What it is
1-inch crushed limestone by the ton. The standard north Texas driveway material — angular, off-white, locks tight when compacted. Sometimes called "white rock" or "limestone base."
What it is for
The most-used aggregate in our yard. Three primary uses:
- Driveway base course. Under finish layers of DG or as the finish surface on rural driveways.
- Patio and paver base. 4-6 inches compacted under flagstone or paver installs.
- Path base. Under pea gravel or DG finishes.
It also works as a finish driveway material on its own. You see it on every farmhouse driveway in north Texas — white-rock driveways that have looked the same for 30 years. Cheap to install, easy to refresh.
How much do I need
Coverage varies by depth. Standard depths:
| Project | Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Patio base | 4" | ~25 sq ft per ton (compacted) |
| Driveway base | 6" | ~17 sq ft per ton |
| Path base | 2" | ~50 sq ft per ton |
| Driveway finish (rural) | 3" | ~33 sq ft per ton |
For a typical 14x40 ft driveway (560 sq ft) with 6" of base, plan 32 tons. The driveway wizard computes this plus the optional DG top course.
For paths, the path wizard bundles limestone base with the finish course, edging, and fabric.
Build sequence (driveway)
- Excavate to subgrade — 6-8 inches below final grade.
- Compact the subgrade.
- Lay woven fabric — keeps limestone from sinking into clay subsoil. Skipping this is the most common reason driveways need re-topping every 2 years instead of every 5.
- Spread limestone in 2-inch lifts.
- Compact each lift with a plate compactor or vibratory roller.
- Crown the surface — slope from center to edges at 2% so water sheds.
For a finish surface, top with 1.5" of DG for color (the famous "DG over white rock" Texas driveway) or finish with the limestone itself for an all-white look.
Texas/DFW specific
- Limestone reads bright white when fresh, weathers to soft gray-white in 12 months. The aged look is what most people prefer.
- Heat reflectivity is high — driveway is noticeably cooler underfoot than a poured concrete pad in summer.
- Limestone is mildly alkaline. Don't lay it directly against acid-loving plants (azaleas, hydrangeas) — runoff can shift soil pH over years.
Buying tips
- Tandem-load (20-22 tons) standard for whole driveways. Single-axle (10 tons) for smaller jobs.
- Plan to walk the load right after delivery — fresh-dumped pile compacts uniformly; week-old pile gets weedy at the edges.
- Plate-compactor rental is $80-120 a day at most rental yards. Worth it.
Contractor notes
Highest-volume aggregate in our yard. Volume pricing at 10+ tons, steeper break at 20+ tons. Same-day pickup if before noon.