How To Make A Diy Gravel Patio
Compared to stones, interlocking bricks or a wooden deck, a gravel patio requires less effort when it comes to installation. It can be an easy Do It Yourself project since it does not require special skills or any technical knowledge.
Materials:
- Pea sized Gravel
- Landscape Fabric
- Crushed stone
- Edging material
- Weed block rolls
- Rake
- Wheel barrow
A bright and inviting place for relaxation, this pea gravel patio offers a full view of the surrounding garden. The colorful printed pattern of the furniture and the accents pillows instantly brightens the space.
Steps on creating a DIY gravel patio for your home:
Plan out the size and shape of your patio.;When it comes to the design and shape, you can choose anything which fits your sense of style. This phase offers freedom to exercise your creativity and gives you flexibility in forming the perfect concept for your patio. Size, on the other hand, will greatly depend on the existing conditions of your backyard and other factors.
The amount of space you need for your gravel patio will greatly depend on the purpose you intend to use it for. Determine the activities you will be doing here, the number of users in the area and how you want to furnish it.Small spaces are appropriate for bistro style patio set up which contains at least 2 chairs and a table.
Prepare the area.;Clean the area by removing weeds and spraying with grass killer if needed. Remove obstructions or debris such as roots, sticks, rocks, etc.
Installing A Pea Stone Patio
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HEY FRIENDS!! How was your weekend? Hope you enjoyed it!
Last week I mentioned that;my fire pit build is finally done. We still need to get some furniture for this space and were also going to be landscaping around the perimeter of the patio, which will bring so much to all this hardscape, I cant wait!!! In the meantime, were all happy to be at the point in this project where we can use the firepit and enjoy our backyard this summer. Its been tons of fun already.
Ill take you on a tour of the whole space in the near future, but today I wanted to talk about the pea stone since I know many of you also like the look but wonder if its a good material to use in real life. Heres my take on it.
First up, what the heck IS pea stone?; Pea stone is under the umbrella of gravel and gets its name because the stones are small and, shocker, pea-like in size. At least around here in New England, pea stone is generally harvested from rivers where the rushing waters have worn away the hard edges so the stones are rounded, making them comfortable to walk on on bare feet.
Its hard to show the texture and feel of it with a picture, but the pea stone has no sharp edges
while the crushed stone does.
We actually have a large gravel parking area next to our;driveway, and trust me, when the car windows are down, it starts pouring out and you go running out in your bare feet to put the windows up, the gravel is a killer on the tootsies!!!
Pea Gravel Patio Cost
The material cost of pea gravel usually varies depending on the size of the project. For small projects, pea gravel usually costs around $300 to $400 for a 200 square foot coverage. Since small projects have small material requirements, pea gravel can be sourced from local home improvement stores. Purchase gravel in bags of 0.5 cubic feet at approximately $4 to $6 per bag for the plain stones and $8 for the colored variant. However, this cost still varies depending on the location.
For larger projects, pea gravel must be purchased from a landscaper or a gravel and stone supplier at tons or cubic yards. ;Plain pea gravel costs around $30 to $35 per cubic yard or $40 to $45 per ton. If you prefer the colored variety, consider an additional amount of $20 to $50 to your cost. Buying in bulk can save you more because the price can go as low as $15 to $20 per ton for a minimum quantity of 10 tons. You can avail of the wholesale from gravel distributors if you have this amount of material requirement.
In terms of installation , a pea gravel patio can cost around $5 per square foot, including the base rock. The bigger the project is, the more expenses you would incur.
Some additional factors which affect the cost of a pea gravel patio are:
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Install The Geocell + Why We Used It
Why we usedGeocell
After researching the best way to do a paver patio with spaces between the pavers, I found that people had various ways of doing it.
Some people just stuck it straight on the dirt, others just laid it on gravel- but I didnt really see anyone use paver sand or paver base system. Upon researching, I came across geocell, which is basically a stabilizing system for dirt, grass, gravelwhatever. Plus it provides superior drainage for steep slopes. What do I mean by a stabilizer?
You know when you walk on gravel in a pair of heels and completely sink making it look like youve never put on a pair of heels in your life?! This product compacts the gravel so you can walk on it and even drive on it!
Geocell is typically used for driveways, walkways, and even in commercial uses like steep slopes on the sides of the highway.; And since I was debating between gravel or grass in between the pavers at the time, this seemed like the best idea!
Our plan was to use this geocell as a layer to lay our pavers on and then fill the rest with gravel or grass.
In hindsight, I dont think we needed it, however it gave us a sturdy base to work off of and is perfect for how much rain we get. Not to mention a car can drive on it now! Were looking forward to re-doing our driveway with this stuff next.
