Including limestone in gravel roads has its benefits and drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know before deciding what route will best suit your needs.
While the low cost of gravel roads makes them a popular choice, constant upkeep is necessary to keep dust and erosion in check. In order to strengthen unpaved roads and minimize deterioration, many contractors introduce a proportion of limestone into their gravel mix. Considering incorporating limestone into your roads? Read on for more information on the major pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision when the time comes.
Pros: Hardness & Strength
Limestone displays two crucial characteristics: it is harder than most types of gravel, and its unique binding properties, which set it apart from other types of stone, contribute to a stronger road surface. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that when cars drive on limestone, the chunks of rock rub together to produce a fine dust. This dust is water soluble, meaning that when the water evaporates, it will leave the minerals behind. These particles act like glue, binding the gravel together.
Cons: Cost & Dust
Cost is a primary consideration when deciding whether to include limestone in your gravel mix, as limestone costs $18 per ton to gravel’s $9.50 per ton.
Another con: remember the dust we mentioned above? Those fine particles don’t pose a problem when the weather is wet, but in the dry summer months, dust can become a real issue. This is especially true in America’s drier areas, where humidity is so low that, when it does rain, the water rapidly evaporates.
The Forester Network’s Erosion Control Weekly outlined the potentially deleterious effects of dust from limestone tracks on the environment, community, and for regulation. One such drawback: dust lowers visibility on the road, increasing the chance of accidents. The increased likelihood of respiratory diseases like asthma resulting from dust inhalation are an additional risk. Some regulations are already in place to combat these concerns: states like Nevada and California require companies to prevent dust emissions from affecting waterways, while the Clean Air Act places strict controls on the levels of PM10 (a dust particle size associated with certain health problems) that can be released into the environment.
So the question remains: how can you take advantage of the benefits of limestone while keeping dust (and your budget) in check?
How Can Midwest Help?
Road Pro NT®
Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc.’s RoadPro NT® is the perfect way to address the weaknesses of a limestone road, which is why James Bellamy, superintendent of the maintenance department for PTC Alliance, recommends it. RoadPro is a modified asphalt solution, engineered with Midwest’s chemical expertise to create a product superior to traditional asphalt.
RoadPro will bring roads into compliance with the Clean Air Act, locking in dust and dangerous PM10 particles. Moreover, this product does not weaken with moisture (as limestone does), and it is specially formulated so that it won’t become tacky in the heat ( as conventional asphalt does). In addition, Road Pro will create a surface that is strong enough to handle large equipment without damage.
Dust Fyghter® LN100
Dust Fyghter uses a natural and sustainable formula to create a firm, stable road surface that holds dust in place. This product will also lengthen the lifespan of a road, reducing the need for repairs due to washboarding or potholes. Dust Fyghter is made from lignin, a naturally occurring and abundant substance found in trees which sticks dust particles together so that they can’t escape into the air.
It seems, given their drawbacks, that limestone roads aren’t really a solution in themselves. Modern environmental needs and dust regulations mean that untreated limestone roads present difficult environmental and safety challenges. With Midwest’s dust control solutions and manager services, you can protect both your investment and the environment.
Lynn Cielec
Lynn Cielec is the Industrial Business Unit Managerat Midwest Industrial Supply. She is an experienced executive sales director with a proven track record of results and sales growth. Effectively utilizes consultative selling methodologies within a CRM system while incorporating other value based selling tools. Expertise in building and leading high performing sales teams, strategic planning, P & L management, new business development, compensation development, market/trend analysis, new product launches and multi-sales channel distribution.
FAQs
Alternatively, crushed limestone can be both a base and top layer on your driveway. It can be used as part of a concrete driveway, a base for a slabbed driveway, in a resin-bound or resin-bonded driveway or as the top layer of a gravel driveway.
Is limestone good for roads? ›
Limestone is essential to modern road construction, providing strength and durability for your roads. Limestone has been used to create quality roads for many years—and for a good reason.
What are the disadvantages of crushed limestone? ›
Cons for Crushed Limestone Driveways
Freeze and thaw cycles can cause the driveway to shift and become uneven. It may require some work to keep the surface level and functional.
How to properly maintain a gravel road? ›
A heavy-duty rake made for gravel will allow you to sift the gravel and filter out the debris that so commonly builds up in loose gravel. Raking can also help even out the gravel and fill in any bare spots that may have developed from wind, rain, and/or traffic.
What should you not use on limestone? ›
Don't use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine, or onyx surfaces. Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub & tile cleaners. Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
How long does it take for limestone to harden? ›
Curing usually takes 3 weeks, during which time the piece hardens and can be removed from the mold. The dry cast limestone is porous and looks remarkably like carved limestone.
Is limestone good for road base? ›
Limestone road base material is an economical choice for driveways and parking lots. Road base is an ideal material to be used for driveways and requires little maintenance. If heavy rains move through the area, it is possible some of the driveway gravel will be washed away.
What size limestone for gravel driveway? ›
1/2 inch limestone is commonly used in the following applications: French drain gravel. Dry wells. Driveway stone / parking pad stone (typically as a top coat for small driveways)
What are the benefits of limestone gravel? ›
Limestone gravel is one of the beneficial types of gravel. The vary small size limestone gravel, is often used as a soil additive to improve nutrients for gardens, and also reduce acidity.
Does water drain through crushed limestone? ›
Excellent Drainage:
When a layer of crushed limestone's is laid for applications like driveways; as they have empty spaces between individual rocks, these empty spaces can efficiently help the water drainage. In takes some time but eventually the water seeps into the ground with a natural process.
When sulfurous, sulfuric, and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone, the calcite dissolves. In exposed areas of buildings and statues, we see roughened surfaces, removal of material, and loss of carved details.
What is the cheapest gravel for driveways? ›
Pea gravel, crushed granite and steel slag are some of the cheapest gravel options for driveways.
What is a common problem for gravel roads? ›
rut or form potholes in periods of distress and failure of a road. The low volume of normal traffic prolonged wet weather. During At times, there may be a need does not warrant reconstruction periods of dry weather, traffic for other equipment, such to a higher standard.
How thick should a gravel road be? ›
A good gravel road is constructed of three different layers. The subgrade or roadbed is the bottom layer made up of the native material or “fill,” which is brought in. Then comes a base layer, ideally 18 to 24 inches deep, constructed of coarse gravel or crushed stone.
Should a gravel road have a crown? ›
Even if the subgrade remains firm, traffic will quickly pound out smaller depressions in the road where water collects and the road will develop potholes. A properly drained gravel road should have crown.
What can I put on gravel to make it hard? ›
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.
How much does a ton of limestone gravel cover? ›
How much does a ton of limestone cover? For a thickness of 4 inches (or approximately 10 centimeters), a US ton of limestone can cover an area of around 40 to 54 square feet (or around 4 to 5 square meters).
Is limestone cheaper than gravel? ›
In order for gravel to remain looking decorative and tidy, it requires regularly raking into position. For drainage and pipe bedding purposes, most contractors prefer to use limestone as it locks into place and is, generally speaking, cheaper.
What happens to crushed limestone when it gets wet? ›
Limestone is extremely durable. It does, however, absorb water and, since it is a carbonate rock, it is highly reactive when exposed to acids or even mildly acidic rain water, and it can suffer substantial deterioration. The most common effect of weathering and erosion is loss of precise detail.
