What type of gravel under pavers

However, its unfinished quality is its main advantage. You can also pick up recycled gravel, which is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly version, often made from crushed-up used concrete. This sounds pretty high-risk to us: how do you know that the ground will stay stable and even? There are broadly three sizes of paver base gravel: fine, medium and coarse.

Which one you use depends on your project: a fire pit will need a different type of gravel to your driveway, for example. Medium gravel is a good general choice, providing you with both strength and drainage. It compresses neatly, but still allows water to pass through it. For heavier duty use, play it safe and order in coarse gravel. If you have poor drainage clay soil, for instance, provides very little drainage or want to build a driveway for multiple cars, this is by far the best and safest option.

So, before you order your supplies, think about your projects, the type of soil you have, and how you will be using your paved area. Again, this depends on your application, as something like a heavy-traffic driveway will need tougher foundations than a low-footfall walkway. Most experts suggest at least 4 inches for the gravel or crushed stone layer, then an extra inch for a layer of sand.

Compact the gravel one final time. Once your gravel is flat, your base is ready to start laying pavers. Now that you have a stable base, you can lay your pavers. Use the click and drop method to place your pavers properly. Additionally, there are dozens of paver pattern options to select. Be sure to watch or read our tutorial on How to Lay a Paver Pattern , where we show you how to lay eight different patterns.

If this article was helpful, learn more hardscaping tips and tricks with our step-by-step tutorials at DIYwithWI. Choosing a paver can sure feel overwhelming. You have to consider size, style, thickness, color, and more.

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Take our quiz to find the perfect paver. Take the quiz. Get a quote. Submit request. Search for:. This allows pavers to drain after a heavy rain and maintain their structural integrity over time. A crushed stone paver base is made of small stone pieces that have been broken and screened for uniformity.

According to the Minerals Education Coalition , common rock types processed into crushed stone include limestone, dolomite, granite and trap rock. Crushed stone makes a solid paver base because it allows water drainage and is easy to work with. Like sand, crushed stone comes in several varieties. The best aggregate for paver bases is a quarry processed dense grade aggregate. This mixture binds well and increases durability, making it one of the best materials for maximum strength and cohesion.

Recycled concrete aggregate RCA is a crushed stone alternative with environmental benefits. RCA is made by breaking down existing concrete into gravel. The RCA process has a smaller carbon output and takes less energy than mining virgin aggregate, making it a sustainable option.

Though RCA functions similarly to crushed stone in a paver base, it is impossible to know the different rock mixtures it contains. This unpredictability may make RCA a less reliable base choice when compared to crushed stone. Stone dust is a powdery mixture of finely ground stones that has a sand-like texture. Though it can be a helpful base ingredient when mixed with other materials, most professionals recommend that you never use stone dust on its own as a base.

The fines trap large quantities of water that prevent the base layer from adequately draining. To keep your pavers safe and prevent them from shifting, opt for a base material with a little more durability.

Compacted soil typically serves as the subgrade level underneath pavers. While you could technically lay your pavers directly into compacted dirt, this can cause issues, such as:. Locate A Dealer. Choosing a paver base material is only one aspect of creating a quality base. The way you construct the paver base ultimately impacts its effectiveness and longevity. Perhaps the most practical tip for base construction is to take your time.

Laboring over three base layers before you even begin to lay pavers may seem like a wasteful task. But the amount of time and precision you put into making your base layers the correct thickness, compactness and evenness will pay off.

A proper base can keep your pavers beautiful and functional for years. With your commitment to detail in mind, the following are some specific base best practices to consider before you install your pavers.

Paver bases require several inches of excavation. The purpose of this digging is twofold. It exposes area for the pavers to nestle into, and it clears loose dirt from the installation site. Removing this layer provides a strong foundation for your paver base. The more compressed your subgrade soil is, the less it will shift and settle over time. This will help keep your pavers level and in place for longer.

In addition to removing loose soil and compacting the subgrade soil, remove any grass, roots, large rocks or other debris from the paver installation site. This gives you an even surface to layer and build upon.