You’re staring at a muddy patch of ground where a driveway or a foundation is supposed to be, and suddenly, the specific weight of crushed stone feels like the most important thing in your life. It’s a weird spot to be in. Most people don’t think about aggregate until they absolutely have to. But if you’re working in the Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor area, Geer Sand & Gravel is likely a name that’s popped up on your radar.
They’ve been a fixture in Washtenaw County for decades.
Choosing a gravel supplier isn't just about finding the cheapest pile of rocks. Honestly, it’s about logistics, load-bearing specs, and whether or not the truck can actually fit down your narrow residential street without taking out a mailbox. Geer Sand & Gravel has built a reputation on being the "dirt people" who actually know the difference between 21AA and 22A limestone, which, let's be real, looks identical to the untrained eye but behaves very differently under a heavy truck.
What Geer Sand & Gravel Actually Does for Local Builders
When you look at a massive pit in the ground, it’s easy to think it’s just a hole. It isn't. It's a managed resource. Geer Sand & Gravel operates as both a producer and a distributor, which is a big deal for price stability in a volatile construction market. If you buy from a middleman, you're paying for their gas and their markup. When you go to the source, you’re cutting out a layer of the "tax" on your project.
They handle the basics: screened topsoil, various grades of sand, and a whole catalog of stone. But the nuance is in the application.
Think about drainage. If you use the wrong fill sand for a septic field or a retaining wall, you’re basically building a future swimming pool in your yard where you don't want one. Geer provides materials that meet specific Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) specifications. That’s a fancy way of saying the state has tested these types of materials to ensure they won't crumble or wash away the first time a Michigan winter decides to dump three inches of sleet on your property.
I’ve seen DIYers try to save fifty bucks by getting "dirt" from a random guy on a marketplace app. Don't do that. You end up with invasive weeds, chunks of old asphalt, and zero drainage. Geer’s screened products are processed to remove the junk. It’s cleaner. It’s more predictable.
The Logistics of the "Big Yellow Trucks"
The most stressful part of any landscaping or construction job isn't the shoveling. It's the delivery.
You’ve got a crew standing around at $40 an hour per person, and the truck is stuck in traffic or, worse, the driver refuses to dump where you need it. Geer Sand & Gravel manages a fleet that understands the local geography. They know the backroads of Superior Township and the tight turns in the older Ann Arbor neighborhoods.
There is an art to the dump. A skilled driver can "tailgate" a load, spreading the gravel relatively evenly as they drive forward. This saves you roughly four hours of back-breaking rake work. If you’re ordering from Geer, you need to be clear about your overhead—power lines and low-hanging oak branches are the natural enemies of a raised dump bed.
Why Materials Matter More Than You Think
Let’s talk about 21AA. It’s a crushed concrete or limestone mix that includes "fines"—basically dust. This stuff is the gold standard for a solid base because those fines pack down into a surface that's almost as hard as pavement. If you just throw large river rocks down for a driveway, they’ll just "marbles" away. They roll. They move. You’ll be raking them back into place every single month.
Geer Sand & Gravel stocks these functional mixes because they’re the backbone of Michigan infrastructure.
- Class II Sand: This is your go-to for under-slab work or backfilling. It drains well.
- Pea Gravel: Mostly for looks or under playground equipment. It’s round, so it doesn't pack.
- Mason Sand: Much finer. You use this for pool liners or in mortar mixes.
- Heavy Rip-Rap: These are the big boys. Use these for erosion control if you have a creek on your property that’s eating away at your bank.
The Seasonal Reality of the Aggregate Business
The "gravel season" in Michigan is dictated by the Frost Laws. Every spring, the county puts weight restrictions on the roads to prevent heavy trucks from shattering the pavement while the ground is thawing.
If you’re planning a project in March or April, you might find that Geer Sand & Gravel—or any supplier—can only send half-full trucks. Or they might not be able to get to you at all. It’s not them being difficult; it’s the law of the land. Planning your heavy deliveries for late summer or late fall is usually the smartest move to avoid these headaches.
Pricing and the "Minimum Load" Trap
One thing that catches people off guard is the delivery fee.
Moving twenty tons of stone requires a massive amount of diesel. If you only need three yards of mulch, you might be better off picking it up yourself if you have a sturdy truck. But once you hit the five or six-yard mark, delivery becomes the only sane option. Geer, like most reputable yards, prices by the ton or the yard, and then adds a delivery charge based on your distance from their location on Geer Road.
It’s always cheaper to order one large truck than two small ones. Always. Calculate your volume ($Length \times Width \times Depth$) and then add 10% for compaction. Gravel settles. If you order exactly what the math says, you will run short. Every single time.
Environmental Stewardship in the Pit
There’s a lot of talk about the environmental impact of mining sand and gravel. It’s a valid concern. Open-pit mining changes the landscape. However, the industry has shifted significantly toward reclamation.
Geer Sand & Gravel operates within the regulatory framework of Michigan’s environmental laws. This involves managing runoff so that silt doesn't end up in local watersheds and eventually planning for what the land becomes after the minerals are extracted. Many former gravel pits in Washtenaw County are now beautiful lakes or parks. It’s a lifecycle.
How to Work With Geer Sand & Gravel Like a Pro
If you call them up, don't just say "I need some stones." They’ll have a dozen questions you aren't ready for.
First, know your square footage. Second, know what you’re trying to achieve. Are you trying to stop mud? Are you building a base for a shed? Are you making a decorative walkway?
Each of those requires a different product. If you’re building a shed, you want 4-6 inches of compacted 21AA. If you’re doing a decorative path, you might want a 6A crushed stone or even a natural pea stone.
Also, be honest about your driveway. If it’s a brand-new asphalt driveway, a heavy tandem truck might crack it. If it’s soft ground from a week of rain, that truck might get buried up to its axles. Communication with the dispatcher at Geer is the only way to prevent a $500 tow bill or a ruined driveway.
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Actionable Next Steps for Your Project
Before you pull the trigger on an order, take these steps to ensure you don't waste money or end up with a pile of rocks you can't use.
1. Calculate your actual needs. Use an online aggregate calculator. Remember that 1 cubic yard of gravel generally covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
2. Check for overhead obstructions. Walk your driveway. Look up. If there are wires or branches lower than 15-20 feet, the dump truck cannot fully tilt its bed. You’ll need to find a different dump spot.
3. Prep the site. Don't dump gravel directly onto tall grass or weeds. It won't stop them from growing through. Scalp the grass down to the dirt or, better yet, lay down a heavy-duty geotextile fabric first. This keeps the stone from sinking into the mud over time.
4. Call for a quote early. During the peak of summer, delivery schedules can fill up a week in advance. If you need stone for a Saturday project, don't call on Friday morning. Call on Monday.
5. Ask about "Fines" vs "Clean." If you want the stone to stay put and get hard, ask for "with fines." If you want water to flow through it (like for a French drain), ask for "clean" or "washed" stone. Using the wrong one is the most common mistake DIYers make.
Working with a local staple like Geer Sand & Gravel gives you access to materials that are literally the foundation of the community. Understanding the "why" behind the different types of sand and stone makes the difference between a project that lasts twenty years and one that washes away in the next big Michigan thunderstorm.