Aggregates Cost
Written by webtechs

Aggregates Cost

Aggregates such as gravel and crushed stone usually cost between $30 – $100 per cubic yard, with aspects such as type, size, and supplier impacting the price. With average prices around $65 per cubic yard in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.

Factors Impacting Price:

Type of Aggregate: Various types of aggregates, such as crushed stone, pea gravel, and river rock, have differing prices.

Size: The size of the aggregate (for instance 1/2″ crushed rock, 3/4″ crushed rock) can impact the price.

Supplier: Prices can fluctuate between various suppliers in the area.

Instances of Aggregates :

Crushed Stone: Spanning from $30 – $55 per yard.

Pea Gravel: With costs ranging from $35 – $60 per yard.

River Rock: Usually starting around $50 per yard.

Basic Aggregates Tips

To Estimate How Much You Need: Measure the area and thickness where you are going to be placing your aggregates.

To Get Best Prices: Get a hold of local aggregate suppliers to establish the best cost per cubic yard of aggregates transported to your project site.

Recycled Products: Recycled concrete and asphalt millings can be a cost-effective alternative, with prices starting from around $16 to $27 per ton.

Scoop Prices: Many suppliers offer aggregates by the scoop, with costs varying subject to the type of gravel.

How to get Aggregates for Your Next Building Project

Below is a basic step by step guideline for acquiring aggregates

  1. Calculate the Amount Aggregate Your Project is Going to Require

To gauge the amount of aggregates needed for your project, measure the thickness and area in which you are going to be placing the aggregates. You should refer to your project’s drawings and details to help establish the thickness and type of aggregates that are going to be used. Then input your measurements in A&A Materials, Inc. coverage calculator.

The approximate weight is determined by an average weight of 2.3 tons per cubic yard of aggregates.

The estimated cost is determined by the average cost of aggregates of around $40 to $55 per cubic yard. The price of aggregates is subject to several aspects including:

  • The quantity of aggregates being bought
  • The kind and size of aggregates being used
  • The location of your aggregates supplier
  1. Locate an Aggregates Supplier

To establish the right aggregates supplier for your project you speak to several aggregates’ suppliers and landscape materials suppliers. Seek out suppliers that are in the vicinity of your project’s location. Typically, the closer the supplier is to your project site the more money you are going to save on transportation expenses.

  1. Get Estimates from Local Aggregate Suppliers

Utilizing your aggregates amount estimates, get a hold of your local aggregates supplier to establish the best cost per cubic yard of aggregates transported to your project site.

Landscape Aggregates Phoenix by A&A Materials, Inc.

A & A Materials, Inc., located in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers Aggregates for your landscaping needs. Call us at 480-990-0557 for more information.

Differences Between Rocks and Boulders
Written by webtechs

Differences Between Rocks and Boulders

Differences Between Rocks and Boulders 🏔️🔍

Both rocks and boulders are natural stone formations, but they differ in size, use, and formation. Here’s how they compare:


🔸 Key Differences

Feature Rocks 🪨 Boulders 🏔️
Size Smaller, typically under 10 inches in diameter. Large stones, over 10 inches, often several feet wide.
Weight Lightweight to moderately heavy. Very heavy, often requiring machinery to move.
Formation Broken down from larger stones through erosion and weathering. Larger pieces of bedrock that have broken off due to natural forces.
Common Uses Landscaping, gravel, drainage, pathways, and decorative rock gardens. Retaining walls, large decorative landscaping features, and erosion control.
Ease of Handling Can be moved by hand or with small tools. Requires heavy equipment like forklifts or cranes.

🔹 Examples of Each

  • Rocks: Pea gravel, river rock, crushed stone, riprap.
  • Boulders: Large landscape boulders, volcanic rock formations, massive stones in nature.

Are Rocks and Boulders The Same Material?

Are Rocks and Boulders the Same Material?

Yes, rocks and boulders are made of the same geological materials, but they differ in size and formation. Both can be composed of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock types, depending on their origin.


🔹 Key Similarities

Same Geological Composition – Both can be made of granite, limestone, basalt, sandstone, etc.
Natural Formation – Both form through geological processes like erosion, cooling, and pressure.
Similar Mineral Content – Both contain minerals like quartz, feldspar, and mica, depending on the rock type.


