How Do You Compact a Gravel Path

Dampen the stone pack by spraying it lightly with a garden hose or watering can. Then, use a 6 or 8-inch-square hand tamper to pound the stone pack into a smooth, hard surface. Dampening the crushed stone first keeps down dust and helps with compaction.

How do you compact a gravel patio?

Compact the Rock Use a plate compactor (rent for roughly $60 a day) to tamp down the rock. Remember, make sure to pick a rock – like decomposed granite – that compacts well but doesn’t pack too tightly for water to get through. Run the compactor over the surface several times, checking for humps and slope.

How do you stabilize a gravel path?

The two most effective methods for stabilizing pea gravel are cement and permeable pavers. If you’re stabilizing pea gravel with cement, it will hold for a while until it’s eventually damaged by traffic and water exposure.