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Limestone Driveway

Limestone driveways are easy to lay. It gives your driveway a feel that’s natural and different from other paving materials. It is the perfect driveway revamp material if you consider a unique and competitively affordable look for your home. The key to a crushed limestone driveway’s durability is the ability to lay them as they should be – large limestone pieces at the bottom and the smaller pieces atop.

Limestone driveways are becoming increasingly common among many homeowners. Limestone aggregate is made from calcium carbonate. This stone is crushed into different grades and patterns. Crushed limestone can be used for different purposes; on driveways, patios, and walkways, as drainage gravel for channeling water off, and for other outdoor landscaping. This stone helps in ground stabilization and erosion control in many homes. 

Crushed Limestone is tough, durable, and available worldwide. Many paving projects are now considering limestone rock driveways; this is why our experts created this comprehensive guide to explain the benefit, costs, and grades of crushed limestone paving.

Is Crushed Limestone Good For Driveways?

Crushed limestone is beginning to gain ground in the United States. Crushed limestone comprises good-quality calcite (calcium), phosphor, copper, and magnesium. Because of its nature, it offers a charming traditional look to driveways and other outdoor landscaping. 

Crushed limestone is great for driveway installation, and when it’s not the main paving material, it acts as a base material for tarmac and concrete slabs or used in railway tracks. The use of crushed limestone is not enough to tell you how great crushed limestone is for driveways; below are some of the benefits you should consider before deciding on limestone for your home or commercial driveway.

Limestone Is Affordable 

Cost! The one reason many homeowners settle for less. Crushed limestone is a natural paving material that’s inexpensive, available, and durable. You don’t have to worry about going over your budget with crushed limestone. These earthly rocks are very common and cheap.

A limestone quarry. There are many advantages of using limestone for driveways

Crushed Limestone is Durable 

When considering a paving material for your driveway, you should use a material that can withstand extreme weather and harsh substances. Crushed limestone is long-lasting and harder than most stones you will find around. This material stays in place when properly installed until you decide you need a change. You wouldn’t want to go through the stress of having to install another paving material for your driveway after only a few years.

Versatility At Its Peak

Crushed limestone comes in uniform colors, different sizes, and even patterns. Also, crushed limestone can be a base for installing concrete and other paving materials or a top layer for gravel driveways. You can do much more than pave your driveway when you purchase crushed limestone. You can also pave your patios.

Crushed Stone Is Easy To Install

Crushed limestone is great for driveways and has many benefits. Here you have it—a paving material you can DIY and not feel fatigued all day. Also, if you don’t have much time to maintain your driveway, crushed limestone is the paving material you need to install quickly. Limestone rocks can withstand heavy traffic and stay tidy for a long time. You don’t have to worry much when caught up in doubt.

Which Is Better, Gravel or Crushed Limestone? 

Depending on the function of your driveway, you can choose between gravel and crushed limestone. Unlike crushed limestone, which is more uniform in color, gravel is a loose mixture of different stones. It is versatile and inviting. However, gravel is a rounded stone and easily shifts when applying pressure.

Some other factors like location and rock size might affect your choice of construction material. If you live in an area where limestone is more available, it is your best option because it will be more affordable.

Limestone comes with wider stone sizes than gravel. You can choose the safest grade for your driveway and ensure it’s packed well. For a proper drainage system, a heavy-duty driveway, and stability, limestone is a better option than a gravel driveway.

A driveway made of crushed limestone

Crushed Limestone Driveway Cons

A crushed driveway is a better option for homeowners trying to improve the value of their homes or property. It’s also an alternative way to live an eco-friendly lifestyle without spending so much on your driveway. Some of the setbacks of the crushed limestone driveway include:

Frequent Maintenance

Your limestone rock driveway may require frequent removal of debris, leaves, and other dirt if you are looking for a hundred percent maintenance-free driveway. Crushed limestone isn’t the best option for you.

Lose Stones 

The major setback with a crushed limestone driveway is that you will have some stray stones everywhere when someone drives in and out of your driveway. If you don’t mind gathering them and moving them back to your driveway, you have no problem installing your crushed limestone.

What Is the Size Of Limestone Best For a Driveway?

The precise size of the limestone you need depends on the application. Heavy-duty or traffic driveways will require 2-3 inches to support the driveway perfectly. The ½ inch option is perfect for a topcoat driveway, and for driveway base stone, 3 inches is the right size you need. If you use crushed limestone as aggregate for concrete or asphalt driveways, ½ crushed limestone is good enough. It’s important to note that the thinner you go, the more maintenance is required to keep your limestone driveway in place.

