Crushed concrete is a sustainable, reliable, and affordable material that is often used for a variety of residential and commercial projects from driveways to landscaping, to entire parking lots and roads. Want to learn more about how crushed concrete is made, how it can be used, and its benefits? We have all the resources you need to become a crushed concrete expert.

Luckily, crushed concrete is fairly easy to install. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to installing crushed concrete for your next project.

What kind of project are you attempting?

Crushed concrete can be used in a variety of applications. On top of that, there are several types and sizes of crushed concrete, which are better suited to different applications.

Crushed Concrete for Landscaping

Crushed concrete can be reused to create elegant walkways throughout your landscaping. For this type of project, you will want to use small, uniform pieces of crushed concrete in order to create a beautiful path that also has good drainage.

Crushed concrete can also be used to create raised garden beds, which improves drainage and warms soil allowing for faster growth.

You can pretty easily create retaining walls by layering crushed concrete. Crushed concrete retaining walls help to control erosion on slopes or hills in your yard. For this type of project, you can use different sizes of crushed concrete. A layer of smaller, more broken-up crushed concrete will create a stable base. Layers of larger crushed concrete packed with dirt will then establish a functional, even, and appealing retaining wall.

Lastly, crushed concrete is excellent for improving drainage in your landscaping. Make sure to use small crushed concrete as an alternative to gravel.

Crushed Concrete Driveways

Crushed concrete is an ideal solution for driveways here in Michigan, as well as in places with similarly changing temperatures. Changing temperatures cause regular concrete slabs to crack and deteriorate over time. Crushed concrete stands up to extreme weather and lasts forever with the proper (minimal) maintenance. Depending on the size of your driveway and natural environment, there are several types of crushed concrete that could work for you.

Crushed Concrete Parking Lots or Roads

You can save a great deal of money on larger projects such as parking lots and roads by using crushed concrete. There are larger variations of crushed concrete available for these types of projects that help finish the job efficiently. There are also variations that provide better drainage, or a smoother driving surface.

As you can see, there are many ways to use crushed concrete, and many types to choose from in order to accomplish your projects. It can be overwhelming to choose the best kind of crushed concrete for your project.

Need help choosing the best material for your specific project? Contact the expert team at Superior.

Factors to Consider

There are many factors to consider before beginning your project. Once you’ve established the correct materials to use and considered proper drainage, you still have to determine how to make your investment last as long as possible.

Choosing the right material can get you a long way towards establishing a long-term crushed concrete solution, however there are still potential threats to your project such as washout and erosion.

How to prevent water runoff from washing out crushed concrete:

The very best way to prevent water runoff from washing the crushed concrete away from your project is to make sure you have a proper drainage system in place. Typically this means installing a french drain. We have an in-depth article on how to do this here.

Another way to keep your crushed concrete in the right place is to make sure you’re using the right material and to create a slope in projects like driveways, roads, and walkways.

How to prevent erosion:

If your project is on a slope, you may want to consider installing a stabilizing grid system on top of your base. These systems typically come in plastic sheets or panels, which form small cells. You can attach these sheets or panels to your project area prior to installing the materials, and then fill them with crushed concrete. This helps establish a more stable surface, resistant to erosion.

Routine maintenance will also help prevent erosion. Make sure to rake out any weeds or other imposters like leaves or branches, remove any dirt, replace and repair edging, fill any holes with fresh crushed concrete, etc. Keep in mind: crushed concrete will harden and compact over time, creating a smoother surface, but also causing the height to decrease. You can add a layer or two each year to maintain the height.

Make sure you repair any damage to your project as soon as you notice it. Examples of damage that needs to be addressed quickly are: depressions or areas of thinning. To address these, use a rake or shovel to level the crushed concrete, then tamp it down again.

How much crushed concrete do I need?

To determine how much crushed concrete is needed for your project, first consider the size of the area you need to cover. Materials are typically priced by cubic yard or cubic ton. Different applications will require a different amount of material. For example, driveways require at least three layers of material three to four inches thick. Retaining walls require different sizes of concrete and will vary in height based on your specific landscaping.

It can be difficult to estimate how much material to buy when you consider all of the variables involved. Ordering the wrong amount can waste time and money. The two main things to consider before ordering materials are:

1. The dimensions of the area you’re covering.
2. How many layers you will need to place to successfully complete your project.

