Mixing river gravel and crushed limestone

[mljenkins]

Has anyone ever tried to mix river gravel and crushed limestone? I have a bunch of extra river gravel and I though about using it as a temporary base for a section of road between my house and shed until I can afford some #1 base next year.

I was installing culvert (15” ads) and ordered 3/4” crushed limestone (#57) but as the dump trump tipped up to dump 22 tons of stone much to my surprise it was river stone. The person I spoke to on the phone thought because I was installing a culvert that’s what I wanted despite me saying crushed limestone. I wanted the limestone because I knew it would work as good as the river gravel for the culvert and I could spread the rest on my parking area, which I can’t do with river stone.

I have another culvert project I can use it for, but I’ll end up with 4 tons of the stuff I have no use for unless I use it for general (unplanned) landscaping around the house. I was thinking maybe I just spread it over the culvert I just installed (already had 12” on top and then about 6-12” of soil fill) and at least I wouldn’t have as much mud. However, I am not sure what it’s going to do when I actually get limestone, if it will create future issues.

Thanks for any thoughts on using the two together.

 

[RNeumann]

River gravel the wrong stuff to use. Road base (and the railroad tracks) is made using jagged stone. The shape helps to lock and hold. The smooth river rock will move and slip. I’m thinking you will be frustrated with the results.

 

[4570Man]

We’d never consider such an idea here because it’s high dollar ( $70 ton vs $8-10) but putting that aside crushed rock is a much better road base. The round rock never packs and just rolls around. Another mistake I see people make is using 1/2 clean rock on driveways. Again it’s expensive $16 a ton vs $8 for crusher run and it doesn’t pack.

 

[3Ts]

River rock is absolutely the wrong stuff. You need the crushed rock. As was mentioned, the river rock will not stay put and will move, just like ball bearings. Crushed rock will lock in place.

P.S. try driving thru a 6" deep pit of river rock and see what happens. It drains well, but that's all.

 

[oosik]

I had about 15 cu yds of round stone( 1 1/2" screened & washed ) extra when my drain field was installed. I spread it on a short section of my driveway. The following spring it "smushed" right down into the soft driveway and has not "moved" an inch since that time.

Any other time of the year it would have been like bowling balls on a basketball court. My driveway dries out and becomes just like concrete - come the summer.

 

[Streetcar]

River rock is used in many road bases. Crushed works better with exposed surface

 

[ovrszd]

I think the OP knows the drawbacks to his river rock. He's simply asking if anyone has tried mixing it. I have not.

If you do try it, we'd all be interested in the results.

 

[deezler]

I have done this. A few years ago I got about 30 yards of round, river type rock for free (came off an industrial building roof, actually!). My main intended use was for decorative landscaping and such, but I couldn't afford as much gravel as my new long driveway really needed, so I decided to try some of the round rock. Sure, it was loose for a while, but it actually does pack down plenty well once you get a bit of sediment accumulated in it over time. I always planned to put some sharper limestone over it, but still haven't gotten around to it, and frankly don't really need to.

I also ran a plate compactor over it all right away to help bed it down, which helps immensely.

 

[Streetcar]

I made parking area out of donated bank run gravel, 100 cy. It is holding up fine

 

[oosik]

Lay it down in a 2" to 3" layer. Compact it well. It will "smush" in and stay there. Limestone over the river rock, later, will do just fine.