When it comes to gravel there is a lot to unravel. These small stones are used in everything from erosion control to concrete, making them a rock star in the construction industry. Gravel is used in nearly all modern construction projects. From domestic home building to road construction, gravel is a necessity. 

What is Gravel?

Gravel is a term used to describe fragments of small, loose rocks. The size requirements for gravel vary around the world, but most places consider loose stone to be gravel if it is under four inches. Gravel occurs naturally,  but it can also be artificially made by crushing stone. A large portion of the world’s gravel is used to make concrete. Because of this, gravel is used around the world in the construction of roads and cities. 

Types of Gravel Used in Construction

Before starting any construction project, it’s important to know what size gravel you will need. Different sizes of gravel used in construction have different downsides and benefits. Different gravel sizes can greatly affect the outcome of your project.

Coarse/Base Gravel

Coarse gravel is about one to two inches in diameter. Commonly used on gravel roads, this gravel provides good water drainage and is resistant to erosion. 

Medium Gravel

This type of gravel is the perfect medium between coarse and fine gravel. Medium gravel drains well like coarse gravel, but also makes great pavement. Pavement using medium gravel can hold more weight than fine gravel and is most frequently used in construction projects. Pavement made with medium gravel has a rougher texture compared to pavement made with fine gravel and sand. 

Fine Gravel

Fine gravel looks like small pebbles. It’s slightly more coarse than sand and does not drain water well. Fine gravel is used for pavements that won’t be handling much weight such as outdoor patios or home construction projects. Pavement made with fine gravel is not suitable for driveways since it cannot handle the weight.

Examples of Gravel in Construction Projects 

Concrete

Similar to sand, gravel is used to make concrete. While sand makes fine grade concrete, concrete mixed with gravel creates coarse concrete since the gravel is more bulky than sand. Coarse concrete is stronger than fine concrete, but the texture is rougher. 

Gravel as a Base

Placing gravel under concrete slabs and foundations is very important since gravel provides a solid base and drains water that pools under the concrete. Without the gravel layer, the water under the concrete will cause erosion and damage to the building’s foundation.

Landscaping

Due to its ability to drain water and prevent erosion, gravel is used around construction sites as a preventative measure against erosion. Gravel can also be used as a replacement for mulch in landscaping projects since it allows plants to receive water. 

Roads

Gravel is present in both roads made of concrete and gravel. Primarily, gravel roads like you see in rural areas use coarse gravel. Coarse gravel roads are cheap and easy to install in isolated areas. On main roads gravel is used when it is turned into concrete. 

Let Tucker Trucking Help You With Your Next Construction Project

We hope you found this information useful! Tucker Trucking operates in the Des Moines area and is your one stop shop for all of your aggregate and hauling needs. If you are looking to purchase or  transport gravel for your next construction project give us a call at 515-331-6501 or contact us here.