Commercial River Rock Installation at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA

Have you ever looked out of an airplane window and noticed those massive white fuel storage tanks near an airport?

At Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA, three of these tanks needed more than 25,000 square feet of surrounding containment area covered with river rock.

To put that into perspective, we’re talking about 324 tons of 7/8-inch North Carolina White River Rock, or roughly 30 dump truck loads!

Completed in June 2026, this commercial river rock installation by Coastal Hardscapes involved everything from material procurement and trucking logistics to specialized equipment operations, hand distribution, and final leveling within a military fuel storage facility. Today, we will walk you through the entire process and share the results.

Project Overview: 324 Tons of River Rock Across 25,000 Square Feet

As you can see in the photo above, installing 324 tons of river rock across three oil silos was quite an undertaking. And here’s the kicker:

Every single rock had to be hand-carted in and installed using wheelbarrows. Yes, you read that correctly. Because of fuel storage regulations, we couldn’t use heavy equipment in the storage areas. More on that later.

For now, here is the overall project summary:

Project Detail	Description
Project	FAC 7010 – Fuel Containment Aggregate Installation
Location	Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA
Completion	June 2026
Project Type	Commercial / Industrial Site Work
Material	7/8-inch NC White River Rock
Total Aggregate	Approximately 324 tons
Coverage Area	25,000+ square feet
Contractor	Coastal Hardscapes LLC

While the summary seems simple and straightforward, sourcing the rocks, bringing in the manpower, and coordinating the logistics made this project a real challenge for our team at Coastal Hardscapes!

Why This Commercial Aggregate Installation Required Specialized Planning

Unlike a typical residential hardscaping project, this commercial river rock installation at Hunter Army Airfield required extensive planning, coordination, and specialized equipment to safely distribute 324 tons of river rock across more than 25,000 square feet.

Coordinating Quarry Suppliers and Commercial Material Deliveries

We coordinated with aggregate suppliers and a commercial trucking company to transport approximately 30 truckloads of North Carolina White River Rock using 18-wheelers. Because deliveries entered an active military installation, communication and scheduling were critical to keeping materials on time and the project moving forward.

Meeting Military Base Access and Personnel Requirements

Working on a military base also meant additional planning for our installation crews. Every worker needed to complete the required background checks and receive authorization before entering the job site. This required coordinating labor, scheduling personnel, and ensuring our crews were prepared before installation began.

Protecting the Fuel Containment Liner During Installation

One of the biggest challenges was protecting the containment liner surrounding the fuel tanks. Heavy equipment couldn’t operate directly inside these areas, so we used a skid steer to load a conveyor belt system that transferred rock into the containment area.

From there, our crews manually distributed the aggregate using wheelbarrows, completing approximately 3,000 wheelbarrow loads to place and level the stone without driving heavy machinery over the protective liner.

Our Commercial River Rock Installation Process

When we install a patio or landsacping for a home or small business here in Savannah, planning is extensive, but procuring materials and sourcing personnel come first. For the Hunter Army Airfield hardscape project, we had to factor in materials and installation due to the project’s overall size.

Below, we explain how we accomplished this in under one week.

Step 1 – Material Procurement and Delivery Coordination

After securing personnel, the first major step was procuring 324 tons of white river rock and coordinating among quarry suppliers, trucking providers, and on-site personnel. Coastal Hardscapes found a supplier in North Carolina that could meet the demand of this much river rock and coordinated the hauling of 14 tractor-trailers, each carrying 24 tons, to arrive throughout the course of the week.

Step 2 – Specialized Equipment and Aggregate Transfer

Once the river rock arrived on site, we strategically staged the material along the outer barriers of each fuel storage containment area. Using a combination of skid steers and conveyor belt systems, we transferred the aggregate into areas where heavy equipment was not permitted to operate.

Our team carefully calculated the amount of river rock needed in each section and positioned material piles to minimize unnecessary handling and improve installation efficiency. This coordinated process allowed our skid steer operator to continuously load the conveyor system while crews used wheelbarrows to distribute the rock throughout the containment areas. By carefully managing equipment operations and manual labor, we maintained a steady workflow while protecting the underlying containment liner.

Step 3 – Hand Distribution and Liner-Safe Placement

By far, the most labor-intensive part of this commercial river rock installation was manually distributing approximately 324 tons of aggregate throughout the fuel containment areas. Because the protective liner beneath the rock could not be exposed to heavy equipment, our crews relied entirely on wheelbarrows and hand tools to move and spread the material.

This involved an estimated 3,000 wheelbarrow loads, with crew members transporting rock from strategically placed staging piles to designated installation areas. Each load was carefully dumped, spread, and leveled to achieve consistent coverage while minimizing the risk of damage to the underlying containment liner. Completing this phase required significant manpower, coordination, and on-site supervision to keep the project moving efficiently.

Step 4 – Final Leveling, Inspection, and Site Restoration

Lastly, once final distribution was complete, our team ensured the surface was level and even. From there, cleanup and restoration of all work spaces were the final phase of the project.

Why 7/8-Inch North Carolina White River Rock Was Used

For this commercial aggregate installation at Hunter Army Airfield, the project called for approximately 324 tons of 7/8-inch North Carolina White River Rock. The project required this material, and our crews installed it across more than 25,000 square feet of fuel containment areas.

Material Size, Appearance, and Installation Requirements

North Carolina White River Rock offers a clean, uniform appearance with naturally rounded edges. The specified 7/8-inch size allowed our crews to distribute and level the aggregate by hand while maintaining consistent coverage throughout the installation areas.

Aggregate Placement in Industrial Containment Areas

Aggregate installation within industrial containment facilities requires careful consideration of existing infrastructure, protective liners, and approved project specifications. Unlike residential landscaping, these installations must follow the facility’s specific material and placement requirements. We coordinated the materials, equipment, and labor needed to complete the installation while protecting the existing containment areas.

Commercial and Industrial Hardscaping Capabilities in Savannah, GA

While Coastal Hardscapes is known for residential patios, paver driveways, and outdoor living spaces, our capabilities extend well beyond traditional backyard projects.

The Hunter Army Airfield project demonstrates our ability to manage large-scale commercial aggregate installations involving multiple suppliers, specialized equipment, restricted-access locations, and substantial labor requirements.

We work with commercial property owners, general contractors, facility managers, and property management companies throughout Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, and surrounding coastal Georgia communities.

Our commercial hardscaping services include aggregate installation, paver walkways, commercial patios, retaining walls, drainage improvements, and other outdoor site improvements. Whether a project involves hundreds of tons of material or a custom commercial hardscape installation, our team can coordinate the planning, materials, equipment, and installation from start to finish.

Completed Project Results at Hunter Army Airfield

When all was said and done, we were proud of the final result and our team for completing this massive river rock installation project. The stats totaled:

• Approximately 324 tons of stone distributed
• More than 25,000 square feet covered
• Final aggregate leveling completed
• Work area restored
• Project completed June 2026

Request a Commercial Hardscaping Consultation in Savannah, GA

While we are known to install backyard oases across Savannah, Pooler, and Richmond Hill, we also have the reputation and capability to handle large commercial hardscaping projects.

Whether you need 324 tons of rocks installed or a paver parking lot installed, we can provide facility managers, property managers, general contractors, and commercial property owners with the hardscaping expertise they need! Reach out below to book a consultation or submit a request for a bid on your next commercial hardscaping project.