April 13, 2023
Material
River rock, a type of washed gravel, is a loose rock found along the banks of rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Due to natural water erosion, river rock has a smooth, round shape that makes it perfect for both decorative and practical purposes, as well as for making concrete. It comes in a variety of colors such as red, white, gray, and tan and can be ordered in many different sizes.
.jpg)
While river rock is not always suitable for large construction projects, it is especially popular for landscaping and residential projects. In particular, many people choose to use river rock on their lawn landscaping or in their garden because of the excellent drainage properties of the rock.
River rock can be screened or washed, or it can be kept in its naturally occurring form. Screened rock refers to rock that has been passed through a series of screens in order to provide a material that is uniform in size. Washed rock refers to rock that has been cleaned via high pressure water jets, removing any dirt, dust, or other impurities. Naturally occurring river rock will vary in size and will be dirty or muddy in appearance. This layer of dirt will eventually wash away with rain or focused watering.
River rock is one of the most aesthetically pleasing rocks. River rock in Central Texas comes in beautiful colors and textures, making the rock especially popular for landscaping and outdoor decoration. In addition to landscaping, river rock has more practical uses because it provides excellent drainage, a great addition to many gardens or areas which are exposed to a lot of moisture.
River rock is also used in the production of concrete and for industrial jobs, but some popular landscaping projects which use river rock include:
· Outdoor staircases
· Patios
· Border walls
· Outdoor decoration
· Walkways
· Gardens
· Filling holes
Pea gravel is made of tiny pieces of rock and comes in a variety of colors that are similar to the shades of river rock. While pea gravel does not come in larger sizes like river rock, it serves as a great decorative and practical material for outdoor projects like pebbled walkways, patios, and gardens. While it is not used for as many utility purposes, pea gravel nicely complements river rock because river rock provides good drainage while pea gravel serves as a strong weed suppressant in gardens.
#57 rock is a naturally worn rock that is ¾” or 1” in diameter and is a foundational material for construction projects. The number 57 in its name comes from the size of the sieve used to sort and screen the rocks in order to meet the specs set by the state. This type of rock also provides excellent drainage and is therefore a popular choice for landscaping projects. However, #57 rock can be expensive due to its growing popularity in construction and can be difficult to find depending on the flexibility of the project and if the rock needs to be imported.
River rock generally comes in smaller sizes, but there is an alternative for projects requiring something larger. River rock that is larger than 2” in diameter is called oversize river rock, and it is not as common as natural river rock. Quarries must have special equipment to handle the larger rocks, which also adds to the price tag. This type of river rock is used mostly for landscaping purposes and is a good alternative to manufactured river rock because of its size and strength.
Demand for river rock has grown because of the materials popularity across a wide range of construction and landscaping jobs. Unfortunately, while demand is strong, supply has not been able to grow proportionately. Due to this, the price of river rock can sometimes increase while alternatives like limestone are more common and therefore remain cheaper. Oversize river rock and 1” rock can be more expensive than other river rock types because of the materials popularity in the construction and landscaping industries. In addition, if supply is critically low, these materials will need to be imported, increasing the landed cost of the product.
Our professionals at Twisted Nail offer quarry direct trucking to make sure your materials get delivered when you want them, where you want them. There may be times when your specific material is in short supply or unavailable in your market altogether. Our expert team is partnered with nearly all quarries in Central Texas and are dedicated to finding your aggregate as quickly and efficiently as possible. Contact our team for more information about how we can provide your projects the materials you need, when you need them, at a price that works for you.
An end dumps carry weight depends heavily on the specific road regulations, the power unit weight, and the composition of the trailer. A steel trailer, typically referred to as a Round Bottom, will be heavier and will have a payload of approximately 21 to 23 tons. By contrast, an aluminum end dump is much lighter and can carry anywhere from 23-28 tons, with some set-ups being able to approach 30-ton payloads.
End dumps are typically loaded by heavy machinery, such as a front-end loader or excavator, or by a series of conveyor belts. End dumps are top load trailers. An owner-operator with an end dump trailer will uncover the trailer via an electric tarp switch in the cab. With the trailer uncovered, the heavy machinery is free to load from the top of the trailer, being careful to evenly distribute the material. Once loaded, the owner-operator flips the tarp switch, covers the load, and continues their run.
There are several different types of hydraulic lifts that are usually part of dump trailers. These include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts, among others. Most dump trailers use hydraulics to automatically lift the dump box and unload the materials in a quick, seamless action.
An end dump is an excellent investment for owner operators or construction companies that transport bulk aggregate on a frequent basis. Depending on your needs, a steel or aluminum end dump will ensure that you are able to reliable keep your customers jobsites and stockpiles full.
Depending on market timing, a typical aluminum end dump will range between $15,000 to $70,000+, with steel round bottoms priced around $10,000-$50,000+. These trailers are also offered for rent or lease, with trailers available for around $850-$2,000 per month. When renting or leasing, it is typical for all repairs to be the responsibility of the renting owner operator.
Flex base can be an excellent choice for a driveway but is not often used as a primary input in TXDOT construction. Flex base is best suited for farm roads, driveways, RV pads, and for other foundations that will not receive heavy traffic. Flex base is cheaper than most alternative options, such as asphalt or base that meets TXDOT specifications. Additionally, once set and compacted, a flex base road or driveway is cheaper and easier to maintain.
Yes, road base and flex base are the same material family. That said, the differentiating factor is typically the testing results of each material. When shopping for material, it is important to identify exactly what type of material you are buying. Retailers will categorize Base as a broad category and can leave identification to consumers, which is challenging and confusing. In general, if a retailer is selling a Road Base it can be assumed that the material is of higher construction quality than flex base, meaning it will have a wider range of approved uses. However, some vendors will sell Flex Base as a Road Base; this makes it important to understand if the material you are purchasing is a true Flex Base, is ‘Spec 247’, or is TXDOT approved. With each increase in quality comes an increase in cost, so it is important to identify which material will best suit the needs of your project.
Flex Base is a mixture of loose aggregate and coarse aggregate, can be a wide range of color based on source location, and is composed of materials ranging from dirt to rock that are 1”-3” in size. Most Flex Base, particularly around Central Texas, will range from tan to brown, will consist of a dirt material and rocks that range from 1” to 2” in diameter. There are specialty materials that will include rocks up to 3” in size, but these are typically reserved for heavy construction projects.
Any driveway’s depth should be at least 5” to ensure structural integrity and better load capacity. For road base in particular, experts recommend a thickness of 6-8”.
Twisted Nail is here to help. If you need something hauled in central Texas, we can get your job done, safely, timely, and reliably.
.png)