I used to think all gravel was basically the same for a driveway base

I was prepping a job in Flagstaff and the homeowner insisted on a specific crushed granite aggregate, which I thought was overkill. After seeing how it compacted and drained compared to the cheaper river rock I usually used, I get it now. Anyone have a go-to aggregate for high freeze-thaw areas?

3 comments

3 Comments

tara7451mo ago

Honestly I've had the opposite experience with crushed granite, it just turns to dust here after a few winters. I still swear by the washed river rock.

drew9061mo ago

That part about it turning to dust after a few winters is exactly it. It's the same with so many things that look good at first. People pick the quick, cheap fix that seems solid, but it never holds up to the real test of time and weather. They're always surprised when it falls apart, but it happens every single time. You pay more upfront for the river rock because you know it's the one that actually lasts.

karen4104d ago

Swapped to a fractured limestone blend on a job outside Denver a couple years back and it held up way better than anything else I had tried. The jagged edges lock together tight so it doesn't shift around when it thaws and freezes. Had a customer with a steep driveway too and it barely rutted after a heavy spring melt. Just made sure to put down a good geotextile fabric underneath first and it stayed solid.