🔸 Key Differences

Feature Rocks 🪨 Boulders 🏔️
Size Smaller, less than 10 inches. Larger, over 10 inches (often several feet wide).
Formation Often broken down from larger boulders or bedrock. A larger, intact piece of bedrock.
Use Gravel, pathways, decorative rock gardens, drainage. Landscaping features, erosion control, retaining walls.

🌎 Example Materials Found in Both

  • Granite – Common in landscaping boulders and crushed rock.
  • Limestone – Used in retaining walls and gravel driveways.
  • Sandstone – Found in rock formations and flagstone.

So while all boulders are rocks, not all rocks are boulders!

Landscaping Materials Scottsdale, Arizona

A & A Materials, Inc., located in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers, all purpose sand, aggregates, river rock, rip rap rock, mulch and wood chips for your landscaping or gardening needs. Contact us or call us at 480-990-0557 for more information.

Differences Between Rocks and Boulders
Written by webtechs

What Are Boulders and Their Uses?

An important part of the aggregate industry, boulders are used in many different industries, including landscaping, construction, and environmental management. This article goes into great detail about boulders, including their definition, applications, and typical cost.

The word “boulders,” as used in the aggregate glossary, refers to more than just big rocks. It is a material that can be used in a variety of industries due to its wide range of sizes, types, and applications. We will go into more detail about these elements in the sections that follow.

What Boulders Are

In the aggregate industry, a “boulder” is a large rock that is usually too big for one person to move and has a diameter of more than 10 inches. Boulders can be made of many different kinds of rock, such as sandstone, granite, and limestone. Because of their durability and size, they are frequently utilized in landscaping and construction projects.

Boulders are classified according to their size, shape, and the kind of rock they are made of. Boulders can range in size from tiny (10–12 inches in diameter) to enormous (>60 inches in diameter). The boulder’s shape can range from round to angular, and its color and texture can be affected by the type of rock.

Boulder Types

Boulders come in a variety of forms, each with special qualities that make them appropriate for particular applications. For example, granite boulders are perfect for outdoor applications due to their durability and resistance to weathering. In contrast, limestone boulders are softer and more manageable, which makes them ideal for sculpting and carving.

Boulders of sandstone are prized for their diverse array of hues and textures. They are frequently utilized in building and landscaping projects. River boulders are a common choice for garden landscapes and water features because of their smooth, rounded appearance, which is the result of years of water erosion.

Boulder Formation

Over thousands or even millions of years, a variety of geological processes create boulders. Boulder formation is significantly influenced by weathering and erosion. Boulders are created when these processes fragment larger rock formations into smaller ones.

Boulders can also form as a result of volcanic activity. Large pieces of rock and lava may be ejected during a volcanic eruption, and these solidify into boulders as they cool. Boulder formation is also significantly influenced by glacial activity. Boulders are created when big rocks are carried and deposited by moving glaciers.

Boulder Uses

Boulders are used in many different industries. They are frequently utilized as a foundational material in construction for bridges, buildings, and other structures. They can also be used as a decorative element in landscaping, to build retaining walls, and to control erosion.

Boulders are utilized in the field of environmental management to make rip rap, a kind of rock armor that prevents erosion of streambeds, shorelines, bridge abutments, and other structures. Additionally, boulders are utilized to build artificial reefs, which serve as habitats for marine life and aid in the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Uses in Construction

Boulders are an essential material in construction. Because of their strength and longevity, they are utilized in the construction of building and bridge foundations. Additionally, boulders can be used to build retaining walls, which stabilize sloped areas and stop soil erosion.

Road construction is another application for boulders. They can serve as a sub-base material, giving the road surface a solid base. They can also be used to build embankments or barriers along roadsides, which will keep erosion at bay and provide safety.

Uses of Landscaping

Boulders are a common landscaping material because of their visual appeal and adaptability. They can be used to make water features, rock gardens, and other ornamental elements that look natural. Additionally, boulders can be used to establish boundaries or to give a landscape design height and structure.

Boulders have functional uses in landscaping in addition to aesthetic ones. They can be applied to enhance drainage, reduce erosion, and create wildlife habitat. In a garden, boulders can also be used as stepping stones or to create seating areas.

Boulders’ Average Cost

Boulder prices can vary greatly depending on several factors. These consist of the boulder’s dimensions, the kind of rock it is composed of, and its actual origin. Boulders can cost anywhere from $100 to $600 per ton on average.

It’s crucial to remember that transportation costs may also have an impact on boulder prices. Because of their size and weight, larger boulders can be more costly to transport. Consequently, purchasing boulders locally is frequently a more economical choice.