As for installing the geocell, it was super simple and quick.
Finally something easy!
But in reality this was a blessing in disguise. Let me explain
Pea Gravel Epoxy Patio
Pea gravel epoxy patio, as the name suggests, is composed of 2 materials : pea gravel and epoxy. Epoxy acts a binding agent to keep the stones smooth and leveled for the patio. When these two materials are mixed, it creates a durable flooring material which can cater to high traffic areas.
This type of patio is also quick and easy to do. Installing a pea gravel epoxy patio is basically just mixing gravel with epoxy and spreading it.
Set up as a fancy outdoor living room, this pea grave patio evokes a rustic yet old world feel. The area rug adds flair to the whole look of the space.
This is an example of a minimalist backyard design with a crushed gravel patio with a fire pit. The plain concrete finish of the raised planter box and natural wood for the fence provides a unique beauty in the unfinished overall look of this patio.
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It Is Budget Friendly
Our patio isnt huge, but had we chosen to install a deck or even purchase stone pavers, we would have spent a lot more money. Pea gravel is an affordable option if you are wanting a lot of bang for your buck!
For our size patio we spent about $150 which gave us roughly 5 yards of gravel. We got our pea gravel from a local quarry.
You Can Build A Diy Concrete Patio Step By Step
Its easy to pour and build a backyard patio made of concrete in this How To article. On a small scale, concrete is fairly easy to work with, but installing an entire patio can be a challenge. It is possible to build an attractive concrete patio yourself, but careful planning and preparation is necessary. Be sure to place all the concrete at once; a big patio can be broken down into smaller manageable sections using 2×4s.
Once concrete is in place, youre stuck with it forever; replacement is costly and difficult. Planning is essential for a perfect DIY conrete patio.
Build and install forms, making sure theyre level and properly graded for drainage. To prevent rain puddles from forming, design a 2% slope . Place and level a 4-6 bed of gravel; you need a gravel base in areas of poor drainage or freezing temperatures. Be sure to compact the gravel base and rent a compacting machine if necessary.
Check gravel thickness with a homemade template that extends down from the tops of the forms 4 of the finished patio; when it just touches the top of the gravel, the base is thick enough. A taller slab will be stronger- we recommend 4 thick. Let the gravel extend under the edges of the forms.
If the patio will abut an existing concrete patio or slab, install isolation-joint strips. Attach the strips flush with the top of an existing slab using hardened concrete nails or construction adhesive.
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Pea Gravel Patios Are Beautiful
Most of us are most familiar with the traditional look of a paved patio, pea gravel offers a completely different element of beauty to your property. The smooth rounded texture of pea gravel is appealing and the variety of shades and colors makes it possible for the stone to look great in any setting. A longtime favorite in the Europe, pea gravel has been gaining traction here in the States gradually, as homeowners begin to recognize its benefits for use in patios
Kill Two Birds With One Stone
One way to save money is to combine projects and hire the same contractor to do them both. While you are planning to build a patio why not consider;paving your driveway;at the same time? The same contractor you hire to pour your patio might also be able to construct a roof or partially enclose an area for an outside room effect.
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Want To Learn How To Make A Gravel Patio In Your Own Yard
Once you know where you want to place the;gravel patio, make sure the ground is level and free of any large stones.;Then, roll the felt out and cut to fit the space. Make sure seams are overlapped by at least 12 to prevent weeds from peeking through the gap between the fabric.
Tack down the felt with stakes, found in the garden section of most home improvement shops.;Edge the patio;area with bricks to keep the gravel from spilling into grass or other adjacent areas.
Start filling the area with gravel by starting in the middle and spreading the gravel with a rake. Make sure the gravel is at least 2 deep in all areas.;This side yard patio area took 2 scoops of gravel from a backhoe.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own gravel patio:
Add A Weed Resistant Membrane To Your Gravel Patio Base
Once the Type 1 MOT is prepared and compacted, it is time to add a layer ofWeed Prevention Membrane. Cut the sheet to your desired shape and place it on top of your compacted MOT Type 1.
Adding a layer of weed resistant membrane to your gravel patio base is highly recommended as this will ensure the gravel does not mix with the crushed limestone or soil beneath, and it will prevent weeds from protruding through the finished gravelled patio surface. This will also improve drainage.
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How To Make A Pea Gravel Patio In A Weekend
;- Last updated: May 21, 2021
This DIY pea gravel patio is cheap and easy to make yourself! I’ll show you how to make a gravel patio in just a few days for the perfect backyard hangout!
Looking for an easy DIY patio that doesn’t cost a fortune? A pea gravel patio is just what you need! Instead of spending days leveling the ground and laying pavers, you could be relaxing on your new gravel patio in no time! Need more inspiration? Check out these amazing pea gravel patio ideas!
