Long before Whatcom County was established on March 9, 1854, it was home to Northwest Coast Indians, the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish and Samiahmoo. In 1775, it was claimed by the Spanish and later by Russia, England and the United States. British Navy Captain, George Vancouver, named a portion of the Puget Sound, Bellingham Bay in 1792. Between 1825 and 1846, fur trappers and traders settled in this area.

In the early 1850's, lumber became scarce in California. Hearing of the thriving Douglas fir in Bellingham Bay, miners traveled North to harvest the trees for the building demands of the day. A mill was built at a strategically located waterfall referred to as What-coom, meaning noisy, rumbling water by the Lummi Indians.

In 1858, the Fraser River Gold Rush brought over 75,000 people through Whatcom County and coal was also discovered in 1853 which lead to the employment of many people. Unfortunately, the dramatic growth and economical boom stopped due to a national depression in 1893 and the population of the bay dropped to 50. Growth came again though by the turn of the century. Salmon canneries, new lumber mills, shipyards and agriculture tipped the area back into becoming a stronger economy.

Today, Whatcom County is made up of many unincorporated communities, cities and towns such as Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas.

Whatcom County also hosts several great events such as the Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival. The festival showcases fine art, crafts, food, song, dance, storytelling and other creative endeavors of the various cultures that populate the area. There is also the annual Wings Over Water Birding Festival located in Blaine and features the incredible variety of migratory birds which flock to Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay every spring and winter. It hosts free activities for the whole family such as wildlife demonstrations, bird viewing stations, exhibits, displays, craft vendors, and more. How amazing is that?

In Whatcom County, you'll find tons of dining choices such as D'anna's Cafe Italiano, famous for its Sicilian dishes and fresh pasta, you will not go wrong with this brick-walled foodie magnet. If you are looking for a restaurant with a view of the San Juan Islands and other marine activities in the harbor, you will definitely enjoy Anthony's Hearthfire Grill in Squalicum Harbor.

Truly there is so much to enjoy in this vibrant county throughout the year. That is why Blind Horse LLC is pleased to serve our Whatcom County families by offering our gravel driveway repair services.  

Whatcom County, Washington Gravel Driveway Repair

Repairing a gravel driveway is necessary but can be time consuming if you try to do it on your own. Doing it right involves utilizing the right equipment and operating skills, which is why it is often best to seek help from the professionals. After a quick Google search for “gravel driveway repair contractor near me” or “driveway repair near me,” you should find a company like ours that has state-of-the-art equipment and is licensed to follow all operating and safety protocols to get the job done efficiently.

If your property has driveway gravel, it will likely have three sizes of gravel that has been layered to provide a proper foundation and adequate drainage. Basically, the bottom layer is made up of large stones followed by medium-sized stones in the middle and smaller stones on the top layer. Graded by size ranging from small grains of crushed stone to larger rocks, gravel is made of any natural stone that comes in a variety of colors as well as sizes. Below we have included a list of some of the most common types of gravel for driveways.  

Types of Gravel for Driveways

  1. Clean Stone: This is the base gravel, which is made from stone crushed by machinery and composed of irregular rock fragments.
  2. Pit Run: This is a mix of stones, sand and dirt and is used as a base course. It resembles unsorted material pulled directly from a bank and is used to build up the sub grade. 
  3. 1 1/4" Minus: This gravel is made of golf-ball sized stone that is crushed and contains fines. It compacts very well and forms a durable, strong, minimal-shifting layer. It is hard to rake smooth so it is best for lower layers.
  4. 3/4" Minus: As the name states, the larger aggregates are approximately 3/4 of an inch in size and includes fines. This can be used as a good top course since it is easily repairable, but packs well.
  5. 5/8 Minus: Slightly smaller than 3/4" minus, it shares similar characteristics, but is even easier to rake and repair. It will pack very hard and is an excellent top course. Since the larger aggregates are smaller in size, it potentially needs marginally more maintenance.
  6. Pea Gravel: Found in a variety of colors or multicolored mixtures, this gravel has small, smooth, and rounded stones. Since Pea Gravel has rounded corners, it will tend to move and shift easily.

For further details about different types of gravel or gravel driveway ideas as well as driveway gravel prices, a search online for “gravel near me” will offer more information about the gravel we have mentioned. You may even find a gravel driveway calculator or gravel calculator for driveway as you research gravel driveways.

Gravel Driveway Repair Servicing Whatcom County, Washington

Maintaining your gravel driveway is important. However, even if you maintain it on a consistent basis, repairing your driveway is inevitable. With the elements playing a factor, your driveway could develop potholes, washboards, gravel depletion as well as erosion. These are issues you may notice over a period of time, which would need to be addressed by driveway contractors near me or a grading company near me.

Repairing a gravel driveway involves several steps starting with getting the driveway surface as smooth and even as possible. In your research of “gravel driveway repair near me” or “gravel driveway repair companies near me,” you are sure to discover that Blind Horse LLC is one of the best at gravel driveway repairs in your area.  

About Us

Established in 1984 in the San Francisco Bay area and expanding into North Western Washington, Blind Horse LLC is a family-owned and operated construction company. Today, our licensed businessprides itself on continuing to provide excellent workmanship and customer service to our customers in Whatcom as well as Snohomish and Skagit counties. We specialize in several services for your home, but if you are specifically seeking gravel driveway repair, do not hesitate to call us at 360-721-3366 or visit us online for a quote or more information.

Office: Bothell  yard: Everson