Buying guide

Crusher Dust vs Roadbase

Choosing a base for paving, a path or a driveway? Compare both quarried and recycled options. Shantana supplies Quarried Roadbase, Recycled Roadbase, quarried Metal Dust and recycled Crusher Dust / Filling Sand. Start with your finished surface and the layers it requires.

Quarried or recycled roadbase?

These are two distinct roadbase options. Quarried Roadbase comes from crushed rock; Recycled Roadbase uses recovered construction materials. Confirm the required grading and specification for your project before choosing between them.

Quarried Roadbase

Quarried crushed rock and fines in a 14mm-minus grading. Listed for base layers below paving sand, decorative pebbles and decomposed granite, as well as driveway and pathway preparation.

Recycled Roadbase

Recovered concrete and brick material for compacted base applications. Composition and grading need checking against your job specification.

Recycled Roadbase composition varies between loads and can include glass, tile, brick, terracotta and other foreign matter. Inspect the current material and confirm the required grading and specification with our team.

Quarried or recycled crusher dust?

Our quarried crusher-dust option is sold as Metal Dust. Our separate Crusher Dust / Recycled Filling Sand is made from crushed brick, tile and concrete. Use the full product name when ordering so we match the right material.

Metal Dust

Quarried rock fines, graded from dust to approximately 5mm. Listed for suitable synthetic grass, paving, pathway and water-tank base applications; follow the installer or manufacturer’s requirements.

Crusher Dust/ Recycled Filling Sand

Recycled filling sand made from crushed brick, tile and concrete. Listed for compacted bases beneath concrete, paving and paths. Match it to your project requirements.

Can I lay pavers directly on crusher dust?

A compacted base and the bedding immediately under pavers have different roles. For suitable flexible concrete paving, the base is prepared first and the specified bedding sand is levelled above it before laying the pavers.

Our Crusher Dust paving guidance is to compact the material and add a thin layer of Coarse Washed Sand to bed the pavers into. Follow your paving manufacturer’s installation requirements for the base, bedding and jointing materials; they depend on the particular paving system.

Where does decomposed granite fit?

Decomposed Granite Gold is listed for prepared pathways, driveways and entertainment areas where a compacted granite finish is wanted. It serves a different purpose from choosing a base beneath pavers. Base preparation, compaction and any stabiliser requirements depend on the design and use.

Decomposed Granite Gold

For projects calling for a compacted gold granite finish. Inspect the current colour and confirm installation requirements.

Which material should I use for a driveway?

Tell us whether the material will be the exposed surface or a base beneath paving or another finish, and whether the area carries vehicles. The ground conditions, drainage, loading and required specification determine the base design. Confirm the material and depth with your installer before choosing a product simply by name.

How much base material will I need?

Measure the area and confirm each layer’s depth. The geometric volume estimate is:

Area (m²) × depth (mm) ÷ 1,000 = volume (m³)

Ask our team to confirm the order quantity and selling unit, allowing for the preparation and compaction your project needs. This calculation does not convert volume into tonnes or provide a compaction allowance.

For general concrete-paving guidance, see Adbri Masonry’s paver information. Follow the installation guidance for your chosen paving system. Product compositions and listed uses follow Shantana’s current product information.