Lime Screening (choker sand)

Lime screening is a finely graded, compactable aggregate produced by crushing limestone into a blend of stone dust and small limestone particles. Also known as limestone screenings, choker sand, or fine limestone aggregate, it typically ranges from dust up to approximately 0.25 inches, although exact gradation may vary by quarry and regional specification.

Its combination of fine particles and small limestone chips allows the material to spread evenly, fill shallow voids, and create precise elevation adjustments. When properly placed, lightly moisture-conditioned, and mechanically compacted, lime screening forms a smooth, firm surface with a clean limestone appearance.

The fines help fill the spaces between the larger particles during compaction, allowing the material to lock together more tightly than clean, open-graded stone. This dense structure makes lime screening especially useful for leveling, finishing, and surface-preparation applications where accurate grading and a uniform profile are important.

Lime screening is commonly installed as a thin leveling or finishing layer over a properly prepared aggregate base. The underlying crusher run or dense-grade stone provides the primary structural support, while the screening layer creates a smoother surface for pavers, patio stone, retaining wall blocks, walkways, and other hardscape materials.

Its fine texture makes the material easy to rake and shape around edging, walls, steps, patios, and landscape features. It can also be used to tighten the surface of larger aggregate layers by filling small spaces and improving the overall finished appearance.

For compacted pathways and low-speed access areas, lime screening can create a firm, natural-looking surface when installed at the appropriate depth and properly contained. It is also useful for resurfacing worn aggregate areas and correcting minor variations in grade.

Because lime screening contains stone dust and fines, it is intended primarily for compacted applications rather than projects that require open drainage. For French drains, foundation drainage, or other free-draining installations, clean washed stone is generally the better choice.

Durable, workable, and cost-effective, lime screening is widely used in residential landscaping, commercial hardscaping, construction, and property improvement projects that require dependable compaction, smooth grading, and a refined limestone finish.

Common Applications of Lime Screening

• Leveling layer beneath pavers and patios
• Walkways and compacted pathway surfaces
• Driveway topping and resurfacing
• Filling gaps between larger base stone
• Surface smoothing over compacted aggregate
• Base preparation beneath retaining wall blocks
• Fine grading around hardscape features