Construction Materials: Porous pavement alternatives, Stone, Sand and Gravel

Sand, crushed stone, and gravel are common construction materials used in driveways, access roads and dog runs. Crushed stone, gravel and sand are what material suppliers and contractors often refer to as porous pavement alternatives. Sand, crushed stone, and gravel are purchased in bulk from suppliers of construction materials and are available in various type, sizes, and colors to fit a variety of applications and environments.

In the Northeast for example the following crushed stone, sand, and gravel types are available and preferred.  

Crushed Stone
Crushed stone and or rocks supplied in the Northeast generally include 3/8 inch Crushed Stone, 5/8 inch Crushed Stone, 3/4 inch Crushed Stone, 1 1/2 inch Crushed Stone, 2 1/2 inch Crushed Stone, Stone Screenings, and “DGA” Dense Graded Aggregate. All have different uses and applications.

• 3/8 inch Crushed Stone - 3/8 inch crushed stone is usually bluish to grayish in color. It is a clean stone that is used for driveways, drainage, and is often mixed with asphalt.
• 5/8 inch Crushed Stone – 5/8 inch crushed stone generally has the same look and applications as 3/8 inch crushed stone, only it is slightly larger
• 3/4 inch Crushed Stone - 3/4 inch Crushed Stone is also blue to gray in color, but its larger size has some additional uses. 3/4 inch Crushed Stone is used in driveways, but it is also used for around trees, landscaping, French drains, and as a sub-base for concrete sidewalks, concrete driveways, and patios,
• 1 1/2 inch Crushed Stone - 1 1/2 inch Crushed Stone like most crushed stone, is blue or gray. It is primarily used for drainage, septic systems, and as a road base
• 2 1/2 inch Crushed Stone - 2 1/2 inch Crushed Stone is blue or gray. These largest of the crushed stone products are used primarily for septic systems, & tracking pads on job sites.
• Stone Screenings - Stone Screenings are used as a base for paving blocks & base for concrete paved roads and areas such as horse arenas
• DGA – DGA or Dense Graded Aggregate is a combination of crushed stone and gravel created in a quarry process. Dense Graded Aggregate is used as a base material for driveways or walkways, road base, or a  base for interlocking walls.

Gravel
“Gravel” actually refers to a variety of products. In the NY, NJ and most of the Northeast gravel is used for gravel patios, garden gravel, gravel playgrounds, gravel dog runs and gravel driveways. Suppliers in this area usually carry: Gravel, Crushed Gravel, & Rocks including Pea Gravel, 3/8 inch Yellow Pea Gravel, 3/8 inch White Pea Gravel, 3/4 inch
Yellow Pea Gravel, and 3/4 inch White Pea Gravel.

• 3/8 inch Yellow Pea Gravel – 3/8 inch Yellow Pea Gravel, is a yellow gravel mixed with gray and white. It is used for patios, driveways, dog runs, gardens & playgrounds. Pea gravel may be used in sub surface gas tank installations.
• 3/4 inch Yellow Pea Gravel – 3/4 inch Yellow Pea Gravel, is a yellow gravel mixed with gray and white. It is used for patios, driveways, dog runs, gardens & play grounds. Pea gravel may be used in sub surface gas tank installations.
• 3/8 inch White Pea Gravel – 3/8 inch White Pea Gravel, is white gravel mixed with gray and yellow. It is used for patios, driveways, dog runs, gardens & playgrounds. Pea gravel may be used in sub surface gas tank installations.
• 3/4 inch White Pea Gravel – 3/4 inch White Pea Gravel, is a white gravel mixed with gray and yellow. It is used for patios, driveways, dog runs, gardens & playgrounds. Pea gravel may be used in sub surface gas tank installations

Sand
Sand is a contraction material widely used in the Northeast and is available from suppliers and trucking companies for a variety of uses. Construction Sand and Building Sand is usually supplied as Mason Sand, Concrete Sand, Fill Sand, Septic Sand, Filtering Sand, Utility Sand, White Mason Sand and Bank Run Sand

• Utility Sand - Utility Sand is a fine sand. It is usually a mixture of beige, tan, gray, brown, and white. It is used to backfill utility pipes such as water, gas, or  electric, and to back fill trenches
• Fine Utility Sand – Fine Utility Sand is an extra fine sand. Like utility sand it is used to backfill utility pipes such as water, gas, or electric, and to back fill trenches, but it is also used for horse arenas, and to fill sandbags.
• Beach Sand – Beach Sand is a fine sand.  It can be mixture of white, brown, beige, tan, and gray in color. Beach sand is used for patios, volley ball courts, sandboxes, playgrounds, and creating faux beaches
• Concrete Sand - Concrete Sand is a coarse sand. It is mixture of beige, tan, gray, brown, and white. Concrete sand is used mainly for mixing with cement, but it may also be used in septic systems.
• Mason Sand - Mason Sand is a coarse sand. General mason sand is mixture of beige, tan, gray, brown, and some white in color, but there is specific White Mason Sand. Mason Sand is used for to mix with concrete & mortar for laying blocks, bricks and stone. 
• White Mason Sand - White Mason Sand is a specific mason sand with specific job application. White Mason Sand is used to mix with concrete & mortar for laying white blocks and bricks to create a white mortar line
• Bank Run Sand - Bank Run Sand is a fine to coarse sand. Bank Run Sand is usually used to mix with concrete for fence posts, patios. It is mixture of beige, tan, and gold in color