First, measure the length and width of the project area. Multiply the length and width to come up with the square footage of your project. For example, an 18’ by 10’ area is 360 square feet.

Second, determine how many layers or how deep you will need to cover the area depending on the type of project. Usually you will need at least two inches of material.

Next you will need to determine the size of the material you’re using. Depending on the size of the material, coverage area per one ton changes. After you determine the size of the material you’re using, you can check with the supplier how much coverage one ton offers.

Take the square footage and divide it by the coverage area per one ton of the material you’re using.

Here is the formula:

L x W = Square Footage

Square Footage / Coverage Area per 1 ton = Tons of material required for your project.

Superior Groundcover can help you determine the right materials and the required depth for your project to ensure you’re buying the correct amount of material, saving time, and saving money.

Excavation Requirements

Once again, excavation requirements change based on the project. If you are using crushed concrete to create a drainage system for your home, visit our foundation drainage system article where we break down how to create the drainage system from start to finish, including excavation.

Prepping Job Sites

While installing your own crushed concrete is not the most difficult landscaping task, it does involve some manual labor and a large chunk of time depending on the scale of your project. Crushed concrete driveways can take a full day or more to complete. Make sure you’re ready and able to operate equipment, lift heavy stone, and spend time spreading materials.

Before excavation can occur, you’ll have to mark off the area where you’ll be placing the materials. Whether you’re using crushed concrete for landscaping, walkways, or a driveway, you should take your time deciding how you want your project to look, what the drainage requirements are, and the amount of material you’ll need to complete it.

Once you’ve decided on the layout of your project, you can mark off the area with flags or landscaping paint. Next, it’s time to excavate or clear the area.

For driveways and other large-scale projects, a shovel won’t be enough. You can rent equipment from most hardware stores. Generally, digging to a depth of nine to twelve inches is sufficient. Make sure to dig to an even depth over the entire area.

Next, make sure to remove any leftover debris like branches, leaves, roots, etc. Once the area is clear, tamp down the soil to create a smooth even surface.

Is a retaining wall required for my driveway or walkway project?

Retaining walls are both visually appealing and practical for preserving your work. Using larger crushed concrete to form a border can increase property value and prevent crushed concrete from being displaced.

Retaining walls can also help with crushed concrete in landscaping by preventing the rocks from scattering and ending up in the yard where they can damage your lawnmower.

Superior Groundcover can help you decide if a retaining wall will be beneficial for your project.

What tools and materials do I need for crushed concrete installation?

Required materials will vary by project. In order to install a crushed concrete driveway you will need:

1. Cones and signs for safety
2. Markers such as landscaping paint or flags
3. Gloves
4. Shovel
5. Wheelbarrow
6. Grade laser
7. Rental excavation equipment such as a small loader or tractor, and a compactor
8. Geotextile cloth or landscaping fabric
9. Optional grid system
10. Crushed concrete for the base
11. Crushed concrete for fill
12. Rake
13. Larger crushed concrete for optional retaining wall.

DIY Crushed Concrete Driveway or Road Installation

After you’ve made your plan, purchased materials, marked off, and excavated the area, it’s time to begin installing your crushed concrete driveway.

The first step after the excavation is to apply landscaping fabric.

In order to prevent pesky weeds from infiltrating your driveway, you can lay down geotextile cloth or landscaping fabric.

Geotextiles are permeable mesh fabrics which, when used in the soil as part of a foundation drainage system or crushed concrete project, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain. They help to prevent weeds from growing in your driveway.

Weeds not only ruin the look of your driveway but also create stability problems.

Next, pour your base layer.

Use larger crushed concrete to cover the entire area to a depth of three to four inches. Next, tamp down the area to make a smooth, even surface.

Now it’s time to pour the crushed concrete.

Pour the crushed concrete evenly atop the base layer. Make sure the depth is even across the entire surface.

Compact and rake.

After creating your crushed concrete driveway, you’ll have to take measures to ensure it’s safe and stable. Compacting the materials will accomplish this by making sure there are no large depressions or areas where loose materials could shift or be washed out.

The simplest way to do this is by driving over your driveway a few times. You could also use a roller for this process. After you’re satisfied with this step, you should rake the crushed concrete to create a slight peak in the center. This will help with drainage when it rains.

Edge your driveway.

