5 Signs It’s Time to Regrade Your Driveway
In Southern Colorado, driveways aren’t just a way to get to your home—they’re part of the landscape, often handling more weather, equipment, and traffic than most people realize. But even a well-built gravel driveway won’t last forever without upkeep.
Grading isn’t just for new driveways—it’s a critical part of maintaining what’s already there. Over time, weather, use, and erosion can wear down even the best-compacted surface.
In this post, we’ll walk through five clear signs that it’s time to regrade your driveway—before minor issues turn into expensive repairs. Whether you live in Huerfano, Costilla, Las Animas, or Pueblo County, these are the red flags to watch for.
#1 - Ruts, Grooves, or Tire Tracks That Don’t Go Away
Light impressions are normal on a gravel surface—but deep, permanent ruts are a sign that your driveway isn’t shedding water or holding its shape the way it should. If you see tire tracks that collect water or never flatten back out, the surface needs attention.
Left unchecked, these grooves become channels for runoff, which can worsen erosion, create potholes, and wear through your gravel faster than normal.
#2 - Water Pooling or Standing After Rain
Your driveway should be crowned or sloped in a way that encourages water to run off—not sit and soak. If water is puddling in low spots or alongside the tire paths, that’s a sign your grading isn’t doing its job.
In our local soils—especially clay-rich ones—standing water weakens the base material and leads to premature failure.
#3 - Gravel Disappears Faster Than It Should
Gravel naturally settles over time, but if you’re constantly adding new material and still seeing bare spots, you might have a grading issue. When a driveway isn’t properly crowned or compacted, gravel migrates outward and downward with every storm or snowmelt.
You’ll notice thinning in high-traffic areas and along the outer edges. Regrading resets the shape of the drive and keeps material where it belongs. failure.
Gravel driveways throughout Southern Colorado are susceptible to potholes and surface damage.
#4 - Potholes That Keep Coming Back
Filling a pothole isn’t the same as fixing it. If your driveway has recurring potholes—especially in the same spots—it’s usually because the subgrade underneath is soft, eroded, or not draining properly.
Regrading helps re-establish the crown, redirect water, and recompact the surface so potholes don’t just return the next time it rains.
#5 - A Flat or Sunken Center (No Crown)
A properly maintained gravel driveway has a slight crown—where the center is higher than the edges—to help water run off instead of pooling or cutting into the surface. If your driveway looks flat or has a sunken center, it’s overdue for regrading.
Without a crown, you’re likely to see more erosion, more ruts, and more costly repairs down the road.it rains.
What Proper Grading Should Be
Regrading isn’t just about smoothing things over—it’s about reshaping the driveway to work with the land, not against it.
A properly graded gravel driveway should:
Have a center crown that allows water to run off to the sides
Include a slight slope—usually about ½ to 1 inch per foot from center to edge
Be graded evenly, without dips, humps, or high spots
Direct runoff to safe drainage—not toward structures or roadways
When we regrade, we’re not just dragging a bucket or blade—we’re reshaping the driving surface, rebuilding structure, and restoring water control. This keeps your gravel where it belongs and helps your driveway last season after season.
Rebuilding with the Right Materials
Once the grading is set, the driveway needs to be rebuilt with the right materials, compacted in layers that support both traffic and drainage.
Here’s what we typically recommend:
Class 6 Road Base – A blend of crushed gravel and fines that compacts tightly to form a strong foundation
Crushed Rock (3/4” or 5/8”) – Used as a surface layer depending on site needs, offering clean drainage and long-term durability
Compaction – Each layer must be compacted using the right equipment or the material will shift, settle, and fail prematurely
Whether you're maintaining a short access lane or restoring a long rural drive, using proper material (and compacting it right) makes all the difference.
Crushed 3/4” or 5/8” aggregate is an excellent choice of material for driveways in Southern Colorado.
Final Thoughts: Keep Your Driveway Performing
A gravel driveway doesn’t have to be a constant headache. With proper grading, drainage, and the right materials, it can serve you well for years—no ruts, no washouts, no constant patch jobs.
If you’re noticing signs of wear—or you just want to make sure your driveway is built to last—we’re here to help. At Spanish Peaks Landworks, we regrade and restore driveways across Huerfano, Costilla, Las Animas, and Pueblo counties with a focus on longevity and local know-how.
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📍 Serving Huerfano, Costilla, Alamosa, Custer, Las Animas, and Pueblo counties
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