Three-Quarter Bluestone (¾″) in Wrentham, MA

Three-quarter bluestone, often written ¾″ bluestone, is one of the hardest-working materials in the yard. The angular pieces lock together under a car tire, yet water still drains through. As a result, it is the go-to stone for gravel driveways and drainage work.

What is three-quarter bluestone?

It is crushed stone screened so most pieces are about three-quarters of an inch. Because the stone is crushed rather than rounded, every piece has sharp faces. Those faces bite into each other, so the surface stays firm instead of rolling underfoot.

The color is a blue-gray that darkens when wet. Also, it looks clean and neat, which is why many people use it for driveways and parking areas that show from the street.

In the trade, you will hear it called ¾ stone, ¾ crushed or simply bluestone. Whatever the name, it is the same workhorse material, and it is sold by the yard.

What three-quarter bluestone is used for

Contractors and homeowners use this stone for a long list of jobs:

• Gravel driveways and parking areas
• Drainage trenches and French drains
• Base under sheds and hot tub pads
• Backfill around foundation drains
• Drip edges along rooflines
• Pipe and dry well surrounds

How much three-quarter bluestone 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 three-quarter bluestone. For a gravel driveway, plan on 3 to 4 inches of three-quarter bluestone over a firm base. Drainage trenches, on the other hand, are sized by trench width and depth.

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 lay a three-quarter bluestone driveway

1. Strip the surface. Remove sod and soft topsoil down to firm ground. Then shape the area so water runs off to the sides.
2. Set a base if needed. On soft ground, a layer of processed gravel underneath adds strength. Ask us what fits your soil.
3. Spread in lifts. Spread the stone about 2 inches at a time. Next, pack each lift with a plate compactor or roller.
4. Crown the center. Keep the middle slightly higher than the edges. As a result, rain sheds off instead of pooling.
5. Top up over time. Finally, rake stone back into tire tracks and add a little each year.

Crushed stone is heavy. So for pickup, a full-size pickup usually carries about one yard safely, while a small trailer may carry less. Check your truck's payload rating first; in fact, many people find delivery simpler for driveway amounts.

Drainage work is the other big job for this stone. For a French drain, line the trench with fabric, bed the perforated pipe in stone, and then fill to just below the surface. Because the pieces stay open, water moves into the pipe instead of sitting against the foundation. Likewise, a dry well filled with three-quarter bluestone gives roof water a place to soak in slowly.

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 three-quarter bluestone 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 three-quarter bluestone

We deliver three-quarter bluestone to homes, contractors and property managers in Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Foxborough, Plainville, Medway and Bellingham, Massachusetts. We deliver driveway loads of three-quarter bluestone to rural roads in Norfolk and Wrentham as well as busy streets in Franklin and Foxborough. 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

For a smoother top, some people finish a driveway with finer stone. For example, ⅜″ bluestone fills gaps well. Asphalt millings, meanwhile, give a darker surface that packs harder.

⅜″ BluestoneFine crushed bluestone for paver base, walkways and pipe bedding.Screened Asphalt MillingsRecycled asphalt that packs down hard for driveways and lots.1½″ Natural StoneLarger washed-look stone for drainage, dry wells and drip edges.

Three-quarter bluestone 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.