Hamilton Gravel Delivery

Will gravel stop the erosion on my sloped backyard?

It helps a great deal if you build it as a dry creek bed rather than just scattering rock. Line the channel with fabric, set larger 3 to 6 inch river rock along the sides, and use smaller washed gravel in the center. That gives Hamilton's storm runoff a defined path instead of letting it cut into the silt loam.

How much stone do I need for my driveway?

A typical Hamilton two car driveway of about 600 square feet needs roughly 6 to 7 tons for a 4 inch depth. Gravel is sold by weight, and one ton of crushed limestone covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches. Plan on topping off an inch every few years as traffic works stone into the soil.

Should I put landscape fabric under decorative stone?

Yes for decorative beds, no for structural bases. Fabric under river rock keeps our silt loam from working up between the stones, which happens quickly here because fine soil particles migrate with every heavy rain. Under a patio base, fabric belongs beneath the gravel, not between the gravel and the sand.

Is stone a better choice than mulch around my foundation?

For the narrow strip right against the house, often yes. Stone does not hold moisture against siding through Hamilton's humid summers and it does not need replacing every spring. Keep plants that need cooler roots, like hydrangeas, in mulched beds farther out, since stone radiates heat on a 90 degree July afternoon.

What size gravel works for a French drain in Hamilton?

Use washed 57 stone, roughly three quarter inch and clean of fines, so water moves freely. Unwashed gravel carries dust that clogs with our silt loam and the drain stops working within a couple of years. Wrap the pipe and stone in fabric and slope it at least an eighth inch per foot toward the outlet.

Can I install stone projects in the winter here?

Hauling and spreading stone is fine on a dry winter day, and Hamilton often gives you workable stretches in December and January. What you cannot do well is compact a base in frozen or saturated ground. For patios and walkways, wait for a dry window after the ground thaws in spring.

Is there a stone yard near Hamilton?

Lining a gully on a slope above the Great Miami River with crushed stone is a common Hamilton fix after a hard rainy season, and the stone comes straight to your driveway instead of a trip to a stone yard. Mulch Mound delivers crushed stone and limestone by the cubic yard, so there is no need to visit a quarry.