What is the difference between crushed stone and Natural Pea Gravel?

Crushed stone is angular and locks together when compacted, which makes it stable under weight. It is the right call for bases, driveways, and drainage. Natural Pea Gravel is round and smooth, so it shifts under load and is better for play areas, pipe bedding, and xeriscape mulch. Use crushed stone where you need a firm surface, and Natural Pea Gravel where you want a loose, decorative fill.

Should I order material by the ton or by the yard?

Either unit works, and the right one depends on how you plan the job. Tons are a weight measure and match how material is loaded on a truck. Yards are a volume measure and help you size a project by area and depth. Tell us your project dimensions and we can help you convert.

Which stone is best for drainage in Jefferson County?

For most drainage work, a clean, angular stone is best because it leaves voids for water to move through. #57 stone is a common choice for French drains and drywells. Drain rock works well behind retaining walls and in downspout runs. On slopes where runoff scours the ground, rip rap or cobble slows the water and protects the bank.

Gravel, Soil and Stone for Jefferson County CO

For gravel, stone and aggregate delivery in Jefferson County, Colorado Rock Supply brings bulk materials straight to your job site. The Front Range ground here is built on expansive bentonite clay that moves with moisture, so base depth and drainage matter more than they do in stable soils. That is why Class 6 road base is the default choice for drives and pads across the county.

It compacts into a firm layer that holds up through wet springs and dry summers. You order it by the ton, and we deliver it in bulk.

Materials Delivered in Jefferson County

Jefferson County buyers use a familiar set of local names when they order. Here is what each material does best, from coarsest to finest.

Class 6 road base takes the lead for most base work. Class 5 is the heavier structural grade for drives that carry trucks or equipment. Both link to the same Class 6 Road Base product page, where you can see the details and order.

Ground Conditions Across Jefferson County

Timing matters as much as material choice. Base and drainage work runs best from late spring through fall, because frozen ground and snowpack limit compaction in winter at altitude. Plan your delivery and your compaction window accordingly.

The bigger issue is the soil itself. Expansive bentonite clay is common along the Front Range and moves with moisture, so base depth and drainage matter more than in stable soils. A thin base over clay will shift and rut. A full depth of Class 6, compacted properly, spreads the load and stays put.

Water drives most of the problems. Spring snowmelt and short, intense summer thunderstorms put water where you may not want it. Runoff on slopes and in drainage swales after snowmelt and monsoon-season storms will scour the ground, which is where rip rap and cobble are used to armor the bank and slow the water.

Add in repeated freeze-thaw cycling, often several cycles in a single week at altitude, and you get a ground that heaves and settles. Frost depth runs about 30 to 36 inches in much of the state. That cycling is why a drainage layer under a base, or a thicker base on clay, pays off over time.

Delivery Across Jefferson County

Ordering online is simple. You pick the material, choose the quantity by the ton or by the yard, and we schedule a bulk delivery to your site. We cover Arvada, Broomfield, Conifer, Evergreen, Golden, Littleton, Morrison, Westminster, and the rest of Jefferson County, including mountain communities like Buffalo Creek, Idledale, Indian Hills, Kittredge, and Pine.

For a driveway, measure the length, width, and desired depth to estimate your tonnage. A minimum depth of 2 inches is a good starting point for a surfacing layer, while a base under vehicles needs 4 inches or more. When you are unsure, order a little extra; it is easier to spread a surplus than to run short mid-job. Our delivery brings the material close to where you need it, and you spread and compact from there.

Choosing the Right Material

The right choice shifts with the ground you are building on. In Kiowa, out on the Eastern Plains, the soil is sandy and drains fast, so a thinner base works and the main concern is keeping the surface bound together. Driveway gravel with fines holds up well there.

Kit Carson, also on the Eastern Plains, sees even drier conditions and more wind. A compacted Class 6 base under a surface layer keeps dust down and provides a firm driving surface through dry spells and the occasional heavy rain.

Out on the Western Slope near La Plata, the ground is rockier and slopes are steeper. Drainage becomes the priority, so a clean stone like 3/8 inch crushed stone behind a wall or #57 stone in a French drain moves water away before it undermines the base. In Jefferson County, the clay is the driver, so base depth and a drainage layer matter most.

Order Your Bulk Material in Jefferson County Today

From Class 6 road base for a new driveway to crusher fines for a garden path, Colorado Rock Supply delivers the right material for your Jefferson County job. We cover Arvada, Golden, Evergreen, Littleton, Morrison, and every community in between. Check the product pages, pick your material, and place your order online for bulk delivery to your site.

Class 6 Road Base, Sand and Gravel Delivery in Jefferson County, CO