Top 7 Uses for Gravel

Gravel, produced by quarries, has a number of uses. Most people think of it as a construction material, but it is so much more. Tiny pieces of rock can be insanely useful in plenty of scenarios, here are seven top uses.

1. Make Concrete

Concrete requires some aggregates and gravel is the one that comes to mind when you’re mixing your cement. This concrete is used for everything from pouring foundations and columns in buildings to creating driveways.

2. Lay a Path

Need to keep a pathway clear of weeds? Pouring gravel into a shallow trench until it is level with the ground can be ideal for creating the perfect path. You’ll have some spillage if you don’t add edging, but that can be raked back into place on a regular basis.

3. Fill a Flowerbed

In place of mulch, you can use gravel. It’s often used to fill entire gardens where water is limited and people want to prevent too many weeds from growing. The gravel may also be used in just a few flowerbeds, however. It helps protect the plants that are there and locks water under the soil where it does the most good.

4. Prevent Erosion

Anywhere rain or tide is threatening to wash away chunks of land, you can prevent erosion by using rain. There are a few ways to do this. First, gravel can be spread out over dirt areas to prevent the dirt from being washed away completely. Second, you can actually build wire cages to fill with gravel. These are then set along the area that is in danger of being washed away, preventing even larger pieces of soil from being eroded.

5. Create Asphalt

Another construction material that uses quite a bit of gravel as an aggregate is asphalt. Whenever a new road is going to be laid, there will be plenty of gravel to help create a rugged road that will last. The gravel is also used under the asphalt, to help protect the road from frost upheaval and similar.

6. Lower Acidity in Soil

Gravel is frequently ground down to create agricultural lime. This is what farmers use to help eradicate acidic soil so their crops will grow better. Having that gravel in your flowerbed could be better than you imagined.



7. Drainage Control

Gravel has plenty of spaces between it, making it excellent for drainage. You can lay a strip of gravel beside a path or driveway to allow water to flow off the sloped surface, as well as using it for drainage trenches wherever the gutters empty out, so the water will move away from the building and soak into the ground slowly.

With all these uses, it’s no wonder gravel is so popular. If you’re in need of some yourself, for whatever reason, William Thompson & Son has exactly what you want. We pride ourselves on providing high quality aggregates, including gravel.