The right amount od limestone for your driveway

How Much Limestone Do I Need For My Driveway 

You can tell from the size of your driveway whether you need a small amount of crushed limestone or more. Also, a few other factors will decide the amount of crushed limestone your driveway or parking lot will consume. These include whether or not your driveway or parking lot aggregate was installed in it previously. When your driveway already has aggregate installed, it will consume less crushed limestone. 2-3 inches of additional crushed stone will cover your limestone driveway. Without any previous aggregate, you will need at least 4-6 inches installed to reach an appreciable level.

How To Build a Limestone Driveway 

The beautiful thing about limestone driveways is that you can easily install them yourself. However, installing your limestone rock driveway will consume your time and energy, especially if you do it alone and need more tools to complete the job easily. Hiring a professional driveway constructor will take the stress away from you. Installing a limestone driveway requires technical know-how and meticulous planning to complete the job. Below is a step-by-step guide that will help you accomplish your task or give you an idea of what has to be done to install a crushed limestone driveway.

1. Mark The Area

Create an outline using stakes or paint. Make the driveway wider for the areas around the wall to avoid accidents. 

2. Dig The Soil

With a small bulldozer, remove the topsoil within the driveway area you’ve marked. You can always reuse the soil you’ve removed in your gardens or elsewhere. 

3. Leveling

After you have removed the topsoil, you will need to smoothen the surface. Go over the area by moving forward and backward several times. Driving over it with your car or any heavy equipment will help level the surface for you. 

4. Cover the Base With Weed Fabric 

Ensure that your base is smooth and tough enough, then cover the base with a weed barrier fabric and then cover the weed barrier layer with 4-5 inches of crushed #1 or # 2 limestone rocks. Work the crushed stones into position with a heavy tool. 

5. Add Crushed Limestone 

Add 4-5 inches thick of #8 crushed limestone. Use a scraper blade to arrange the crushed stones. Arrange the stones like a crown through your driveway; ensure it’s higher than both sides to create a good drainage system.

Limestone Driveway Cost

It is more economical to purchase crushed limestone in larger quantities. The cost per yard can be from $30 to $40. However, if your driveway is small, it can cost about $ 25 to $ 35 per ton. The cost of crushed limestone will also depend on the size and quality you want to purchase.

Conclusion

Designing and installing a crushed limestone driveway is a great option for budget-minded home or business owners. A crushed limestone driveway is appealing and less expensive than a concrete or asphalt driveway. To install your limestone driveway yourself, purchase all the tools you need on home depot or get a professional paver to do it for you.

Sandstone vs Limestone

As two of the most popular stones in the world for paving, people often wonder whether they should use sandstone or limestone when paving their driveways, patios, or gardens. 

While you can use both Sandstone vs Limestone to achieve similarly fantastic looks, there are many differences to consider in terms of cost, durability, and overall aesthetic.

Come dive in with us as we explore the major differences between sandstone and limestone that you should note when making your decision. 

What Is Limestone?

Limestone is what we refer to as a sedimentary rock. It’s formed out of several organic debris, including algae, coral, and shells. However, it can also be formed with chemical processes, such as calcium carbonate precipitation from ocean water or lakes. Scientists develop much of the Earth’s chronology thanks to studying fossils that are deeply embedded in limestone.

A view of a limestone quarry

You can find most limestone in very shallow oceanic regions, such as continental platforms and shelves. While most limestone is gray, it can come in different colors depending on its natural composition, including brown, yellow, or white. 

What Is Sandstone?

Sandstone is another type of sedimentary rock; its composition includes rock, minerals, and other organic materials. You can find sandstone all over the world, though there are large deposits in places like Germany, South Africa, and the United States.

A view of a sandstone formation

Sandstone typically forms in the offshore regions of river deltas, where sand is deposited and buried. Over time, beaches and desert dunes can also leave large sandstone beds. While it is less widespread, scientists also often find fossils in sandstone.

In terms of color, you can find pretty wide-ranging fluctuations, moving from brown to yellow to red to orange.

Sandstone – How It Looks

Sandstone is fairly variable when it comes to textures and colors; it is a great option for those who want to go beyond uniformity. Many people feel that the color-grading found in sandstone is superior to that of limestone. No two pieces of sandstone will look the same. 

Going for a golden sandstone is excellent for both indoor and outdoor projects.

Sandstone: how it looks

In terms of texture, sandstone is more uneven than limestone, giving you a rippled look. We love sandstone with a sawn finish, as it provides a very contemporary look, even more than limestone in many ways. On the other hand, you can get a grittier texture with a bit more slip resistance by sand-blasting your sandstone. You’ll often find this texture along poolsides. 

Limestone – How It Looks

Compared to sandstone, limestone has a texture that once could describe as flat or consistent. For this reason, limestone has become one of the most popular choices for covered courtyards and driveways. With such an even finish, many people opt to use limestone for indoor applications too.