This optional step not only adds property value, but increases the aesthetic appeal, and helps prevent crushed concrete from straying.

You can use larger crushed concrete to create your edging/retaining wall.

Other Considerations

Know the regulations in your area.

There are specific regulations for driveways based on where you live. If you’re in Michigan, you can reference the MDOT Regulations for Parking Lots and Driveway Construction Section 12.08.03.

These regulations specify what material types are allowed, the required thickness, grades and more.

Where do I buy crushed concrete?

Crushed concrete can be purchased at concrete recycling plants, however, you’ll have to make sure that the plant offers the material type you need for your project.

Superior Groundcover not only offers the crushed concrete materials you need, but also offers a fast and easy installation. To ensure your project gets done the right way the first time, rely on Superior’s expert team.

The post Installing Crushed Concrete (DIY) For Your Next Project appeared first on Superior Groundcover.

Installing a foundation drainage system on your own can be extremely difficult, time-consuming, and occasionally dangerous. Make sure you’re prepared for the challenge or call in the professionals to take care of it for you.

What type of foundation drainage solution is required?

Before considering how to install a foundation drainage system, you must first consider which type of drainage solution you’ll need. What kind of water issues are you facing? What type of soil do you have in and around your property? Will an exterior drainage system be possible? What hazards are buried around your property (power lines, gas lines, sewage)?

Surface water or standing water can ruin your landscaping. It can also seep into your basement leading to mold and more. To address surface water issues, you could install a french drain. A french drain is made up of a perforated plastic pipe, a permeable mesh sock, and gravel. 

If you have a runoff problem on your property, you’ll not only need to address the extra water but possible erosion issues as well. Superior Groundcover’s team of erosion control experts can help find the right solution.

Know what the regulations are in your area.

Each state, city, or county may have its own laws surrounding foundation drainage that must inform what type of drainage system you install and where you install it. You can check with your county or state to find documents explaining what is and isn’t legal. Your drainage system may affect neighboring properties and therefore, must be built in accordance with the law. Some more general requirements can be found in the following links:

The International Residential Code (IRC), in Section R405.1,

OSHA Technical Manual; Section V: Chapter 2 Excavations: Hazard Recognition in Trenching and Shoring

What are the excavation requirements?

First, make sure your landscaping is done at the proper slope. A slope that is too steep will cause erosion issues. A flat yard will lead to standing water. A proper slope is 1 foot in rise (the difference between the highest and lowest points in the slope) per 50 feet of run (the horizontal length of the slope). This is ideal for drainage.

To install an exterior french drain, you’ll need to do some digging — digging up most of your yard, unfortunately! During this step, make sure to avoid any buried power lines, gas lines, or sewage. You’ll have to dig a trench around the perimeter of your footing. This trench must be at least two feet wide and six feet deep. For a slab-on-grade home, the trench can be as shallow as two feet.

Exterior drains can get clogged in a few years and require you to redo this project. In order to make sure this doesn’t happen, you’ll have to place a permeable mesh sock over the drain pipe. Your other option is to install an interior drain. This requires breaking up your basement floor, installing the drainage system, and then rebuilding the floor. 

At this point, you may be thinking the install job might take a little more time and attention to detail than originally thought. That’s ok. The team at Superior has the experience and expertise to install foundation drainage systems correctly and 

What are the required materials for proper foundation drainage?

Different drainage solutions can require different materials. There are many questions that need to be answered. What is the preferred placement of stone around foundation drainage? What kinds of stone can I use? Where can I get stone? What kind of pipe or tile is required? 

Acquiring the correct materials will help inform you of how to install a foundation drainage system. For a basic french drain, you’ll need perforated pipe, a geotextile cloth/cover such as a permeable mesh sock, and gravel. Not sure what those materials are or where to find them? Let’s break them down.

• Perforated Pipe: A perforated pipe is simply a plastic pipe, such as corrugated drain tile, with small exterior perforations that help collect and redirect water in the soil.
• Geotextile cloth/cover: Geotextiles are permeable mesh fabrics which, when used in the soil as part of a foundation drainage system, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain. They help to filter soil and prevent the perforated pipe from clogging with dirt over time.
• Proper backfill material: There are several varieties of proper backfill materials that are used in different scenarios. When installing a basic french drain, you’ll need to use pea stone or washed gravel to cover the pipe and fill in the trench. Superior provides and installs a variety of backfill media. Our stone slinger trucks easily install peastone without any heavy lifting or ruining your landscaping.
• Extras: Tools for excavating, hammer, stakes, string, line level, tamper, tape measure, rake

Before buying materials, find out which kind of drain pipe is best suited for the job. We break down several of the options and descriptions of other related terms here in our glossary.

