Driveways

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Serving Ottawa and Beyond

Based in Almonte, Ontario, we proudly serve Ottawa and the surrounding communities, including Kanata, Carp, Stittsville, Manotick, Carleton Place, Dunrobin, Kinburn, and Richmond.​

What Our Clients Are Saying

Experience the Shade Group difference—where quality workmanship meets exceptional service.​

After doing some research online, I was brought to Alan and Shade Group with a project to extent our backyard and clean up a ton of brush, deadfall and unhealthy trees. Alan was an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish! Project was priced right, started and finished on time and without delays.

I would highly recommend Alan and the team at Shade Group! You will not be disappointed!

Jeff CluneyLocal Guide Level 6

Gravel Driveway Construction & Installation

We’re experts in revitalizing or installing new gravel driveways.

Does your new construction project need a driveway for safe access or delivery of construction material? Do you need a gravel driveway installed on your rural property? Or perhaps you’d like to freshen up your existing gravel driveway? The cost of paving the driveway probably scares you! The best alternative is usually to have a gravel driveway installed. When properly graded and installed properly a gravel driveway will last for years and they can always be resurfaced down the road to get that like new appearance at a fraction of the original cost of construction.

We experts in constructing and rehabilitating gravel driveways for our clients.  From the initial preparation and grading to building up the base and spreading the top layer of gravel we’ll take care of everything.  Whether it’s a long winding driveway for your rural property or a small gravel approach, we can help.

Gravel Driveway Construction

  • New gravel driveway construction
  • Gravel driveway regrading or resurfacing
  • Gravel parking pads and building pads
  • Driveway additions or round-a-bouts
  • Gravel parking areas
  • Driveway removals

How We Build or Maintain Your Gravel Driveway

1

Planning - New Construction

Like most things, it’s best to start off with a plan. Driveways are no different. For new construction driveways, we conduct a site visit to survey the existing conditions, and work with you to determine the best location for the new driveway. We want to ensure the location of the driveway has sufficient drainage, and clearance for the vehicles that will use it. In steep terrain, maximum allowable slopes may affect the route of the driveway to ensure emergency vehicles can safely access your property in the future. From there, we stake out the intended path, and start measuring. At this point, we also determine if any culverts are required, and if any permits are required. Typically permits are only required when constructing a new private approach, or working within the regulation limit of a floodplain. When in doubt, it’s always best to contact your local municipality!
2

Planning - Regrading or Resurfacing

Existing gravel driveways are a bit different than new construction. The location is set, and our goal is to improve upon the existing conditions. One key factor we are always looking to ensure is adequate drainage. Water is the enemy of roads or driveways. We look for pot holes, depressions, or grade changes that may hold water. We inspect any culverts. Now would be the time to replace them if necessary. We also look to see if gravel has been removed over time by traffic and snow removal.

 

3

Site Preparation

Since all of the planning has been completed in advance, our first step once equipment is on site is to prepare the area for the work being done.

We first start by clearing any overhead hazards that might interfere with equipment.

Then – for new driveways – we proceed in removing unsuitable soils.

For existing driveways – our next step is to re-grade the existing base to fill in any potholes and remove any bumps.

4

Spreading Gravel

While both new and existing driveways will have gravel put down, the quantity varies. New construction will generally get multiple lifts of differing size gravel to build up a solid base. Existing driveways, except in the most extreme cases, generally get a fresh layer of finer gravel placed on top.
5

Grading

Once the gravel is down, we ensure that it is shaped in a way that ensures water will flow off the driveway. This helps prevent potholes, and ensures the road or driveway will last for years to come.
6

Compaction

Compaction is one of the most overlooked aspects when constructing or refreshing a gravel driveway. Throughout the construction process, we need to ensure every aspect of the driveway is properly compacted. If not, settling, rutting, and potholes, may occur. We make sure our projects are properly compacted by using a heavy duty vibratory roller on all of our gravel driveway projects.

Recent Gravel Driveway Projects

These are some pictures of recent driveway construction and rehabilitation projects we have worked on. Projects ranged from simple maintenace projects that required minor re-grading and placement of fresh gravel – to full rebuilds of driveways that were built without suitable subbase.

Why Choose Shade Group for Your Gravel Driveway Project?

When you choose Shade Group for your gravel driveway installation or maintenance project you are partnering with a local business that has been serving the Ottawa area for many years. You can count on your project being completed on time, on budget and with a level of workmanship and attention to detail you won’t find with other excavation contractors.

We will maintain a safe working environment and we will protect your property from any damage while using our machines. The end result is to meet all of your excavation goals while leaving minimal trace of our presence after we leave. Our business has continued to grow through word-of-mouth from our many happy customers who refer us to friends and family.  It’s through our continued commitment to quality and customer satisfaction that we are able to continue doing what we do best!

