Crushed Stone Aggregate Base vs. Gravel - Lynx Cat Mountain Quarry | Rock Quarry in Southern California (2024)

FAQs

Is crushed stone better than gravel? ›

First, due to natural water erosion, gravel has smooth, rounded edges, making it a more comfortable surface to walk on. And secondly, due to both those soft edges as well as its beautiful natural colors, gravel is usually more aesthetically pleasing than crushed stone.

Types of concrete aggregates

Crushed stone aggregates, for example, are fundamental when it comes to building sand traps on golf courses, as well as in the construction of buildings and roads. On the other hand, gravel offers excellent control over erosion and in the filtration and drainage of water.

Among the other options are crushed stone #411, quarry process, pea gravel, jersey shore gravel, marble chips, and river rock. These are the best options for driveway surfaces gravel, because they are small stones combined with rock dust, which makes a more solid driving surface.

Crushed stone: The term “crushed stone” usually refers to stone that has a mixture of stone dust in it. This type of stone is best used for a base when heavy compaction is needed. As a result, it is typically used for the base of concrete and paving projects, foundations of structures, and driveway bases.

Con: Messiness

One of the biggest cons of a crushed stone driveway is the mess caused by wayward stones, which are strewn about every time someone walks or drives over them. If the driveway is surrounded by grass, the stones will likely end up there and cause problems for your lawn mower and other maintenance tools.

Pea Gravel

It's more aesthetically pleasing than most other gravels, and it's a great choice for dressing up the top layer of a driveway. It also comes in many color options based on personal preference. That said, pea gravel is a bit more expensive due to its visual appeal.

Long, flat aggregate should be avoided due to increased interaction with other particles and the tendency toward segregation during handling. Shape and texture of coarse aggregates affects the strength of the concrete mix. Increased surface area provides more opportunity for bonding and increases strength.

Type 1: Granite Aggregates

This is the best aggregate for high-grade concrete, and as it comes in a variety of shades, like grey, red and pink, it can also be used as a decorative feature. Granite itself is composed of feldspar, quartz and mica crystals, which dictate the colour of the stone.

The most commonly used materials for a sub-base include gravel, crushed stone, and sand. Gravel: It's a popular choice due to its excellent drainage properties and ability to distribute the load evenly. Gravel also resists frost heaving in cold climates.

Pea gravel, crushed granite and steel slag are some of the cheapest gravel options for driveways.

What is the easiest gravel to walk on? ›

Pea Gravel

It's composed of rounded pebbles, so it is comfortable for pets or bare feet to walk across. Because of its round shape, however, pea gravel can't be compacted into a smooth surface.

Self Binding gravel is a simple surface which is formed rolling specialist stone aggregate into place which binds itself into a multipurpose pathway. This is often used as a more cost effective alternative to traditional paving such as concrete and macadam.

Be sure to use 3/4″-0 or ODOT road base gravel so that you get a good mix of fine and coarse aggregate for the best compaction.

You don't necessarily need to wet gravel before compacting, however a light amount of water can help to keep dust levels down. Just be sure not to make the area too wet.

Typically, the cheapest backfill material is native soil excavated from the site itself, provided it meets the necessary specifications for stability and drainage.

Crushed stone is used mostly as aggregate for road construction and maintenance. It is also used for making cement and lime and other chemical applications, and in agriculture.

If you have an area of your yard where the water doesn't drain the way you would like, add some crushed stone as a decorative feature. The stone will help the water drain and not puddle while providing some decoration.

Clean gravels and crushed rock are sometimes referred to as “self-compacting,” meaning that if they are dumped in beside a pipe, the material will have a high density.

The fact is that pea gravel is the best gravel for drainage. It's unique size and shape and loose structure allows water to flow through it without issue.