How to install a Perforated Drainage Pipe

Step 1: Dig the trench

Prior to doing any digging, you’ll have to prepare your property. First, call your utility companies and have them mark where your utility lines are buried to make sure you don’t hit them while digging.

Next, make sure that the trench will use elevation properly to direct water away from the structure. Once you’ve prepared your yard and made your plan, it’s time to start digging.

Make a trench around 2 feet wide, or twice the width of the drainage pipe. Make sure the trench is deep enough that the entire pipe lies below the frost line.

A trench that is 6 feet deep should generally work for a regular basement. You’ll have to check local laws and regulations to make sure your trench is in compliance. If you have a large property, manually creating the trench could be a huge project. Consider renting equipment to make the job a little easier.

Step 2: Create a proper slope

Use a sledgehammer to drive stakes/markers into the soil in the trench every four feet or so. Take a string and tie it where the pipe should start. Next, run that string to the next stake and wrap it around.

Use a line level to make sure your string is level. Slide the string down half of an inch to create the slope and ensure that the water runs down the drainage pipe and away from the structure. Repeat this process until you’ve tied every stake.

Step 3: Level the soil

Using a tamper, pack the soil in the trench to create a solid base. Measure to make sure that the distance between the string and the soil in the trench is the same at every stake. Adjust the trench by adding or removing soil to create the slope.

After you’ve tamped down all of the soil in the trench, you can go ahead and remove the stake and string guides.

Step 4: Add geotextile and gravel

Geotextile should be laid to make sure that soil doesn’t clog your drainpipe and force you to redo this project in a few years due to drainage problems. Simply place the fabric along the trench. You’ll need the fabric to be wide enough to eventually wrap around the drainage pipe and gravel that will surround it. Pour a 2-inch layer of gravel onto the fabric and, using a rake, level it.

Step 5: Place the pipe

Lay the perforated drainage pipe on the gravel. Again, check the area laws and regulations. Some areas require the use of “sock tile,” or a drain pipe that is covered in permeable mesh. This mesh acts as a second barrier to prevent the pipe from clogging with dirt.

Step 6: Finish

After you’ve placed your drainage pipe, you’ll need to cover it with a second layer of gravel. Place enough to bury the pipe 4 to 6 inches deep. Use the geotextile you placed in Step 4 to wrap the pipe and gravel. Cover the wrapped pipe with a few inches of dirt to hold the fabric in place.

Finish filling the trench and replacing any affected landscaping.

Finding a professional team to help:

As you can see, placing an exterior drainage system is a challenging task to tackle on your own. On top of that, if done incorrectly, your insurance company may not cover any damages, and you could be in violation of local laws and regulations.

Secure the safety of your home and landscaping by using a professional team that can get the job done right the first time. Superior’s team of experts can make sure your home or building is protected from foundation drainage.

Have more questions about how to find the right drainage solution for your property? Get in touch with us and we can help.

The post How To Install A Foundation Drainage System (DIY) appeared first on Superior Groundcover.

Don’t worry, we’ll talk you through all of those mistakes — and, we’ll even walk you through how to do it right.

If it seems like a tedious task (because it is a tedious task) we’ll tell you all about our convenient blow-in mulch service that can take care of it in half the time while you sip lemonade on the porch.

Benefits of Blow In Mulch

• Curb Appeal

  • Mulch adds rich color and beautiful contrast to your garden.

• Soil Health

  • Mulch improves the health of your soil as it breaks down. Insects and microbes consume mulch over time and add the by-products back to the soil as organic matter.

• Weather Protection

  • Mulch insulates plants and protects them from more extreme temperatures like hot sun and cool winters. Mulch can extend the life of plants planted later in spring or fall that will be subjected to temperature changes.

• Moisture Conservation

  • Mulch slows water absorption and maintains moisture so that you don’t have to water as often.

• Weed Prevention

  • Mulch prevents weeds from growing by blocking the sun. Make sure to spread your mulch thick enough so that the weeds cannot break through.