White limestone is one of the best choices if you’re going for a cleaner, more uniform look. However, while limestone offers a smooth, uniform look for the most part, you can potentially expect a slight color variation from piece to piece.

Limestone: how it looks

Compared to sandstone, you can expect fewer ridges with limestone. With its unique and natural characteristics, you almost get an orange peel-like texture from it, as well as a natural split surface look. 

Cost Of Sandstone Vs Limestone

When it comes to the cost of paving something like a driveway, sandstone is your best bet. 

If you can get locally-sourced limestone rocks, you won’t end up paying very much. However, the minute you begin paying for quarried travertine and marbles, it can become extremely costly. 

This is one of the major reasons that homeowners often opt for sandstone, as the cost isn’t nearly as high. Sandstone is also cheaper than concrete and cement in most cases, especially when locally available.

Beyond that, sandstone is much easier to work with than limestone, concrete, or cement; it means you also pay less for labor costs. Overall, when it comes to the affordability of sandstone vs limestone, sandstone is a pretty clear winner. 

Composition of Limestone and Sandstone

Limestone has a very chalky texture thanks to its calcite composition. Overall, the composition of limestone is pretty consistent and plain. 

On the other hand, the composition of sandstone includes various rocks and minerals, such as quartz and feldspar. This sedimentary rock can vary from piece to piece, giving it a unique composition compared to limestone.

Compared to limestone, there is more variability in the composition of sandstone

Sandstone Vs Limestone Durability

When it comes to the durability of sandstone vs limestone, both of these rocks are very sturdy and can last a long time under the right conditions. Both of these stones are able to endure tough weather, which is why they have become such popular choices for outdoor paving. 

For generations, people used both of these stones to build large structures that still stand strong to this day. Beyond the similarities in terms of durability, sandstone is much easier to work with than limestone, as it is much softer. However, this also makes sandstone more susceptible to being scratched or dented, especially when using it for indoor projects. 

On the other hand, sandstone is also denser than limestone, which is why you’ll see it in many construction projects. 

It’s worth noting that because limestone is a calcite rock, it doesn’t mix well with strong acids. If you use strong acid washes on limestone, you can stain and ruin your limestone. With sandstone, you can clean and wash it with milder acids without much worry, though like Limestone, it doesn’t react well to very strong acids. 

Another thing you might want to consider with durability is water absorption. Both of these rocks are fairly water-resistant, although sandstone is a bit more porous compared to limestone. When installing these rocks, especially in indoor applications, it’s important to apply some sort of sealant to the surface so that they aren’t as impacted by water.

PRO TIP

You might consider looking at the stones when they’re wet during your purchase. Doing so will give you a better idea as to which one best fit your requirements.

When all is said and done, we’d have to give the medal to limestone on this one. When you’re working with lightly-colored sandstone, it’s not surprising to see subtle differences when it absorbs water. While it won’t likely impact your stone that much, even the potential of a slight impact puts it just behind limestone. 

Sandstone Vs Limestone Slip Resistance

Because sandstone has a naturally grainy and sandy texture, it is much more slip-resistant than limestone. We recommend using sandstone in areas that receive a lot of rainfall or areas that are consistently wet, such as around swimming pools. 

That’s not to say that limestone is slippery, though polished limestone in indoor spaces should be avoided when it is wet, as it can be slippery to walk across. 

Sandstone Vs Limestone Versatility

Both limestone and sandstone are ultra-versatile stones, which you can cut into various shapes and sizes for your need. No matter what kind of project you have, you can get these stones to fit within the bounds, which makes it quite difficult to find a “winner” in terms of versatility. 

With such a wide range of colors and finishes, you can adapt these stones to just about any project.

Sandstone vs Limestone : which one sgould I choose?

Which One Should I Choose? 

With all of the information above, you should be able to determine which of these rocks better suits your project. 

If you’re working on landscaping, steps, pathways, decks, patios, or other outdoor projects, locally available limestone rocks can be a great choice. If you want to add a touch of luxury to your indoor decorations, such as countertops, cladding, flooring, sculptures, or fountains, exotic limestone, travertine, and marble are excellent choices. 

Just note that these will cost you a bit more than sandstone. 

On the other hand, sandstone is a tried and true material that humans use since ancient times to build entire buildings. However, today, you mostly find sandstone on driveways, around swimming pools, on patios, or throughout pathways. 

Conclusion

Limestone and sandstone have very similar properties. But there are clearly a few differences that can help guide your decision. 

While both of these stones are very effective and eco-friendly choices, we highly recommend going with limestone for indoor projects if you have the additional money to spend, though if you’re looking for the best stone for an outdoor project that’ll give you color and variation, sandstone is an excellent choice. 

Make sure to get in touch with us at Paving Finder if you need any further help in making the best decision for your residential or commercial project. We help homeowners and project managers make the best choices for their paving needs based on their budgets and requirements.