Washed Limestone as top dressing for roadbase in Central Texas?

ustmd · Mar 21, 2019

As almost everyone else here, I have a "dirt road"-i.e. graded with road base.

I am doing spring road maintenance and using a new supplier for my base said that he can get me 1 1/2 wash limestone as a top dressing for the base. He says that it does a good job of protecting/prolonging the life of the base (which I am guessing it helps prevent the fines from blowing away in the summer).

I know that limestone is part of the base and I have wondered about adding additional aggregate to the top, but I have not seen any long term roads done this way.

Anyone have any experience using washed limestone as a top dressing?

BTW, I appreciate the recommendations, but recycled asphalt is not a good option where I am at.

Also, as reference, in Central Texas, I am paying $30/yd for base delivered and he is quoting $33/yd for the washed limestone.

EddieWalker · Mar 21, 2019

Limestone is a soft rock. It breaks down fairly quickly, but it also varies from quarry to quarry. If possible, try to find crushed concrete. It is much harder and holds up a lot better. Not cement wash out of the concrete trucks, but the stuff that is actually old concrete that is run through a crushing machine to break it down.

CMV · Mar 21, 2019

If you find crushed concrete, they have to do a good job screening it with a magnet. It typically has metal in it too (at least what I get). Even though what I get supposedly has had magnet thru it, I will pull lots of pieces out that I wouldn't want to drive on.

Streetcar · Mar 21, 2019

Limestone and crushed concrete vary in quality based on region. I will defer to Eddie in Texas, but in Ohio limestone is superior to crushed concrete

CMV · Mar 21, 2019

Probably is everywhere....but crushed concrete is pretty inexpensive compared to any type of stone and the high % of fines lock it together pretty well once it's packed down.

But has plenty of drawbacks too..... I use it only due to the lower cost. $/ton really adds up quick.... Southern TX Jul-Sep might be so hot & dry that rules out crushed concrete just due to excessive dust?

gsganzer · Mar 21, 2019

1 1/2" sounds kind of large. I've typically seen that used for the base and then 3/4" unwashed on top. There's a member here on TBN (BigJohn I think) that does gravel driveways for a living. He's out of North Texas, but would know what to use.

hunt4570 · Mar 21, 2019

My opinion is use crushed limestone WITH the fines in it, washed limestone is just loose rock and will never pack down and get tight.

bigtiller · Mar 21, 2019

Washed limestone makes a poor top dressing because it will compact but it won't consolidate.
In other words, if you spin a tire or turn a steering wheel or even drag a tree branch, you will have loose rocks on top.

jpeters9605 · Mar 21, 2019

I own a farm around the Buffalo,NY area and all of my driveways and parking areas are crushed limestone. I also put in driveways as well. Washed limestone won't compact enough for what you are trying to do and 1 1/2 is to big in my opinion. A smaller crushed limestone will compact very well and the dust from it will harden it like concrete after a few rains.

mwayne · Mar 21, 2019

The crushed rock from Central Texas won't last for road topping. You need the rock from Chico TX, or equal, as it is much more durable. For our driveway I use the Blum TX area road base as it is closer and cheaper but the Chico rock to "seal" it from road traffic, 3/4" as already mentioned.