3/4 Inch Base Course for Driveways, Concrete, and Asphalt

3/4 Inch Base Course, or 3/4 minus, runs from 3/4 inch rock all the way down to sand and fines. It is the finest of the base courses, which is what makes it the material crews reach for when a job needs tight compaction and a smooth, even surface. Its most common role is as the base directly under asphalt or concrete, or as the finished top layer over a coarser base course on a driveway or pad.

Laid in a thin lift and compacted, the high proportion of fines drives into the gaps and locks the layer down hard, which is why it makes such a good foundation for paving. It also works well on its own for driveways and parking areas, though it is worth knowing that it is not a wear material. Under steady traffic the surface rock will work loose over time, so plan to top it up periodically to keep the finish tight.

One important limit: 3/4 Inch Base Course is built to compact, not to drain. Keep it out of water run-off areas and muddy ground, where the fines turn soft and the layer breaks down. In those spots a clean drain rock is the correct choice. Used as a paving base or a finished cap in well-drained areas, though, 3/4 minus is hard to beat for a firm, smooth result.

Common uses:

• Base under concrete and asphalt
• Finished top layer over a coarser base
• Driveways and parking areas
• Compaction layers that need plenty of fines
• Smoothing and finishing a graded surface

Good to know:

• Graded from 3/4 inch rock down to sand and fines
• The finest base course, compacts very tight
• Not a wear surface, expect to top it up over time
• Keep it out of run-off and muddy ground

In stock now. Request a quote for 3/4 Inch Base Course delivery on the Big Island.