When it comes to gravel driveways, homeowners have a lot of options when it comes to size, color, and style. They’re inexpensive, easy to maintain, and a beautiful complement to any home.

Choosing the right stone is important for your driveway’s base and surface layers. Different types of rocks drain differently. Some are more rounded and will migrate under cars, while others require edging or stabilizing pavers to stay in place.

Recycled Asphalt

Asphalt is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective material for driveways. Its recycling process reduces waste and carbon emissions compared to quarrying other aggregate materials.

Typically, old pavement is milled and crushed into small pieces before being sent to asphalt plants for processing. It’s a common practice in the industry and helps to keep landfills free of old asphalt. This asphalt is then used in new paving projects, including residential driveways.

This recycled asphalt helps to save both contractors and homeowners money because it is a less expensive alternative to the traditional gravel option. It also holds up well against snow and ice.

While its downsides include the lack of organic material to discourage weed growth, it is very durable and affordable for driveways. It’s also easy to maintain and withstands the impact of vehicles driving over it. To ensure its durability, tamp the recycled asphalt with a hand tamper to help compact it.

River Rock

River rock is a versatile landscaping material that can create gorgeously natural-looking stone driveways Charlotte NC. It can also be repurposed in other lawn areas, including garden beds and walkways.

. One popular option is the Red Rock, which features a range of colors from reds to browns and is a great compliment to any garden or flower bed.

Another good option for your driveway is Vigoro Bagged River Pebbles. This gravel consists of pebbles between 1 and 3 inches in size, which is perfect for a driveway that needs to be both functional and comfortable for walking or driving on. It is also ideal for creating a dry river bed in your landscape. The gravel is easy to install and will provide superior drainage without causing erosion problems. This gravel also makes a beautiful accent to water features like fountains or waterfalls.

White Marble Chips

A beautiful landscape is one of the most important ways to set your property apart. In addition to a trimmed lawn and colorful flowers, white marble chips provide an excellent option for accenting any outdoor area of your property. These decorative stones can be used for edging along walkways, highlighting fountains and planters or simply as an alternative to traditional mulch.

When used as mulch, marble chips help to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. This helps to promote healthy roots while helping to suppress weed growth. Unlike organic mulch products, marble does not decompose or introduce unwanted materials into the ground.

When shopping for marble chips, finding a local supplier is crucial. A quality supplier will have a large quantity available, be knowledgeable and offer a fair price. In addition, you can visit the facility and view the stone in person to ensure it fits your specific landscaping needs.

Pea Gravel

Although pea gravel and crushed stone might look similar to the untrained eye, they are far from interchangeable. They differ in many ways, including size, applications, and cost.

Pea gravel is a multi-use landscaping rock that varies in color from tan, brown, and grey to blue, cream, and pink tone stones. This material is often used for garden beds, driveways, ponds, and walkways and is relatively easy to install compared to other hardscaping materials.

Before laying pea gravel, creating a solid base layer is important to ensure your patio is stable. Use a shovel to dig the area where you plan on installing your pea gravel to a depth of six inches. Remove any large rocks and roots, and add edging for stability (wood or plastic). Pea gravel can easily shift when you walk on it, which could be dangerous. Adding a border around the pea gravel will prevent this from happening.