If you’d like to receive an estimate for the installation of a new gravel driveway  or to maintain an existing gravel driveway, please fill out our contact form and we will get right back to you. We strive to respond to all requests within 24-48 hours, so if you haven’t heard from us – check your junk mail filter!

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the size and prep work required.  Most driveways are a one-day process. This includes site preparation, grading, and the entire process of installing the gravel driveway. Weather may also come into play, particularly when we are waiting on dry land. Once we start, we keep it moving and finish the job right.

We begin with a site visit to examine drainage, slope, access, and any underground features. There, we plan the layout and handle permits or culverts. Building a gravel driveway is not merely a matter of laying down stone; it is about doing it properly so it lasts for many years. It’s not just a driveway—it’s the first thing people see, and it should be built to last.

When the natural flow of water is over the area where the driveway will be located, a culvert is normally necessary—particularly when it is close to a ditch, slope or low point. We will evaluate it on-site and ensure that your new gravel driveway in Ottawa will not block water or erode. We don’t guess—we grade it right so your driveway stays dry and solid.

We think it all through before we pick up a shovel. Most gravel driveway installers simply appear and dump gravel; we do not. We are concerned with drainage, layout, and long-term performance. You will have a driveway that will not have to be topped up every season. 

Absolutely. We have completed full gravel driveway construction on farms, acreages, and cottage lots. Longer driveways require adequate grading and base preparation, particularly where the ground is soft. We have the equipment and expertise to handle it all.

Look for experience, site planning, and drainage knowledge—not just someone with a dump truck. When people search for “gravel driveway installation companies near me,” they’re hoping to avoid redoing it a year later. That’s where we come in—we get it right the first time. A good gravel driveway starts with a plan—not just a pile of stone.

What Our Clients Are Saying

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Top Rated Service
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Roman B profile picture
Roman B
39 days ago
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Great communication and customer service, with an experienced, qualified and well equipped team. We've been filling our own holes with gravel for years, but after working with the Shade Group, our gravel driveway has never looked or felt better! I highly recommend the Shade Group for any business who needs the services they offer. A great investment!
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Olga Ijewliw
43 days ago
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Did a very precise job in a tight urban yard replacing dirt and weeds with new gravel driveway. Cleared away debris exactly along patio edge without disturbing a single brick. Impressive.
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Pam McTiernan
69 days ago
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Did a great job fixing landscaping and driveway issues completed by a previous company, so happy with the result after 2 years of looking at a mess.
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Helen Larson profile picture
Helen Larson
339 days ago
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We are delighted with the work of the Shade Group and would highly recommend them! We had arranged for them to gravel our driveway and it was done professionally, efficiently and at the time and fair price promised.
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RJ profile picture
RJ
444 days ago
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Excellent work by the Shade Group! Very pleased with the outcome. Reasonably priced, professional results and great folks to deal with! They take pride in their work and it shows!
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Ken Ellacott profile picture
Ken Ellacott
489 days ago
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+1
I am very happy with the work. Please extend my appreciation to the equipment operator for a beautiful job. The end result is neat, the edges are clean, and it feels extremely solid. My yard looks 1000% better, so thank you to all. I will certainly come to you for any future landscaping needs.
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Bill Stilwell profile picture
Bill Stilwell
732 days ago
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We hired Shade Group Inc. to replace our driveway culvert over the City ditch. We made our request through their website which was straightforward and easy to use and they replied promptly. After sending them photos as requested, they came back with an estimate of the work and cost which were clear and complete as to what they would do and not do. The estimated cost was reasonable. The work was completed quickly and efficiently, with no surprises. They left the finished driveway clean. We are very happy with the result and would recommend them.
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Nancy Williamson
781 days ago
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Awesome team. Worked with me to understand my needs and budget. Excellent work ethic, very efficient and professional. Would highly recommend.
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Theo de Vries
796 days ago
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They did a great job on the Armour Stone for our culvert. Great communication and fair price. Highly recommend!
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Bruno Di Lenardo
869 days ago
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The service from the Shade Group was very professional. Alan Shade always responded to correspondence, showed up when specified, was well equipped, carried out the delicate retaining wall work with precision and left a clean site. Would recommend the Shade Group to everyone.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how Shade Group can bring your vision to life.

Schedule a Consultation

Shade Group Inc. Is a locally owned and operated outdoor construction, and engineering company based out of Ottawa, ON. We specialize in excavation, grading, armour stone retaining walls, trenching, Grading and drainage Plans, and more. We serve Ottawa and surrounding areas.

Get In Touch

Our Location

4625 March Road, Almonte, Ontario, K0A 1A0

Phone

343-262-4769

Email

sales@shadegroup.ca

Hours

Mon - Fri: 8AM - 5PM