3/8'' minus limestone screenings vs 1/4'' or 1/2'' decomposed granite

[sai36]

We have been in the artificial turf install business, where different companies use different base material. People who use limestone screenings talk bad about decomposed granite and vice versa. I would like to know the facts and test results for why one is better than other

Which material has better strength? Which material has less erosion and is there any test to find this out? Which material gets soft quickly under huge rain, is there a technical term for this phenomenon and test?

Appreciate all your input and I am happy to see the test results if anyone can share them.

 

[EireChch]

No base material should be getting soft under rain if its properly installed.

I think your answer would depend on how decomposed the granite is. I have used "rotten rock", which is essentially a weathered rock which breaks down when compacted. We installed maybe 1.5m of rotten rock and the last meter of good quality base material. This was for a private car park and we used it to save the client money. For artificial turf i would think that both limestone gravel and decomposed granite would be more than enough? (how bad is the granite?, can it be broken by hand easy?, how many blows of a geological hammer does it take to break it?)

A Los Angeles Abrasion test is likely going to give you the best data to make a comparison. Get 2 samples from each supplied and run the tests at your local lab. Not that expensive. I think you will be lucky if anywhere here has tests results.