Different Types of Crushed Concrete & Their Best Uses

Which Type of Crushed Concrete is Right for Your Project? 

Whether you’re paving a road, preparing a building pad, or laying down a construction entrance, choosing the proper crushed concrete material is essential. At CTI Recycling, we produce a wide variety of crushed concrete products to meet any need.

One of the most common things we hear at CTI Recycling is, "I need some crushed concrete." Our next question is usually, "What kind?"

Most people are surprised to learn there are several recycled concrete products, each designed for a different application. Understanding the differences can help you choose the right material for your project while improving performance, stability, and drainage.

What is Crushed Concrete? 

Crushed concrete is made by recycling concrete from demolition and construction projects. Instead of sending usable material to a landfill, the concrete is crushed and screened into recycled aggregates that can be used in new construction.

Recycled concrete is a durable, cost-effective material used for roads, parking lots, driveways, building pads, pipe bedding, and many other construction projects throughout Central Iowa.

Special Backfill & Modified Subbase

Special Backfill and Modified Subbase are what most contractors would describe as “road base,” and are what most customers are looking for when they ask for “crushed concrete.”  As Walt explains in the video above, it’s one of the most versatile recycled concrete products we offer.  

It consists of 1” aggregate mixed with an even distribution of finer material, allowing it to compact well while still providing adequate drainage.

Best for:

• Driveways
• Roads
• Parking lots
• Building pads
• Base beneath concrete or asphalt pavement

1" Clean Recycled Concrete

Unlike modified sub base, 1-inch clean recycled concrete contains little to no fine material. Because water can move more freely through the aggregate, it's an excellent choice for projects where drainage is important.

Best for:

• Pipe bedding
• Utility projects
• Drainage applications

3" Clean Recycled Concrete

Need something a little larger? Our 3-inch clean recycled concrete provides excellent stability and is commonly used anywhere heavy equipment needs a solid surface during construction.

Best for:

• Construction entrances
• Temporary access roads
• Job site stabilization

3" Roadstone

When your project requires something a little more robust than your typical road base, 3-inch Roadstone is a great option.  It’s larger top-end aggregate size provides additional support for projects that require extra stability.

Best for:

• Heavy-duty stabilization
• Staging areas or access roads
• Deeper fill areas

More Than Just Recycled Concrete

In addition to recycled concrete aggregates, our Grimes location also stocks asphalt millings, pea gravel, and sand. Whether you're working on a residential project or a large commercial job, we offer a variety of quality materials to help keep your project moving.

Recycled Concrete Aggregates in Central Iowa

CTI Recycling supplies recycled concrete aggregates to contractors, municipalities, and property owners throughout Central Iowa from five recycling locations. We also offer portable concrete crushing services, bringing our mobile crushing equipment directly to large-scale projects for added convenience.

If you're unsure which recycled aggregate is right for your project, we're here to help. Contact CTI Recycling or call (515) 721-0019 to discuss your project, learn more about our products, or place an order today.