Gravel and rock of any kind play important roles in the world of landscaping. From lining pathways to mulching gardens, rock in all shapes and sizes provides both beauty and utility in a variety of applications.

Choosing the perfect stone for your project can be a tricky task. Should you choose small pea gravel, washed gravel, or crushed rock for your pathway? What size should the stone be? What color would look the best?

While size and shape largely come down to practicality, selecting the color of your stone is a matter of personal preference. To choose a stone color you’ll love for years, try using the following guide:

1. Coordinate With Other Elements In the Space

Though pea gravel can be a pretty and charming aspect of your yard, chances are, it’s not the star of the show. When designing a landscape, most homeowners want to show off other lawn elements, like flowers, trees, or yard furniture. Consider these features when choosing a gravel color– if you have a lot of black patio furniture, consider choosing a light stone to contrast the dark. Or, if you already have stone features, pick a similar stone color to help unify your overall landscape.

2. Play With Contrasts and Multicolor

Contrast is a useful tool for calling attention to other yard features. If you have a display of bright white flowers, dark gray, deep brown, or black pea gravel will offset the pale blooms. If you want your gravel pathway to be more visually interesting, you can even order pea gravel in mixed tones and colors.

3. Add Drama with Monochrome

Many designers prefer the bold, stark appearance of saturated monochromes. For example, deep black or nearly white drain rock can create clear borders around flower beds and walkways, which call attention to their shape. If you want a bold, modern look, a single dark or light pea gravel color might be the perfect choice.

4. Consider Temperature

Dark black gravel tends to retain heat, while white rock and utility sand tend to reflect hot temperatures. Consider the amount of sun and shade if your outdoor landscape, and choose colors to help manage temperatures throughout the seasons.

When properly installed, gravel and stone elements can least for years. Even a gravel driveway can last three to five or even 10 years with regular upkeep and maintenance. Use this guide to enjoy the color stone you select for years to come. For more information about gravel and rockery rocks of all kinds in the Seattle area, visit builderssandandgravelinc.com today!

According to a study conducted by Houzz Landscape Trends in 2017, 38% of homeowners upgraded their pathways, driveways, patios, and terraces use crushed gravel or rock. However, crushed gravel, river rocks, and rockery rocks can be used in a variety of home improvement projects beyond outdoor spaces.

The natural beauty and durability of river rocks make them a prime choice for many interior design applications. Different shapes, sizes, color tones, and variations in natural stones are all part of what makes them so appealing in any aspect of your home design.

If you’re looking to upgrade the appearance of your home’s interior, here are a few ways to incorporate all kinds of rocks for a beautiful, modern approach:

Fireplace Upgrades

From residential home design to commercial ski resorts and mountain cabins, natural elements like rock contribute to a homey, cozy feeling when sitting next to a fireplace. Large rockery rocks can make any fireplace truly wow your guests, since the natural stone makes the fireplace seem like an ancient cave. For a subtler approach, smaller river rocks create neutral tones and interesting textures for your mantle and chimney decoration. As a bonus, stone is naturally heat resistant, which helps your fire stay contained and your home stay safe.

Spa-Like Bathrooms

Incorporating washed gravel and other stones give a bathroom a muted, relaxed atmosphere, and enhances feelings of natural rejuvenation. River rock is generally very smooth to the touch, which makes it a great sensory addition to your bathroom. Try using a layer of drain rock over the floor in the shower to feel like you’re bathing in a waterfall, or build a sink out of a layer of natural rock for a statement vanity area.

Indoor Garden Elements

Rock gardens and rockery rocks elevate your home’s curb appeal when used outdoors. However, just as plants look good indoors and outdoors, so can rocks! Try crafting a small stone garden in the corner of your living room or porch where you keep your house plant display. If you manage the interior of a hotel or a resort, you can even build a large-scale indoor rockery rock garden for natural beauty that doesn’t need regular watering or pruning.

While rock features can make a home’s exterior stand out, using rock indoors is even more bold. For unique blend of modern home design and natural, traditional elements, try out any of the ideas listed above. Bring rockery rocks, river rocks, and pea gravel inside for a more beautiful and daring interior space.