Cost-Related Factors

One of the main elements affecting the boulder’s price is its size. Larger boulders can be more expensive to remove and move because they require more resources. The boulder’s price may also vary depending on the kind of rock it is made of. For example, because of their durability and resistance to weathering, granite boulders are frequently more expensive than those made of limestone or sandstone.

The cost of the boulder can also be greatly impacted by where it comes from. Due to the higher cost of extraction and transportation, boulders sourced from isolated areas or places with restricted access may be more costly. Furthermore, the demand for particular boulder types may have an impact on their price.

Money-Saving Advice

Boulders can be made less expensive in a number of ways. Getting boulders locally is one of the best strategies. This can help local businesses and drastically lower transportation costs. Costs can also be decreased by selecting boulders that are smaller or composed of less costly rock types.

Carefully planning your project is another way to save money. You can prevent overspending and financial waste by precisely estimating the quantity of boulders required. The long-term upkeep expenses related to boulder use should also be taken into account. Boulders used to control erosion, for example, might eventually need to be replaced, raising the project’s overall cost.

In summary, boulders are essential to the aggregate industry because they can be used in a wide range of applications. Planning projects that use these adaptable materials can be made easier with an understanding of their definition, applications, and cost-influencing factors.

Boulders provide a long-lasting and visually appealing solution that can be used for a variety of purposes, including landscaping, construction, and environmental management. They are therefore still a useful resource in many different industries.

Landscaping Materials Scottsdale, Arizona

A & A Materials, Inc., located in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers, all purpose sand, aggregates, river rock, rip rap rock, mulch and wood chips for your landscaping or gardening needs. Contact us or call us at 480-990-0557 for more information.

What Are Aggregates
Written by webtechs

What Are Aggregates?

Aggregates are usually ignored when talking about the construction industry presently. They are not attractive. They are not alluring. After all, they are just rocks.

Having said that, aggregates are – exactly – the building blocks of our civilization. Aggregate production dates to Roman times, and it has been vital to the development of our planet ever since.

Basically, they are the most simplistic materials used in construction. They provide the groundwork for roads, buildings, and bridges, while also making up over ninety percent of asphalt pavement and up to eighty percent of a concrete mix. On average, thirty-eight thousand tons of aggregates are required to construct one lane mile of interstate roadway. Construction of the average home necessitates four hundred tons of aggregate, whereas the average sized school or hospital necessitates fifteen thousand tons.

Each state and roughly 3/4 of the US’s counties are home to an aggregate business, producing nearly two-point-four billion tons of material each year, valued at over twenty-five billion dollars.

That’s a significant impact just for some rocks.

What Are Aggregates?

Aggregates are crude materials that are originated from natural resources and collected from quarries and pits, comprising of crushed stone, gravel, and sand. When applied with a bonding medium, such as water, asphalt, and cement, they are used for forming compound materials, like Portland cement concrete and concrete asphalt.

In 2018, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summary, seventy-five percent of the one-point-four billion tons of aggregates produced was utilized for construction. At the same time, of the almost one billion tons of gravel and sand produced, twenty-four percent was utilized in road construction, twelve percent in asphalt, and forty-four percent in concrete.

Why Are They Important?

Not only are aggregates the cornerstones of our civilization, but they are also common in our daily lives. The average American requires around ten thousand tons of aggregate each year. We wouldn’t have pennies without zinc or plastic and glass without sand. Quartz provides silica for computer components; limestone provides us with calcium carbonate for antacids. They are also used in water filtration and purification processes, in addition to air purification and filtration.

What Makes An Aggregate Good?

Aggregates are required to have conventional, invariable, and consistent materials qualities. They need to be dry and clean prior to them being used. They are only as good as their refinement. Aggregates are mined, shattered, washed, and divided. The successful result of each step, the refinement of a good aggregate, is subject to the fruition of the former step. That fruition is subject to the hardworking workers in the aggregates industry, The workers that usually go overlooked and undervalued in the construction industries.

Aggregates aren’t going anywhere. Present day machines are high performance, minimum maintenance, and energy saving machines. They allow the workers in that industry to work quickly and safely at the same time producing high quality materials.

Landscaping Materials Scottsdale, Arizona

A & A Materials, Inc., located in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers aggregates, river rock, rip rap rock, mulch and wood chips for your landscaping or gardening needs. Contact us or call us at 480-990-0557 for more information.