Bulk Gravel Delivery to Portsmouth, NH

Spring sets the schedule for gravel and aggregate delivery in Portsmouth, NH. Base and paver work waits until frost is out and the ground has drained. New Hampshire Rock Supply delivers crushed gravel and bedding materials across the Seacoast, where low ground near the tidal marshes holds water long after the uplands dry out.

Order online and time the drop for the week your site is ready. On the low lots, that week comes later than you think.

Materials for Portsmouth Projects

Around Portsmouth, flatwork holds up only as well as its bedding layer. Pavers, flagstone and patio slabs need a bed that compacts flat and stays flat, and stone dust is the New England default under all of it. It locks up tight under a plate compactor and holds a paver course level through freeze and thaw.

Stone dust, also called screenings or crusher dust, is the bedding layer for pavers, flagstone and patios. Order Stone Dust by the ton or the yard for that bedding layer.

Under the bedding, the base does the structural work. Crushed gravel is the standard New Hampshire base material for driveways, parking pads and shed bases, and it is what you want under a patio that sees foot traffic and furniture. It compacts hard and sheds water. Order it as Crushed Gravel.

Where you want a base that binds as it compacts, crusher run is the usual pick. The fines fill the voids and the surface tightens up. Order it as Crusher Run.

For drainage beside a patio or along a foundation, 3/4 inch crushed stone is the workhorse. It goes into drainage beds, drive surfacing and construction entrances. Order it as 3/4" Crushed Stone. Paver joints and tight bedding take a smaller washed stone such as #89 Crushed Stone.

Screened loam finishes the job. New Hampshire landscapers call topsoil loam and buy it screened, and it is what you spread over stony glacial ground before seeding. Order it as Top Soil.

Ground and Conditions in Portsmouth

The failure you see here is a thin base. A patio bed laid an inch or two deep over silty or clayey lowland soil pumps, settles and tips pavers by the second spring. On the higher ground, glacial till and ledge leave you digging through stone to reach a true grade.

A thicker bedding layer will not fix low, wet ground; a deeper base and drainage will. Excavate to a real base depth, compact in lifts, and give the low ground somewhere for water to go. A drainage layer of 3/4 inch crushed stone or Drain Rock carries water away from the base before it can sit under it.

Frost drives the numbers. The ocean keeps winter lows milder than inland, but the ground still freezes and thaws, and frost heaves gravel drives and walks in spring. Frost depth runs about 4 feet in most towns, and the town building official sets footing depth. Low ground near tidal water drains slowly, and extra-high tides and coastal storms flood low roads and yards near the marshes.

Storm surge and waves from nor'easters and tropical storms work on the coast and tidal waters, and rivers and streams scour their banks after heavy rain. That is where RipRap earns its place, armoring banks, culvert outlets and shorelines against spring runoff.

Delivery to Portsmouth and the Surrounding Area

Bulk material is ordered two ways: by the ton or by the cubic yard. Most aggregate is sold by weight, so a ton of stone dust and a yard of it are different amounts. Decide what your project needs before you order, because the two do not convert by eye.

Estimate quantity first. Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Stone weight varies by material, so let the calculator convert your yards to tons. If you are working from a drawing or a rough measurement, the calculator tools and product pages turn feet and inches into yards.

Delivery is straightforward. You give us the site address and a clear drop spot, and we bring the load in on a dump truck. Bulk loads need a spot the truck can reach and turn around, and a tarp or a hard pad keeps the pile clean until you spread it.

We deliver across Portsmouth and Rockingham County, including Derry, Salem, Londonderry, Hampton and Exeter. If your site sits on the low side near the marshes, tell us when you order so we can plan the approach.

Questions Portsmouth Buyers Ask

What gravel is best for a driveway in Portsmouth?

Crushed gravel is the standard base for a Portsmouth driveway, and it is what most local contractors specify. It compacts hard, drains well and holds up to frost heaves better than a rounded material. For a top layer that binds and sheds water, crusher run works well over the same compacted base. On the low ground, build the base deep enough and let it drain.

How much material will my project need?

Measure the area and the depth you plan to spread. Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For a patio, work out the base and the bedding layer separately, because they are different materials at different depths. If you are unsure, order a little extra, since a short load stops the job.

Order Your Portsmouth Delivery

Start with the quantity. Work out your square footage and depth, and use our calculator to turn that into tons or yards before you order. Then order your crushed gravel, stone dust or drainage stone online and pick your delivery window. New Hampshire Rock Supply delivers bulk aggregate to Portsmouth and across Rockingham County, so place your order when the ground is ready.