Although winter is on its way, that doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead to your spring landscaping plans. In fact, there are certain landscaping elements that can make your property look aesthetically pleasing all year round. Rocks and stone features, for example, can add depth, texture, and color to your outdoor space — no matter the season. If you need a bit of inspiration to get started, here are some excellent uses for landscaping rocks in your front lawn or backyard.

Ground Cover

One of the most popular uses for river rocks — which are more akin to gravel than to big boulders — is to utilize them as ground cover. While many gardeners will opt for grasses, mosses, or even low-lying shrubs for this job, you may want to consider using river rock for landscaping in this way instead. It’s a viable alternative to mulch; though rocks won’t moisturize the soil, they’re often more affordable and require far less maintenance. As a bonus, a one-inch layer of small rocks can provide good weed control, meaning you could reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend pulling out dandelions and other unwanted species. Using river rocks in this way may appeal to homeowners who live in hotter and dryer climates, who want to minimize their yard work, or who want to focus on hardscaping features instead. Business owners may also benefit from using river rocks, pea gravel, or other options in their landscaping plans.

Visual Accents

Rocks can make for a neutral foundation, but they can also act as the star of the show. Accent boulders could be a welcome focal point in your garden or front yard, particularly when it’s of an unusual shape or color. They may even be slightly sculptural in feel, which can make your green space feel more akin to an outdoor gallery. Ideally, you’ll want to plant some flowers or greenery around the base of these larger rocks. As an alternative, you could place gravel or other small rocks underneath to make the boulder appear more natural.

Flowerbed Borders

Another one of the many uses for landscaping rocks is to define your garden in an attractive way. For example, rocks make for a beautiful and natural edging option for your flowerbeds. You can use flagstones, small boulders, or even river rocks to create a border around these areas of your garden. This results in a rather enchanting garden space that invites family and friends to stop and smell the roses (or other favorite blooms). But of course, edging your flower beds also serves a practical purpose: you’ll define the space and can more easily keep weeds out.

Charming Pathways

Keep in mind that the most beautiful landscaping rocks Seattle has to offer can also be used to form natural-looking pathways around your property. Pebbles, gravel, and even larger stones are often used for this purpose as an alternative to concrete or brick. These materials can instantly add a bit of vintage charm to your yard and boost your curb appeal. Plus, these walkways will welcome your guests and keep them safe, particularly if your other terrain is a bit uneven.

Of course, there are countless uses for landscaping rocks on your property. By utilizing natural stone, gravel, and river rocks in the ways outlined above, you’ll likely improve your property value and your overall satisfaction with the look of your home.

Spring showers, summer storms, and dreary fall and winter rainfall can all wreak havoc on a yard. Too much moisture can accumulate in your grass or garden, creating a spongy mess. In some cases, poor lawn drainage can even damage your home’s structure through flooding. 



Luckily, smart landscape design using drain rock can redirect storm runoff to minimize property damage. Try any combination of the following projects for better control of rainwater and better protection of your property:

1. Swales
   
   Swales are essentially man-made riverbeds that channel runoff in more desirable directions. Often resembling a dry creek, swales can be used at the base of slopes and hills or around a house to divert water towards a drainage area. Thick-rooted plants are often used to slow water’s progress to a drain to prevent overflows. Though swales can be simple grassy ditches, drain rocks or washed gravel is often used to prevent the swale from eroding. 
   
   
   
2. Rain Gardens
   
   Another attractive way to control runoff and floodwater is to build and plant a rain garden. Rain gardens provide a place for water to pool during downpours, and incorporate plants that love a good soak. Beneath the flowerbed, a catch basin is used to trap water temporarily and slow its flow into the surrounding soil. The soil in the garden itself is fast-draining to encourage rapid absorption. Sometimes, an underdrain of drain rock is needed to ensure water is dispersed back into the surrounding earth. 
   
   
   
3. Self-Draining Driveways
   
   Finally, self-draining driveways that utilize drainage gravel can help prevent water from pooling during storms. Concrete and asphalt driveways are non-permeable, which means rainwater puddles and are directed to surrounding soils, which are often already saturated. Using gravel in combination with drainage trenches can help redirect the flow of rainwater away from more important areas, like basements or garages. 

