Crushed stone versus gravel in your concrete. What is the difference and why does it matter? By John Hirschfeld, BSCE, ACI member
Concrete appears to be a simple material to most, but the quality and durability of concrete are heavily impacted by chemical reactions among some basic ingredients in concrete: aggregate (sand and stone or gravel), cement powder and water. The long term durability of your concrete can be significantly improved by including crushed stone rather than glacier-formed gravel . (read further)
Manufactured sand versus natural sand. How can manufactured sand add to your concrete's value? By John Hirschfeld, BSCE, ACI member
Manufactured sand has the same advantages as crushed stone. It is the same stone, just in smaller pieces. It reacts chemically with the paste to form a stronger bond. When crushed stone and crushed sand are used together in a concrete mix the tensile strength is 2 to 3 times higher than concrete made without crushed particles. Concrete with manufactured sand and crushed stone cracks less because of this bond leading to fewer errant cracks and a longer lasting concrete structure. (read further)