Best Types of Gravel for Patios

For the most natural look, select a tan, gray or light brown gravel. You can also mix gravels for a custom look. Another matter of personal preference is that of shape. Round gravel, such as pea gravel, has the most give and is the most comfortable to walk on.

Is Gravel good for patios?
What type of gravel should I use?
How deep should patio gravel be?
How do you prepare ground for gravel?
What is the cheapest type of gravel?
What is the cheapest gravel for a driveway?
What are the different grades of gravel?
How do you edge a gravel patio?
Do you need landscape fabric under pea gravel?
How deep should a patio crushed stone be?

Is Gravel good for patios?

Gravel Patio Drainage

Pea gravel can help to prevent erosion, because water doesn't run off its surface, but rather soaks right through into the ground. For this reason, a gravel patio doesn't need to be graded on a slight incline, as is the case with other materials, such as patio pavers.

What type of gravel should I use?

Based on appearance, longevity, and purpose, we identified Jersey Shore gravel and pea gravel as the best types of gravel for driveways. Marble chips, quarry process, and river rock are some of the best rocks for driveways, and crushed stone #3 and item #4 as the best stones for driveways.

How deep should patio gravel be?

When excavating, keep in mind that your gravel should be at least 4 inches deep from the bottom of the enclosure. Use square shovels and a level to ensure an even surface and install drainage pipes, if necessary. The next step in making a gravel patio is installing a gravel base.

How do you prepare ground for gravel?

Ground preparation

Clear the space of all vegetation. ...
Remove weeds and carefully take out plants you want to keep and introduce back into your gravel garden.
Dig over the ground once or twice to enhance the condition of the top layer of soil.
Rake well to even out the surface and break down any lumps and bumps.

What is the cheapest type of gravel?

Gravel Cost Per Yard. Bulk gravel costs $15 to $75 per yard on average. Crushed concrete, sand and gravel mix, and crushed shells are the cheapest stones at $15 per yard. Crusher run, pea gravel, steel slag, and river rock typically cost $50 per yard or more.

What is the cheapest gravel for a driveway?

Crush and run is one of the cheapest materials that can be used in a gravel driveway at about $0.40 per square foot. Cost per cubic yard is about $20 and per ton about $28.

What are the different grades of gravel?

Crushed Stone Grades

Crushed stone #5 – Sizes are from 1″ down to fine particles. ...
Crushed stone #67 – Sizes from 3/4″ down to fine particles. ...
Crushed stone #1 – Sizes are from 2″ to 4″. ...
Crushed stone #8 – Sizes from 3/8″ to 1/2″. ...
Crushed stone #3 -Sizes from 1/2″ to 2″. ...
Crushed stone #10 (also called stone dust) – Screenings or dust.

How do you edge a gravel patio?

Unlike concrete and paver stones, gravel moves and shifts frequently, so it needs an edging along the border to keep it in place.

Place garden hoses on the ground to mark the edges of your gravel path.
Dig a 4-inch deep trench between the garden hoses with a square spade.

Do you need landscape fabric under pea gravel?

Depending on the persistence of the weeds in your area, you may wish to add a barrier of landscape cloth between the base rock and pea gravel. However, landscape cloth can have its own issues, deteriorating or becoming visible over time.

How deep should a patio crushed stone be?

A rule of thumb for many crushed stone projects is to have a minimum depth of 2 to 4 inches, although some projects require more. For example, a patio that's 12-foot square, with a 2-inch base of crushed stone, will need 0.89 cubic yards.