FAQ’s

Answers to your most common questions about the range of services and materials that RTEX Logisitcs offers.

  • A: Sub-Base Materials are the deepest, load-bearing foundation layer, typically made of large, coarse aggregate or recycled materials to help with drainage.

  • A: Base Materials are a highly compactable blend of smaller aggregates placed directly beneath the top surface.

  • A: The Surface Layer is fine and coarse aggregates mixed with a liquid binding agent (like bitumen for asphalt or Portland cement for concrete) to create a smooth, durable driving surface.

  • A: Graded Aggregates are carefully blended mixtures of different-sized stones, crushed rock, and fine dust used as foundational road layers.

    Graded aggregates are combined according to specific size distributions to maximize strength and stability. By mixing larger stones with progressively smaller particles and "fines" (like stone dust), the smaller pieces fill the air voids between the larger rocks, allowing the mixture to lock together tightly when compacted.

  • A: Dense-Graded (Well-Graded) aggregate is the most common aggregate used for road bases (such as 3/4-inch minus rock). It contains a balanced mix of coarse and fine particles. When compacted, it creates a nearly solid, load-bearing layer that resists heavy traffic.

  • A: Open-Graded aggregate contains mostly one-size particles with little to no "fines". This creates porous, empty spaces between the stones that allow water to flow freely, making it ideal for drainage layers beneath the road.

  • A: Aggregates are graded or measured by filtering aggregate samples through standard test sieves to guarantee they meet Department of Transportation (DOT) or Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies guidelines.

  • A: Oversized Rocks, are large, angular, non-sievable stones that exceed the maximum size specifications for standard graded bases. They generally range from 4 inches to more than 12 inches in diameter.
    Oversized Rocks are typically used for erosion control or heavy-duty structural reinforcement beneath the road.

  • A: Erosion Control & Riprap are large boulders and rocks used in heavy-duty applications to protect shorelines, riverbanks, and steep road embankments against water erosion.

  • A: Stabilized Construction Entrances: use rocks ranging from 3 to 6 inches to build temporary, stabilized construction entrances, which help shake mud and debris off truck tires before they exit the job site onto public roads.

  • A: Sand is a fine particulate material used to fill voids in concrete and asphalt.

  • A: Gravel is smooth, naturally rounded rocks formed by weathering and erosion.

  • A: Caliche is a hardened deposit of calcium carbonate (and sometimes other minerals) that forms in the soil of arid and semi-arid regions like Texas.

  • A: Recycled Concrete / Crushed Concrete is from demolished structures repurposed for base material.

  • A: Slag is the byproduct that separates out from the metal during smelting or refining processes — essentially the "waste" or non-metallic material left over when ore is melted down to extract metal.

  • A: Crushed Stone is mined rock that is mechanically crushed to create angled, jagged edges that lock together for a strong road base.