1½″ Natural Stone in Wrentham, MA

Our 1½″ natural stone is the big, open stone of the yard. Because the pieces are larger, the gaps between them are wide, so water drops straight through. As a result, it is ideal for drainage work, and it also makes a handsome decorative cover in beds.

What is 1½″ natural stone?

It is stone screened to roughly an inch and a half, with natural tones of tan, gray and brown. The mix of colors looks relaxed and natural, so it blends with New England homes, stone walls and woodland edges.

Unlike fine crushed stone, it does not pack into a hard surface. Instead, the pieces stay loose and open. That is exactly what you want around a foundation drain, a dry well or a downspout splash area, where water needs to disappear quickly.

In addition, the larger size resists being kicked around or washed out. So along a roofline without gutters, natural stone holds its place where smaller gravel would scatter.

Where natural stone is used

This size handles both practical and decorative jobs:

• Dry wells and drainage pits
• Drip edges along rooflines without gutters
• French drain trenches (with fabric)
• Decorative beds and borders around the house
• Splash areas under downspouts
• Swales and low spots that collect runoff

How much natural stone do I need?

First, measure the length and width of the area in feet and multiply them to get square feet. Then multiply by the depth in inches and divide by 324. The answer is cubic yards, which is how the yard sells natural stone. For decorative beds and drip edges, 3 inches of natural stone is typical. Drainage trenches and dry wells, however, are measured by their full volume.

For example, a 20 by 25 foot area is 500 square feet. At 3 inches deep, that works out to about 4.5 yards. In practice, we suggest rounding up by half a yard, because edges, low spots and settling always take a little extra. Still, if the math feels off, call (774) 372-1050 and we will work it out with you before the truck is loaded.

Delivery or pickup at the yard

There are two ways to get this material from us. First, we can deliver it. Our trucks drop residential and commercial loads across Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Foxborough, Plainville, Medway and Bellingham. Tell us exactly where you want the pile, and the driver will place it as close to that spot as the ground safely allows.

Second, you can pick it up yourself. Bring a pickup truck, dump truck or trailer to 26 Industrial Rd in Wrentham during yard hours, and we will load you from the bays with the loader. As a rule of thumb, a full-size pickup carries about about 1 yard safely. So check your payload rating before you come, and bring a tarp for the ride home.

Getting ready for a delivery

1. Pick the spot. Choose a flat, open place close to where you will spread the material. A driveway apron or the edge of the lawn works well.
2. Check the clearance. Our trucks need room overhead and a firm surface. So look up for wires and branches, and keep the drop zone clear of cars.
3. Protect the surface. If the pile goes on pavement, lay down a tarp or plywood first. As a result, cleanup takes minutes instead of an afternoon.
4. Tell us about access. Mention gates, soft ground, septic covers or tight turns when you order. Then the driver can plan the approach before arriving.
5. Plan the spread. Finally, line up a wheelbarrow, rake and a helper. Most people spread a few yards in a morning.

How to install a natural stone drip edge

1. Dig the strip. Dig a strip about 12 to 18 inches wide and 4 inches deep under the roofline. Then slope the bottom away from the house.
2. Line it. Lay landscape fabric in the trench. As a result, soil will not work up into the stone over time.
3. Add an edge. Set a steel, plastic or stone edge along the lawn side. That way the stone stays in its lane.
4. Fill with stone. Spread natural stone to the top of the edge. Next, rake it level and rinse off any dust.
5. Check the flow. Finally, run a hose off the roof or wait for rain, and confirm water moves away from the foundation.

For a dry well, dig a pit where the downspout water can collect, line it with fabric and fill it with natural stone. The stone holds the water in its gaps while it slowly soaks into the ground. Also, a pipe from the downspout into the pit keeps the surface dry. On larger roofs, it is worth asking a contractor to size the pit before you dig.

