Crushed concrete is a popular driveway paving option for many homeowners. Similar to gravel, crushed concrete is made up of tiny little pieces of concrete that have been ground and crushed to create a material suitable for paving.
There are many reasons why a person might want to use crushed concrete in their driveway, but also some reasons why you might want to stay away from it as well. In case you’re interested in this common paving material, let’s go over some crushed concrete driveway pros and cons.
Where Does Crushed Concrete Come From?
When concrete is demolished, it can either be put in a landfill to sit there forever, or it can be recycled. Concrete is not biodegradable so in order to get the most use out of it, it needs to be recycled. Demolished concrete is sent to a recycling plant where it can be further crushed, cleaned of impurities, and eventually made suitable for reuse.
It can be added in as a supplement when making new concrete, or it can be crushed and sold in the same way that loose gravel is. The crushed concrete you would buy for a driveway is recycled from old pavement projects.
What are the Benefits of Using Crushed Concrete for a Driveway?
Price is the main upside to using this crushed concrete. Since it is a recycled material, it costs much less than having fresh concrete poured. It’s also much more affordable than natural stones.
Eco-friendliness is another big benefit of crushed concrete. Using this material helps slow down the production of new concrete and also frees up space in landfills. It prevents demolished concrete from sitting around taking up space and puts it to good use.
Depending on how you have it installed, it’s also rather permeable. This helps with the flow of stormwater and puts less of a burden on local storm systems. This material is also known for being versatile and can be used in conjunction with other paving materials.
For example, if you like the look of natural stones or fresh concrete, you can use crushed concrete to create the base for your driveway, installing your preferred surface materials on top. This uses less expensive material and still adds some permeability to your driveway, depending on how it’s designed.
There are many types of crushed concrete that are suitable for a variety of different uses. For driveways, however, 21AA crushed asphalt, 21AA crushed concrete, and 22AA crushed concrete are the only suitable options for building a driveway surface. There are others that can be used for a sub-base as well.
What are the Downsides to Using Crushed Concrete in a Driveway?
Durability is the main concern. Unstabilized, loose crushed concrete has all the downsides that loose gravel does. It spreads and thins easily, requiring you to add more and to constantly even out your driveway so it doesn’t develop bare spots and ruts.
Crushed concrete also creates dust rather easily, which can stick to your vehicles and dirty them. The permeability of an unstabilized crushed concrete driveway is also much less than that of one stabilized with pavers.
What’s the Best Way to Use Crushed Concrete for Your Driveway?
The best way to use this material for a driveway is to stabilize it with porous pavements. TRUEGRID, for example, makes plastic pavers that interlock together and contain the crushed concrete inside. The TRUEGRID PRO LITE and TRUEGRID PRO PLUS paving systems are perfect for stabilizing your crushed concrete and creating a durable, level driving surface that never thins or spreads.
The installation process for building a crushed concrete driveway with TRUEGRID pavers is also incredibly simple and fast. First, your driveway must be excavated to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, and a piece of fabric will be laid at the bottom to prevent concrete migration into the soil and also serve as a weed block.
Then, crushed concrete will be poured into the excavated area and compacted, filling it to the brim. Next, the empty pavers will be snapped into place over the top of the filled pit. Afterwards, more crushed concrete will be poured into the paver cells and compacted into the empty cells of the pavers. This weighs the pavers down and prevents them from moving.
The main benefit to using TRUEGRID pavers for your crushed concrete is the durability and low maintenance requirements of the pavers. They can last 60 years with almost no maintenance, allowing you to enjoy a crushed concrete driveway without any of the hassle so many others face when using unstabilized crushed concrete.
Let TRUEGRID Help You Get the Most Out of Your Crushed Concrete Driveway
If you want to maximize the benefits and eliminate the drawback of using crushed concrete to build a driveway, look no further than TRUEGRID permeable plastic pavers. If you’re interested in a beautiful driveway that stands the test of time and prevents flooding as well, contact TRUEGRID today to get in touch with a pavement professional for a quote.