Mulching Mistakes to Avoid

The first common mistake is using too much mulch. It’s easy to do and it could cost you all of your landscaping. More than a few inches will not only make your landscaping soggy and prime for plant disease, it will suffocate your plants.

On the flip side, not enough mulch can also mean trouble! Mulch helps keep weeds at bay. If it’s not spread thick enough, weeds will have no problem pushing through. If you’d rather not spend your summer pulling weeds, make sure you have the right amount of mulch!

Make sure not to go too long without replacing your mulch. Mulch should be replaced at least once a year in the spring. We recommend doing it in the spring and fall if you want to have the best-looking yard in the neighborhood all year ‘round.

All mulch is NOT created equal, so don’t buy the wrong kind! Yes, there are cheap or even free mulches, but they aren’t going to do the job right. Free mulch sometimes even contains pesticides, bugs, or weed seeds! Don’t introduce harmful things into your yard. Go with mulch that you can trust.

People have all kinds of creative, great ideas when it comes to saving money on landscaping. Skipping mulch is NOT one of them. Trust us. Mulch not only looks beautiful, but it also does a lot of hard work for your plants! Mulch retains moisture so that you don’t have to water as much, saving your time, and saving water. It also prevents weed growth by blocking weeds from the sun they need to ruin your garden. Mulch protects plant roots from the weather — which, in Michigan — is extremely important.

Make sure you avoid all of these mistakes by having the professionals take care of your yard. Superior is happy to get the job done right.

Mulching: How to DIY

Now that you know what NOT to do, let’s talk about what you should do! Mulch seems like an easy task you can knock right out and still get to your afternoon plans, but if you do rush through it, you’re going to be spending all summer paying for it.

We’ll give you a few tips to make sure your mulch looks and works its best throughout the year.

1. Clear the area.
   Spend the time to pick up look twigs, stones, and leaves from your yard. Pull all the weeds by hand, or use a weed killer.
2. Pick a delivery site.
   If you’ve opted to DIY (instead of using our convenient blow-in service), you’ll have to decide where to have your mulch delivered. Make sure to pick a place that the truck can get to without ruining your lawn, or off-roading.
3. Edge.
   Using a square shovel, insert the blade between the garden bed and the grass or pavement to create a clean line between them. Create a trench 2 inches deep and 3-4 inches wide between grass and a garden bed, and 2 inches deeper than the edge of the concrete between concrete and a garden bed. If your garden bed is large, use a mini-tiller or rent a bed edger from your local hardware store. You can also use a leaf blower to clean up the displaced dirt.
4. Spread the mulch.
   Use a pitchfork to pick-up the mulch. Drop the mulch into a large wheelbarrow. Push the wheelbarrow to your installation site and drop the mulch in small piles throughout the site. Spread the mulch with a rake until it’s evenly 2-4 inches deep across the full garden bed. Make sure not to cover tree trunks or plant stems as this will cause plant disease and attract insects.
5. Clean the area.
   Use a leaf blower to quickly blow any displaced dirt or mulch. You can also use it to smooth out the mulch on top.

Blow-In Mulch Service

Superior’s mulch blowers make installing mulch a breeze! If you want the most convenient and beautiful installation experience, blow-in mulch service is the way to go.

How does it work?

Superior’s fleet of Express Blower® trucks gives us the ability to install thousands of cubic yards of material each day. We focus on efficiency, precision, and attention to detail at each site. Save huge amounts of time by teaming up with Superior!

Why use blow-in mulch service?

Blow-In mulch service saves time and effort. Installing mulch the “old-fashioned” way is physically demanding, takes hours, and yields less professional results.

What are the benefits of mulch blowing?

1. Speed
   Using a blow-in mulch service saves tons of time! That means your landscaping will be ready to show off before you know it.
2. Cost
   Blow-In Mulch service is comparative in cost to other methods of installation but saves so much time and energy.
3. Quality Finish
   Our method of installation ensures even distribution at the right depth. This is difficult to achieve when DIYing.
4. Less physically demanding
   DIY mulch installation can be very hard on backs because it involves repetitive heavy lifting. This can cause permanent back problems if done incorrectly.
5. Accessibility
   If your yard has small, steep, or tough to reach areas, our blower trucks can reach them no problem.

Save time and effort, and get the best-looking landscaping around! Call the experts at Superior Groundcover.

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