What Is Good Gravel?
Surface gravel should be a blend of stone, sand and fines that will compact into a dense, tight mass with an almost impervious surface. Proper gradation is paramount. Gravel with too few stones will not have strength in wet weather. Gravel with excessive stones will be hard to compact, and the stones will “float” in dry weather, piling up between the wheel tracks and along the shoulders. Gravel with too few fines will not allow the gravel to form a crust. Gravel with excess fines will be slick in wet weather. Generally, the maximum size stone should be 3/4″. Crushed gravel with a higher percentage of fractured stones will have better “aggregate interlock” and will stay in place better than rock with a naturally rounded shape, reducing washboarding and yielding higher strength. The proper percentage and quality of fine materials, those that pass the #200 sieve, will act as a binder, holding the larger aggregate in place and increasing the cohesiveness of the gravel. There are natural bi