Some driveways use layers of crushed gravel to create a drainage basin beneath the driveway’s surface for greater protection. When installing any gravel driveway, experts recommended using three layers of different sizes of rock: baseball-sized rocks at the bottom, golf ball-sized rocks in the middle, and marble-sized rocks for the uppermost layer.

Using these smart drainage techniques, you can protect your home from floods and unwanted moisture during storms and rainy seasons. 



For more information regarding drain rock, topsoil, rockery rocks or gravel delivery in King and Snohomish Counties, contact Builders Sand and Gravel today! 

A beautiful landscape design involves many elements. Gardens, trees, pathways, and buildings require clever and artistic arrangement to create a cohesive and attractive outdoor space.



Using a variety of rock elements in a design can help marry both beauty and function in any landscape. In particular, large rockery rocks can serve multiple functions in a yard or other outdoor area.



Here are just a few rockery rock design ideas for landscapers looking to incorporate large stone in their next project:

1. 1. Stone Walls
      
      Building a wall is one beautiful and functional use of large boulders and rocks in a landscape. Crafting a stone wall near a driveway or around the borders of a property can deter unwanted guests, and can give the lawn greater curb appeal. After all, a good landscape can increase a home’s resale value by 14%.
      
      
      
      Stone retaining walls are also particularly useful for protecting steep slopes from erosion and sliding over time. A rockery rock retaining wall can even create the perfect opportunity for planting a hanging garden.

1. 1. Natural Seating
      
      Large rocks near gardens and pools not only provide visual interest by contrasting smaller rocks and plants, but they can also provide clever seating opportunities. Smooth and semi-flat rocks can be arranged to form a natural stone bench or stool. You can even arrange medium and large rocks in a ring around a stone fire pit to create an outdoor entertaining area that blends with the natural environment.

1. 1. Rock Garden Centerpieces
      
      One of the simplest uses for landscaping rocks and boulders is visual appeal. Rockery rocks have their own natural beauty, with colors, textures, and shapes unique to the region they originated. Use a large boulder or rockery rock as a centerpiece in your rock garden. Let it stand out by placing it in direct sight in a well-lit part of the yard. For a more natural look, ensure that part of the rock is buried underneath the soil, since in nature few boulders sit above the grass and the dirt.

1. Get Creative
   
   Though a boulder might seem like just a big, heavy rock, the possibilities are endless. Consider painting a boulder for a unique artistic addition to your yard. A collection of boulders and sand for sand boxes can create a climbing-and-digging play area for children. Boulders and smaller rocks can even be arranged to create a natural-looking waterfall fountain. The only limit to rockery rock design ideas is your own imagination!

Most people do not think about gravel types until it is time to build or refresh a driveway, and then the choices pile up fast. The right pick comes down to how the stone holds up under vehicles, how well it drains, and how it looks. Here are the main driveway gravels, what each does well, and which to avoid for a surface that has to bear weight.

Best gravel for a driveway

For the driving surface, you want angular crushed rock, not smooth round stone. Angular pieces lock together and compact into a firm, stable layer that handles vehicle weight. Round stone like river rock or pea gravel looks great but shifts under tires, so it belongs in borders and accents rather than the main wear surface. A solid driveway is usually built in layers: a coarse crushed-rock base topped with a finer crushed surface course.

Crushed rock (quarry stone)

Crushed rock, sometimes called quarry stone or crusher run, is the practical workhorse for driveways. The angular pieces mix with stone dust so the material compacts into a semi-solid surface that stays put under traffic. It is the standard choice for both the base and the top course. The one caveat: because it packs tight, it drains more slowly, so grade the driveway to shed water in wet climates.

River rock

River rock is smooth, rounded stone with a natural, almost rustic look. It drains beautifully, but those rounded stones shift under tires and never lock together – which is why it struggles on any slope, incline, or curve. Is river rock good for a driveway? As an accent or drainage border, yes. As the main driving surface, it tends to scatter and rut. Use it to dress up the edges, not to carry the cars.

Pea gravel

Pea gravel is small, round, and attractive, with better drainage than quarry stone. Like river rock, though, the round stones do not interlock, so they spread off the surface over time unless the driveway is firmly edged. It can work for a light-use or decorative driveway, but it needs containment and the occasional top-up.

