When it comes to exterior décor, the focus is usually on strength and durability. Whether you are looking for materials to enhance your terrace, poolside, or driveway; they need to be extremely hard wearing and able to stand up to the pressures of the elements.

It is why limestone is such a popular choice with homeowners, particularly on driveways and around the front of houses. High-quality limestone in St Ives is easy to source, and it provides several important benefits. It can be trusted for use in driveways because it is a staple material for residential and commercial areas.

Keep reading for more reasons why shopping for limestone in Cambridge is the first step towards a beautiful, long-lasting driveway.

Affordable

Limestone is surprisingly cheap to buy, especially in bulk quantities. There are some excellent suppliers of limestone in Ely and most even arrange for delivery as part of the purchase. If you are renovating or building a high traffic area, like a driveway, it is an ideal choice. Over time, wear is inevitable, but when you finally do have to replace sections, the cost will be minimal.

Hard Wearing

If it is durability that you are looking for, there’s no better material. Limestone is heavy duty, built to last, and won’t let you down. It is a really good idea to invest in a tougher material for a driveway because it is not a regular pavement. You are going to be moving the weight of an entire car over its surface, so make sure that your driveway is up to the task.

Multiple Colours

Most people are not aware that limestone comes in a broad range of colours. It can be enhanced with various finishes too, so the final aesthetic is whatever you want it to be. It is a surprisingly customisable material, and you do not have to settle for a look that you are not satisfied with using. Get in touch with a reliable vendor of limestone in Cambridge, because they will be able to tell you more about the styles available.

Easy to Maintain

As limestone can be cut and shaped rather easily, cracks and chips in a driveway are easy to fix. Unlike other materials, repairs do not require a full removal and replacement. The damaged section can be extracted and patched up with a new piece. It is an economical choice and one which suits residential use.

Energy Efficient

During the summer, even when temperatures are high, limestone stays cool underfoot. It is, therefore, a safe choice for homes with pets and young children. You never have to worry about stepping onto the driveway in bare feet, no matter how hot the afternoon.

Versatile

It is not just the colour and finish of limestone which is variable. The texture is versatile too. Limestone pavers can be bought in grey, white, light, dark, creamy, buff, and gold finishes. Most come with a honed surface, but there are some types which undergo thermal treatments so they can have unique surface textures. Once again, if you want a less common style or design, it is best to chat with a local provider about the available options.

For more information and advice on how to source high-quality aggregates like limestone in St Ives, visit Ely Skip Hire. Or, call 01353 649770 to request a cost estimate for your build or project.

You could be forgiven for thinking that railroad tracks are quite a simple device. They certainly look simple. There is a lot of gravel on the ground and the horizontal ties are placed across it, with the metal tracks on top. Voila, you have a railway. Yet, is it really that straightforward? Well, the truth is a little more complex and construction teams need just the right materials to make a railroad work safely.

One of the most important materials is ballast aggregate. This is the gravel that forms the secure, sturdy foundation for the track itself. High quality ballast in Cambridge is sought after by construction crews, because it is a unique product. It is great for drainage, raising, and grounding due to its controlled density. In fact, without aggregate ballast, the railroads, as they exist now, would not be operational, so it is a vital aspect of construction design.

Keep reading to find out why ballast is such an important part of reliable railroad construction.

Grounding

The upper surface of the railroad bed is all that most people ever see, but it actually extends much further than this. It stretches several inches into the ground and then the dugout bed is filled with heavy ballast. It serves to hold the entire track down and anchor it into the ground, so that none of the components can jump or move around. This is very important for the safety of the trains that travel on the track.

Raising

As a railroad is being built, track ballast is used to fill the empty space opened up for the track bed. However, once the empty hole has been filled, the construction teams keep pouring until the ballast material has actively raised the track above ground level. The extra height is needed for drainage purposes and it makes sure that the ballast doesn’t wear or wash away too easily after the track is opened for use.

Drainage

Speaking of drainage; the slightly raised ballast material is really effective at encouraging groundwater to move downhill, away from the tracks. With high quality aggregate in Cambridge, efficient drainage is guaranteed. The individual stones are all different sizes and they don’t fit together seamlessly. This means that water can travel between them and dissipate safely, without the risk of flooding.

Fewer Weeds/Vegetation

As long expanses of railroad track run through rural spaces, with few houses and settlements, regular, targeted maintenance is not really an option. Fortunately, aggregate ballast is loose enough to allow for good drainage, but tight enough to prevent weeds from creeping in. This means that maintenance crews don’t have to spend all of their time tirelessly clearing long stretches of the track.

Makes Maintenance Easy

For all of the reasons discussed, ballast is a great choice for railroad construction. It keeps tracks sturdy, safe, and secure. It delays the proliferation of weeds and creeping vegetation. It ensures that groundwater doesn’t turn into flooding. Plus, it is easy to source and it can be bought, in large quantities, at affordable rates. Ballast is the aggregate of choice for all kinds of different construction needs, not just the railroads.

To find out more about the benefits and uses of ballast, contact our aggregates suppliers or call 01353 649770 to speak to a representative and request a cost estimate for your next construction project.