Are you searching for a versatile, easy-to-maintain, and budget-friendly material for your patio, driveway, or garden? Try pea gravel! These small and smooth stones come in various colors and are a versatile and long-lasting solution for your next outdoor space.
Not only is pea gravel visually pleasing, but it also boasts numerous advantages for whatever project you have planned. Whether you’re looking for a gravel walkway, patio, garden border, or swing set area, the options for pea gravel are endless. With its natural drainage properties and only needing to be raked occasionally to keep the surface smooth and weed-free, it’s easy to maintain.
The benefits of pea gravel don’t end there. Let’s explore the advantages of pea gravel pads further.
What Are The Advantages of Pea Gravel Pads?
Excellent Drainage
The natural gaps between the rounded stones allow water to easily seep through the cracks to the soil below. Its permeability prevents puddling, runoff, and erosion, making it the perfect choice for an area prone to heavy rain or flooding.
Low Maintenance
Due to its natural drainage, pea gravel is an easy material to maintain. Unlike grass, it doesn’t require mowing or fertilization, and unlike mulch, it doesn’t need to be sealed or reapplied. All you need to do to maintain pea gravel is rake occasionally to keep the gravel smooth and weed-free.
Natural Weed Control
With the inclusion of weed barrier fabric, pea gravel can suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and preventing their seeds from taking root. This cuts down on the money and effort spent on herbicides and weeding, making upkeep easier.
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Where We Build Gravel Pads
We build pea gravel pads throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for an affordable gravel pad in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, or West Virginia! If you’re not sure if we serve your area, visit our service areas page for more information.
FAQs
Pea gravel is not typically suitable for supporting heavy structures alone. However, it can be part of a foundation system for larger structures. For example, it can be placed on top of a crushed stone or gravel base layer.
You can install pea gravel on a slope; however, to ensure stability, several factors must be considered. These include ensuring the area is level during excavation, retaining walls or edging to hold it in place, and selecting the right base material.
While you can pea gravel on dirt, we don’t recommend it as it isn’t good for long-term stability and performance.
No, you don’t need to use a weed barrier underneath your pea gravel pad. However, we highly recommend one if you want to lessen the maintenance required for your pea gravel. A weed barrier will naturally weed for you, preventing the upkeep required and saving you time and effort.
The depth of your pea gravel pad depends on what you’re using it for and how much weight it needs to support. If you’re constructing a gravel patio or walkway, typically a depth of 2 to 4 inches works. For larger projects like a driveway or parking pad, a depth of 4 to 6 inches or possibly more may be better suited to ensure stability.
If you include a weed barrier, maintaining pea gravel pads is as simple as raking occasionally to keep the area smooth and prevent weeds from springing up. If not, it may also include occasional weeding.
To harden a pea gravel patio, you’ll need a binding agent or stabilizer, rake, shovel, and water if required by the binder. Once the area has been excavated and the pea gravel has been spread to where you want it, you can add the binding agent all over the patio. After giving it time to cure, compact it with a plate compacter.
You can choose any material to put down as a base layer under your gravel. Materials like geotextile fabric prevent weed growth and promote drainage while crushed stone or rock provides additional stability and aids in weight distribution. Whatever material you choose, make sure it addresses your concerns about your pea gravel pad.