Get it delivered

Driveway gravel is heavy and awkward to haul in a personal vehicle, so bulk delivery is almost always the way to go. Order enough for a proper base plus a surface course, and have it dropped where you can spread it.

River rock is a type of washed gravel known for its smooth, rounded texture and versatility. River rocks come in a range of sizes, but are typically one to two inches in diameter. Creative landscapers choose to use river rock for landscaping because of its wide range of beautiful and practical applications, including:

• • Lining a garden

• • Building a walkway

• • Creating borders around buildings and patios

• • An alternative gravel for driveways

• • Outdoor shower flooring

• • Filling a play area

• • Decorating fountains and pools

The many uses of river rock for landscaping are impressive, but what is possibly more impressive is its potential to be environmentally friendly. Here are a few reasons why river rock features are a great choice for any habitat-conscious homeowner, landscaper or gardener.

1. 1. They Limit Soil Erosion
      
      By choosing to line your outdoor areas with river rock, you’ll be adding an extra layer of weight between the soil and the air. This can help limit wind erosion that might occur on your property, particularly after building projects or at residential construction sites that remove grass and expose soil. River rock can also help limit gravitational erosion in sloped yards and gardens.
      
      
      
   2. They’re Permeable
      
      One of the many uses of river rock is to encourage drainage. Because the round stones do not fit as tightly together as other materials, water can flow through cracks between the stones. This means that your landscaping project will let rainwater return to the ground and help prevent the destructive flooding that can come from other, less-porous surfaces. This type of drain rock is also a great tool for xeriscaping, which is a style of gardening that requires very little irrigation. If you live in a drought-prone area, gardening with hardy plants and drainage gravel like river rocks can help limit your water consumption.
      
      
      
   3. They Deter Weeds Naturally
      River rocks can be used to mulch around flower beds, vegetable gardens, trees, pathways, and buildings. The weight of the stones and the way they block sunlight discourages weed growth. Rather than resorting to pesticides to keep the edges of your property’s features looking neat, you’ll be using something far less toxic to the habitat. As a bonus, river rocks are much less susceptible to wind erosion and decomposition than wood mulch, meaning that their weed-suppressing ability lasts much longer.
      
      
      
   4. They are a Natural Substance
      
      One of the main uses for river rock is simply to make your garden prettier. Luckily, rocks are just rocks! River rocks, in particular, are often colorful, bringing natural beauty to your home or garden, no paint or dye required.

If you’re looking to make your home more beautiful without damaging the natural environment, use the natural environment! Choosing river rock for landscaping is a great way to make your lawn look amazing for years to come, without hurting the fields or forests beyond your backyard.

Certain landscaping projects can actually increase a home’s resale value by as much as 14%. 


Many homeowners think that they don’t have the skills, knowledge, time, or resources to perform some of these landscape improvement projects. There are plenty of do-it-yourself projects that you can do, however, that don’t require too much money or physical effort. 


By simply placing drainage gravel around your property in strategic locations, you can easily improve your landscape’s look and even boost its overall resale value. According to the 2017 Houzz Landscape Trends study, 38% of homeowners upgrading their pathways, driveways, patios, and terraces are using crushed gravel or crushed rockery rocks. 


Here are a few drainage gravel projects you can easily perform this summer to significantly boost your home’s value and give yourself that nice looking landscape you’ve always dreamed of: 

• • Crushed gravel pathway — You can simply place down a few layers of crushed gravel on your lawn and create a great-looking hardscape pathway. If you’re constantly walking back and forth to one part of your property, after a while you’re going to damage your lawn. A gravel pathway can help preserve your lawn and can look fantastic. Lay down gravel in whatever pattern you want from your front door to your mailbox, your back patio to the pool, or anywhere else on your lawn.

• • Outline for fencing — Installing a fence on your property can provide plenty of great benefits, but laying some nice crushed gravel at its base can look amazing. You can certainly outline the inside of your fence, but if you have a few feet left over on the other side of the fence (without intruding on your neighbor’s property), you can place another layer on the outside, which will look wonderful.

