Crushed and screened rock
| Product | Also called | What it is | About per loose yard | Belongs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-1 | Crushed base, base course | Crushed rock graded to the state spec, 1 inch down to fines, compacts hard | 1.4 tons | Driveway top course, pads, under pavers |
| 3/4-inch minus | Three-quarter crush, C-1 | Crushed to 3/4 inch with fines | 1.35 tons | Walkways, driveway topping, trench backfill |
| 1.5-inch minus | Inch and a half | Coarser crush with fines | 1.35 tons | Rural driveway top, sub-base |
| 3-inch minus | Three-inch | Screened to 3 inches, fines included | 1.3 tons | Sub-base, building up a lot, soft ground |
| Pit run | Type II, bank run, 4-inch minus | Unscreened bank gravel as dug | 1.3 tons | Deep fill, the layer under everything |
| Sewer rock | 3-inch washed, filter rock | Washed 2 to 3 inch, no fines | 1.25 tons | Drain fields, French drains, wall backfill |
| Septic rock | Inch-and-a-half washed | Clean 1.5 inch, no fines | 1.25 tons | Septic drain fields to the design |
| Pea gravel | 3/8 minus, concrete pea | Small rounded or crushed, no fines | 1.3 tons | Bedding, walkways, dog runs, concrete |
| Crushed rock, 1 inch | Decorative crush | Angular crushed, screened clean | 1.3 tons | Landscape beds, decorative surfaces |
Weights are working figures; D-1 runs about 2,800 pounds to a loose yard and heavier once it is compacted in place. Moisture and how tight the loader packs the box move every number by ten percent either way. Order by the yard for volume jobs and by the ton for anything spec'd by a contractor.
Recycled material
| Name | What it is | Belongs on |
|---|---|---|
| RAP | Recycled asphalt pavement, milled and screened | Driveways and lots; packs hard and stays dark, dusty in July |
| RCC | Recycled crushed concrete | Base course and fill where a spec allows it, cheaper than virgin rock |
RAP is the underrated driveway material in Anchorage. It compacts almost like asphalt once the sun has been on it, sheds water, and it is often cheaper than D-1 because the pits want it gone. It is not right under a slab and it will not pass a D-1 spec, but for a long rural driveway we would put it up against anything.
Soil and fill
| Name | What it is | About per loose yard | Belongs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screened topsoil with peat | Screened native soil blended with peat | 1.0 ton | Lawns, beds, planting; the top 4 to 12 inches only |
| Unscreened topsoil | Native topsoil with roots and rocks | 1.0 ton | Rough grade under a screened lift |
| Peat | Screened peat | 0.6 to 0.8 ton | Amending beds; never as fill |
| Clean fill | Sand or gravelly soil, no organics | 1.2 tons | Raising a lot, backfill, pads |
| Hardpan fill | Pit run with more fines, cheap | 1.3 tons | Deep fill where nothing will be built on it soon |
| Sand | Washed septic or fill sand | 1.25 tons | Bedding, backfill, traction sand |
Choosing between them
- A driveway you will keep: strip organics, 6 inches or more of pit run or 3-inch minus, 4 inches of D-1 on top. The driveway cost page prices it.
- A driveway on a budget: 3-inch minus base, 3/4 minus or RAP top. It will need a top-up every few years.
- A shop pad: pit run to grade, D-1 the last 6 inches, compacted in lifts. The concrete crew will thank you.
- Drainage: washed rock only. Fines in a French drain are how you build a dam.
- A lawn: clean fill to grade, then 4 to 6 inches of screened topsoil. Not the other way around.
- A wet lot: get above the water first with pit run; nothing placed in standing water compacts.
Reading a pit ticket
Every load we deliver comes with the pit ticket. It shows the pit, the product name as the pit sells it, the net weight or the yards, and the time. Keep it. It is how you know the 3/4 minus was 3/4 minus, how you reconcile our invoice, and how you answer the building inspector who asks what is under the slab.
Questions we get about this
What is the difference between D-1 and 3/4 minus?
Gradation. D-1 is graded to a spec with a controlled range of sizes so it locks under compaction; 3/4 minus is crushed to a top size with whatever fines the crusher makes. Both work on a driveway; only D-1 belongs under something you will pour or pave.
What does "minus" mean?
Everything smaller than the number. 3-inch minus is 3 inches and down, including the dust. "Washed" or "clean" means the fines were rinsed out.
How many yards is a ton?
For crushed gravel, about 0.7 yards per ton; for topsoil, about a yard per ton. The calculator converts for each material.
Which pit do you use?
The one that stocks the right material closest to your job. Anchorage Bowl jobs load in the Bowl; Valley jobs load Palmer or Wasilla side. The pit is on your ticket.