Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Road surface: gravel? crushed asphalt? pea gravel?

I agree with what Tony said on cut/ground rock vs. pea gravel. Round stones will walk all over the place, and won't stay in the driveway.

Yes, limestone will be dusty in dry times.

It doesn't get that hot up here, so I can't say how crushed blacktop will work.

A company that I worked for used the small, thin strips that were trimmed from 3-tab roofing shingles when they were made. They interlocked together and made for a tight, one piece driveway.

A friend in East Texas used the crushed concrete and liked how it turned out. Cheaper than limestone, no metal found in it and it didn't dust like limestone.

Just be aware, without putting down geotextile fabric first, you'll have to re-stone it every 3-5 years because the stones will pack down into the soil over time. They get pushed into the ground when the ground is wet, and the soil migrates up to the surface, even when using 3"-4" dia stone as a base.

Around here, railroad ballast (the stone that is around railroad tracks) is relatively inexpensive, but it's not cleaned of metal, so you'll find railroad spikes and other assorted bits of metal in it. They use it for a base here, then put 3/4" crushed limestone (with fines) on top of it.