamp hard. | Not worth a machine on its own |
| Washboard or general rough surface | Hard by hand on anything over 30 m | $500 – $2,000 to re-grade and re-crown |
| Top-up of Granular A | Spreading is possible, compaction is not | $400 – $900 per tri-axle load delivered, plus spreading |
| Washouts on a slope | No. Needs ditching and often a culvert | $1,500 – $6,000 depending on length |
| Soft base, ruts every spring | No. Needs excavation and rebuild | Partial rebuild $3,000 – $10,000+ |
If the whole driveway is failing, compare against a rebuild. Our gravel driveway cost guide puts a new driveway up to 50 m at $4,000 to $9,000 and 50 to 150 m with one culvert at $9,000 to $22,000. Sometimes patching is just slow-motion rebuilding. Work out how much stone you need with the gravel driveway calculator.
When to Do It: Spring Timing and Half Loads
Spring is when you see the damage and also the worst time to fix it. Frost is coming out, the base is soft, and many roads are under half-load limits that keep loaded tri-axles off them. In Tiny, half-load season generally runs March 1 to April 30 (in 2026 it was March 9 to April 30 at 5 tonnes per axle). County roads came off half loads on April 27, 2026.
- Spring: fill dangerous holes by hand, keep ditches and culverts open, and stay off soft spots with heavy vehicles.
- Late spring to early summer: once the ground is firm and half loads are off, re-grade, cut out soft spots and bring in stone.
- Fall: our favourite time for a top-up and re-crown. A good crown going into winter means less damage coming out of it.
For winter-specific damage from plows and frost, read how to build a driveway that survives Ontario winters. Check spring dates on the half-load season tool.
Request a Ballpark on Your Driveway Repair
Send a few photos and the length of the driveway. We will tell you honestly whether it needs a re-grade, a top-up or a rebuild.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my gravel driveway keep getting potholes?
Water sits on a flat surface, softens the base and tires dig it out. The lasting fix is a proper crown, a real Granular B base and somewhere for water to drain.
What gravel is best for filling potholes?
Granular A, because its fines pack hard when compacted. Round stone like pea gravel stays loose and rolls out.
What is the difference between Granular A and Granular B?
Granular B is a coarser base material that carries load and drains. Granular A is a finer crushed top layer that compacts into a hard driving surface.
How do I stop washboard on my driveway?
Scarify the surface, re-grade with a crown, add Granular A if the fines are gone, and compact. Slowing down on the lane helps too.
How much does it cost to re-grade a gravel driveway?
A rough 2026 range is $500 to $2,000 for a re-grade and re-crown, plus stone if needed. Soft spots and washouts cost more because they need digging and drainage.
When is the best time to fix a gravel driveway?
Late spring after frost and half loads are off, or in the fall before winter. Early spring is soft and many roads limit heavy trucks.
Should I use geotextile fabric under my driveway?
On clay or wet soil, yes. It keeps the stone from sinking into the mud and makes the base last much longer.
