🪨 Crushed Limestone: When It Makes Sense
Pros:
- Consistent gradation
- Cleaner appearance
- Performs well for exposed or finished surfaces
Best Uses:
- Driveways
- Walkways
- Decorative base layers
- Areas where appearance matters
🧱 Crushed Concrete: When Contractors Prefer It
Pros:
- Typically compacts tighter
- Often more cost-effective
- Recycled material (availability is strong in North Houston)
Best Uses:
- Pads
- Construction entrances
- Equipment areas
- Heavy traffic zones
Local Experience
In our experience, crushed concrete performs extremely well on clay subgrades common in Montgomery County.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Limestone | Crushed Concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Compaction | Very good | Excellent ✓ |
| Cost | Higher | Lower ✓ |
| Appearance | Cleaner ✓ | Rougher |
| Drainage | Good | Good |
| Availability | Quarry-dependent | Usually abundant ✓ |
Texas Soil & Weather Considerations
- Clay expands and contracts — tight compaction matters
- Rain will find weak spots quickly
- A properly compacted base matters more than material brand
No base material survives poor prep.
Common Mistake
Choosing material based on price alone without accounting for traffic load, drainage, and finish expectations. That's how bases fail.