Crushed rock is one of the most versatile materials in the construction industry. It has far-reaching uses in roadway construction, base material, driveway material, wall construction, footpath construction, gardens for landscaping, pool edging, fire pit construction, patios and etc. As the name implies, crushed rock or stone is typically made from crushing larger rocks in quarries into smaller, easy-to-handle materials for construction, landscaping and other uses.

However, not much is known about crushed rock. If you have an upcoming construction project and wondering whether to use crushed rock, this piece will break down everything you need to know.

It Comes In Different Categories

Generally, when the heavy rock crushers break down large rocks in quarries into smaller pieces, the crushed rock undergoes screening. The screening sorts out the rock into various categories. The typical categories include stone dust, clean stone and washed clean stone. As the name implies, stone dust is the finest product. It's also referred to as crushed dust, and like coarse sand, it's made of dust and fine stone particles. However, because of its fine texture and profile, stone dust isn't recommended for driveways and applications like retaining walls where proper water drainage is critical. On the flipside, stone dust is perfect for walkways or footpaths and levelling applications where a smooth base layer is required.

On the other hand, clean stone is crushed rock that has undergone screening to remove most of the crushed dust. This category of crushed rock will still contain traces of stone dust, and it's often perfect as the top layer for driveways. However, if you are looking for aesthetics and proper drainage properties, go for washed clean stone. As the name implies, it is cleaned crushed stone without any crushed dust. It's ideal for decorative applications like kerbing. And because of the excellent drainage properties, you can also use washed clean stone for landscaping applications.

It's Available In Various Sizes

Besides the different categories, stone dust is also available in various sizes. Every construction project has unique needs. Therefore, it's imperative to assess your needs to choose the ideal size for your application. Typically, the smallest fractions of crushed rock are ideal for decorative finishing. Their middle-sized counterparts will come in handy for drainage applications, while the largest fractions are often suitable for decorating pools, ponds, fences and etc.

Densities And Strength Vary

The strength and density of crushed rock will often depend on where it was extracted from. However, denser crushed rock tends to be more versatile because it's stronger. Usually, crushed rock is classified as low-strength, medium-strength and high-strength crushed rock, depending on the density. Similarly, evaluate your needs first to select an option that suits your application's strength requirements.

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