• • Gravel garden border — A garden can help your landscape look terrific, as well, but a nice gravel border can significantly improve its look. You can get creative with your gravel bordering, as well; utilize different colors, place the material down in various patterns, and place as many layers as you want.

Don’t let your landscape remain the same for years — it’s time to start upgrading the look and feel of your property. If you’re in need drainage gravel delivery or concrete removal services or would to learn more about how to use rockery rocks in order to boost your landscape’s appearance, give Builders Sand and Gravel Inc. a call right away. 

Landscaping projects, if done correctly, can actually increase your property’s resale value by as much as 14%. There are all kinds of cool ways you can improve your property; plant a garden, install a pool, add a new room or patio, etc. But only a few landscaping projects are actually kid-friendly.


If you have a newborn baby or a few little children crawling around, you’re going to want them to have a fun place to play outside. Sand boxes are great for babies to mess around in and you can easily install the perfect one right in your own backyard.


Here are some steps to consider that will help you build a great backyard sand box for your kids to enjoy:

1. 1. Measure where the sand box will go — You’re going to have to make sure of the exact measurements when it comes to your new sand box. If you don’t have a large enough backyard, you might have to adjust accordingly.
      
      
   2. Acquire all the necessary materials — First, you need to make sure you have plenty of sand for sand boxes, a large bag of decking screws, landscaping fabric, and 12 lengths of four by fours that combine to create a three-course-high border.
      
      
   3. Lay out the boards — Once you have identified where you want the sand box to go and have purchased all the necessary items, it’s time to lay out the perimeter of the sand box the flat surface.
      
      
   4. Start digging — Once your boards are setup, it’s time to dig out the interior of the box. Go about six inches deep and be sure to include the dirt under your wooden boards.
      
      
   5. Add in utility sand on the outside — Next, it’s time to start adding some quality sand for sand boxes along the edges. It’s best to use a one-inch deep and four-inch wide layer of sand around the perimeter of the box.
      
      
   6. Secure the other wooden boards — With decking screws, now you should swear up all the new and old wooden boards. Secure the second layer of wood with decking screws about once every three feet.
      
      
   7. Add the landscaping fabric and final wooden layer — Cover the entire hole so it overlaps the second layer of wood and then add on the third (and final) layer on top. Then, simply fill the entire area up with sand and watch your kids have all the fun in the world.

If you want to work with a professional construction sand, crushed gravel, and topsoil delivery service and find high-quality sand for sand boxes, give Builders Sand and Gravel Inc. a call right away.

Landscaping rocks are seldom found across U.S. neighborhoods, but these items can completely transform a property and provide all sorts of monetary benefits. 


Certain landscaping projects, when done correctly, can offer a very high return on investment (ROI) and even increase property resale value by as much as 15%. Landscaping rocks are fantastic items for improving the look and feel of a property, as well as deliver some slight increases to a home’s resale value. 


According to a 2017 Houzz Landscape Trends study, approximately 38% of homeowners planning to upgrade their landscape’s driveways, pathways, patios, and terraces are using crushed gravel or other types of rockery rocks. 


These rockery rocks come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for dozens of property improvement projects. River rock, for example, is an extremely popular type of landscaping rock material. It is quite smooth and typically comes in one to two inches in diameter. Cobble rock, on the other hand, are much larger and can work great as a border to a large flower bed or planting strip. 


Understanding the differences between all these rockery rocks, as well as other landscaping materials can be quite tricky, unfortunately. Thankfully, there are organizations out there that focus on not only providing you with the information you need for your next property improvement project, but can deliver the actual materials as well. 


By working with experienced concrete hauling services, you won’t even have to pickup and handle these heavy bags of rockery rocks yourself. You can have the exact amount of landscaping material delivered right to your front yard. Whether you need bags of crushed gravel for a small garden or larger bench, column, or placement rocks, you won’t have to struggle lifting and getting these materials into your car — simply place your order and await the timely delivery right to your front door. 


If you want to learn more about how to better utilize landscaping rocks to improve the look and feel of your property, or have utility sand, washed gravel, and other outdoor materials delivered to your home, give Builders Sand and Gravel Inc. a call today!