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please visit my disclosures page for more information.
When I first started thinking about how to transform this neglected corner for my backyard makeover, I thought through several different patio ideas. Each has their pros and cons, so I’ll start with a quick comparison.
Three: Lay Landscape Fabric
Next up, I took some landscape fabric and laid it out across the entire patio area. This isnt a totally necessary step , but I figured it was a super quick step that might save me some weeding down the line.
It only takes a few minutes to roll out the fabric and push in the fabric staples. Honestly, this is the easiest step in the entire process and you probably want to do it just so that you can cross something off the list quickly and easily.
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What Is Cheaper Poured Concrete Or Pavers
Concrete pavers are individually placed bricks that can provide a variety of designs and colors. Because of the nature of the labor involved and the cost of materials, a patio made from pavers can cost an estimated $4 $20 per square foot, depending on the size and detail of the design.
Choosing a plain concrete patio will most definitely save you money when compared to pavers. However, as you add upgrades, like stamping and coloring, the prices become more comparable.
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What Are The Best Uses For Pea Gravel
Paths, patios, driveways, and;playgrounds;are a few candidates.;Pea gravel is;often overlooked as mulch material around;containers or garden plants: It suppresses weed growth, retains moisture, and doesnt decompose like organic mulch.
Because of its tendency to travel,;pea gravel;must be contained by some type of edging material, such as brick, stones, Bender Board, or metal edging . I found it worked well for the path in the narrow yard beside my house, providing both excellent drainage and a rodent barrier . We embedded;flagstones;in the gravel as the path;approached the lawn, gradually phasing out the gravelsince gravel and lawn do not mix.
Another consideration is that pea gravel shifts underfoot. As much as we love the crunching sound of footsteps on gravel, it can be hard to drag any wheeled conveyance over pea gravel, and the surface may not be stable enough to support outdoor furniture.
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Building With Stones Pavers Or Bricks
Perhaps youre dreaming of a patio made with stone, pavers or bricks, rather than gravel. These types of patios look complicated, but theyre actually simpler to build than a wooden deck. You can complete such a project in a weekend or two.
Just like a granite patio, a durable, attractive stone or brick patio starts with a strong, level foundation. Youll excavate 4 to 8 inches of soil, depending on the thickness of your building materials and compact the soil with a plate compacter. The next step is to add a 4 inch base of crushed granite or stone. This material is fairly inexpensive and goes a long way. Spread 2 inches of crushed stone over the area and compact it. Follow with a second 2-inch layer of stone and compact it again.
This method, known as dry-lay, is super fast and allows water to drain quickly. It isnt as durable as laying a concrete foundation, but its much simpler. You can also remove stones and bricks if you ever need to make repairs.
For more information on gravel, brick and stone patios, check out these sites:
Start Laying The Pavers
Once lined up one of the corners, we started laying the first paver, hammering it with a mallet and adjusting it until it was nice and flat.
The distance between the pavers in my drawings was 2.5, so in order to make sure we maintained that all the way around, we found a piece of scrap wood that was conveniently 2.5.
If yours ended up being a different size, you could screw a couple of pieces together and make it whatever size you need. This really help to speed up the process!
If we were to do this all over, I think wed opt to use some paver sand, like a normal paver patio. I think it would have just help each paver sit nice and snug a little better. But even all said and done, our patio is really sturdy af, and the pavers dont move a bit.
If youre doing it like we did and just sitting it on top of the geocell and gravel, just beware that you might need to adjust it a bit, so each paver so it sits perfectly flat and flush with the paver next to it.
It just takes some patience.and a beer- definitely treat yourself to a beer!
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Slate And Gravel Patio
Slate is a fine grained greenish, blue, gray rock. It is usually sold for $18 to $30 per square foot. Though it costs up to three times more than other paving materials, slate still remains to be well loved by landscapers and homeowners because it is natural looking, durable and resilient.
Irregularly shaped slate gives patios and garden an interesting and eclectic touch. The combination of slate and gravel works perfectly for Mediterranean inspired homes and gardens by giving them a rustic flair.
Just like majority of gravel patio types, slate and gravel patios use the same dry laying method wherein the slate pieces are arranged in a particular pattern and filled with pea sized gravel in between the joints. During installation, it is ideal to start at a corner while keeping the gaps at a minimum. When the slate is completely set in a foundation base material, tamp each piece with a mallet and pour sand to fill the gaps then add grave as topper.
Two colors of gravel are used to create variation and contrast in this patio design. Bricks function as edging material and border to define space. This brick and gravel patio perfectly blends to the surrounding Mediterranean inspired landscape.