Natural stone also looks good as a bed cover where mulch would wash out. For example, a bed at the bottom of a slope or next to a driveway can take the runoff without losing its cover. In other words, it is a low-maintenance choice that still looks finished.

Crushed stone, fines and compaction

Crushed stone behaves differently from rounded gravel. Because each piece has flat, broken faces, the stones wedge against one another when they are compacted. As a result, a crushed stone surface stays firm, while rounded stone tends to roll and shift.

Screened stone also has a consistent size. That matters for drainage, since uniform pieces leave open gaps for water. On the other hand, a surface that needs to pack very hard often gets a finer stone or a dense base on top. So tell us whether drainage or a hard surface matters more, and we will point you to the right size.

Stone weight and trucking

Stone is much heavier than mulch. A yard of crushed stone typically weighs well over a ton, depending on size and moisture. For that reason, pickup loads are smaller, and most driveway or drainage jobs are easier with delivery. Also, keep delivery trucks off septic fields, soft lawns and thin pavement.

Storing leftover material

Extra stone never goes bad. So many people keep a small pile behind the garage for patching ruts, filling washouts and topping up drip edges. That said, keep it off the lawn, because the weight flattens grass quickly. A few extra yards also come in handy after winter, when plows and melting snow shift stone around.

Contractor and commercial orders

Landscapers, builders, excavation crews and property managers buy from the yard every week. For that reason, we keep the loader running early, so contractor trucks can load and get to the job before the day heats up. In addition, we can stage repeat deliveries to a site when a project runs over several days.

If you manage condos, office parks or HOA grounds, ask about planning spring and fall deliveries in advance. That way, the material lands when your crew is ready, instead of sitting in a parking lot. Likewise, excavation contractors can combine stone, sand and loam on one schedule, which keeps a site moving.

What to tell us when you order

A quick call goes faster when you have a few details ready. That way, we can quote the load and book the truck in one conversation.

• First, the material and how many yards you need
• Next, the delivery address and town
• Also, where the pile should go and any tight access
• Then, the best day and a backup day for delivery
• Finally, a phone number the driver can call on the way

Why buy natural stone from Ten Four Landscape Supply

Ten Four Landscape Supply is a local bulk-materials yard owned by Seth Dias. In other words, you are buying from the same people who load the truck, not from a call center. We sell every material by the yard, so you pay for what you need rather than for bags and plastic.

• Sold by the yard, loaded or delivered from 26 Industrial Rd, Wrentham
• Residential and commercial orders, from a single yard to full truckloads
• Straight answers on how much to order, so you do not buy twice
• Delivery across seven nearby towns, plus pickup during yard hours
• Other bulk materials on site, so one trip can cover a whole project

Also, because the yard handles mulch, stone, loam, compost and sand in one place, contractors can mix a load plan for a job in one call. Homeowners, meanwhile, get the same material the pros use, measured the same way.

Where we deliver natural stone

We deliver natural stone to homes, contractors and property managers in Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Foxborough, Plainville, Medway and Bellingham, Massachusetts. Homes without gutters in Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham often use natural stone along the drip line. Not sure your street is in range? Check the towns we serve, or just call and ask.

• Wrentham, MA
• Norfolk, MA
• Franklin, MA
• Foxborough, MA
• Plainville, MA
• Medway, MA
• Bellingham, MA

Pairs well with

Drainage jobs often combine sizes. For instance, ¾″ bluestone beds a pipe, while the larger stone fills the top of a dry well. Field stone edges a bed, and pine mulch fills the planted areas beside it.

¾″ BluestoneCrushed bluestone for driveways, drainage and base layers.New England Field StoneWeathered, irregular fieldstone for walls, borders and accents.Dark Brown Pine MulchDeep brown pine bark mulch for beds, borders and tree rings.

Natural stone FAQs

Have a question that is not listed here? For more background on soils, mulching and plant care in our region, the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program publishes practical fact sheets. Otherwise, call the yard at (774) 372-1050 and we will help you choose.