3 min read

What Is Gravel Used For?

What Is Gravel Used For?

Despite is perhaps commonplace and humble status, gravel is one of the most highly sought after substances on earth currently, and (due to its benefits) many dredging companies are staying in business by hauling up massive quantities of these small rocks from the beds of waterways.

But what is all of this gravel being used for? Let's explore the usefulness of these pea-sized rocks.

  1. Construction Material
  2. Landscaping And Outdoor Design
  3. Erosion Control
  4. Agricultural Uses

New call-to-action

Construction Material

One of the largest markets for gravel is in construction. The reason for this is that every new development must have a certain amount of these small stones used in its foundation, and because they are relatively inexpensive (compared to other heavy materials) this makes them ideal for such projects.

Over the last hundred or so years, gravel has been elevated from rumble to rock star status as it is increasingly used in more and more projects. Today, it is used to make concrete, to create foundations for new roads, to mix with asphalt, fill construction sites, and even create other construction materials like blocks, pipes, and bricks.

In some cases, gravel is piled into blast furnaces and used as a flux. This gravel becomes a liquid slag that is allowed to harden into a stone material that’s used as an aggregate for other construction materials. Indeed, the construction industry is the biggest consumer of gravel.

Landscaping And Outdoor Design

Of course, once a building is constructed, it has to be decorated. In recent years, gravel has experienced something of a renaissance, as more and more homes turn to xeriscape their yards, using gravel to take the place of grass.

Gravel is the main material used in creating pathways, driveways, and outdoor patios. The landscape industry flourishes thanks to gravel because many homeowners desire these types of features to enhance curb appeal and create perennial interest.

In order to better manage their water resources, landscapers use gravel in place of mulch because it does a better job of preventing evaporation, ensuring that moisture stays in the soil below the gravel. Beyond its practical purposes, it’s used for decorative features like walkways, patios, and even driveways.

Erosion Control

Gravel is also used in erosion control. This means that it is spread across areas where runoff creates the potential for mudslides, like mountainsides and hill slopes. It can be placed directly into eroded waterways to reduce their flow.

Erosion is the process of soil being washed away by rain or tide waters. In some regions of the United States, erosion is a cause for major concern. Fortunately, it can be addressed by using gravel.

The gravel is layered on top of dams, fences, planks, and patches of dirt in order to prevent the soil from being swept away by water. This works because the soil is able to latch onto the gravel, ensuring it stays in place.

Agricultural Uses

Gravel can be found on nearly every farm in the United States. It is used to create agricultural lime, which farmers use to reduce the acidity of their soil and promote crop growth.

It is also ground down, and used as a form of mineral feed for poultry, like chickens and turkeys. Poultry requires small rocks and minerals in order to properly break down their food.

Contact Us today

U.S. Aqua Services has worked with its fair share of gravel over the years, and we have the skills and machinery capable of helping dredge and extract all the gravel you could ever need.

After a site visit, our specialists can suggest the right dredger for your project and then rent it to you. Contact us today to get started.

New call-to-action

Related Articles

The Importance Of Dredging -  In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of dredging and some of its benefits.

Beneficial Uses For Dredged Materials - Here are some of the most beneficial uses for dredged materials that US Aqua Services has found.

What Types of Equipment Are Used for Dredging? - Depending on the size and depth of the water body, different types of dredges will be more suited for a job. Here's some of the types of dredging equipment


About U.S. Aqua Services

U.S. Aqua Services was created to support the dredging process in advancing commerce and responding to its many challenges. To accomplish this, our dredging company assembled an exceptional group of experienced individuals and a diverse inventory of dredge equipment and excavator dredge pumps.

We offer dredging equipment rental services so you can have access to the latest and greatest in dredging technology without having to pay to maintain it, transport, and store it, along with dewatering services.

With an emphasis on mobility, dependability, durability, diversity, efficiency, and safety, our dredging rental company can ensure that our different types of dredging systems are easy to move through any terrain and can work in the most rugged and remote environments. Our multi-function hydraulic systems are built with jetting and mechanical options that can efficiently move loose sediment or stiff layers of clay.

US Aqua services also and maintains a ready fleet of amphibious equipment capable of completing dredging projects in some of the harshest and most remote environments. U.S Aqua is also the dealer for Louisiana of the amphibious vehicle Fat Truck. No matter the size or scope of the job or the remoteness of your work location, you can rely on Fat Truck’s industrial off-road utility vehicles to get the job done right.

How do Marsh Buggies help with Civil and Industrial Construction?

3 min read

How do Marsh Buggies help with Civil and Industrial Construction?

Although not as well-known as other pieces of construction equipment, marsh buggies play a very important role in both civil and industrial...

Read More
How are Marsh Buggies Used?

5 min read

How are Marsh Buggies Used?

We've been talking a lot about marsh buggies lately. This is because marsh buggies are incredibly useful in the dredging industry — so useful in fact...

Read More
Marsh buggy: What you need to know

6 min read

Marsh buggy: What you need to know

What is a marsh buggy? - Here's everything you need to know about marsh buggies: usage, operation, capabilities, applications, and more!

Read More