Pea gravel is a decorative and useful landscaping material for mulching and making walkways, driveways and even patios. It’s one of many types of gravel and is not to be confused with the angled gravel commonly used for drainage and underground structural construction.
Besides, Is pea gravel expensive?
Pea Gravel Costs
The general range for a cubic yard of plain pea gravel is about $15 to $75, and a ton will cost about $10 to $50. For a colored variety, expect to add an extra $20 to $50 to those prices.
Keeping this in mind, How does pea gravel work? Pea gravel is perfect for everything from walkways and garden borders to patios and driveways. The soft texture of the stones makes it great for footpaths. Pea gravel also suppresses weed growth and doesn’t decompose like organic mulch so it makes for an effective rock mulch.
Will pea gravel wash away?
Even then, it may wash away if you place it in front of downspouts or areas prone to flooding. Although pea gravel can help with weed control, it is only effective if the area below is completely weed-free before the gravel goes down, and it can be difficult to keep leaves and debris out of the gravel.
Will gravel help drainage?
Landscaping gravel also provides much-needed drainage so that water doesn’t collect around the roots. Gravel and stone are easy to spread and easy to maintain.
Is pea gravel cheaper than pavers?
It is cheaper than pavers, easier to lay than flagstone, and you can usually get the job done in just a day. 2. You can walk on it barefoot without experiencing discomfort. Because pea gravel is smaller and usually rounded in shape, it is easier to walk on this product with a variety of footwear.
How much will a ton of pea gravel cover?
Consult with the local supplier to find the density of the pea gravel product. In general, a ton, or 2,000 lbs., will cover 100 square feet at a 2-inch depth.
Is pea gravel hard to maintain?
Maintenance. A pea gravel patio is fairly easy to maintain. To keep its surface evened out, you’ll need to rake the stones back into place occasionally, but the only real challenge is snow removal.
How do I keep pea gravel in place?
The best way to stabilize pea gravel is by using a binding agent such as cement, plaster, polyurethane, or epoxy coatings. If the pea gravel has not yet been installed, begin by laying down cement plaster on the area. Next, using pressurized water, remove loose gravel from the area. Finish by applying pea gravel.
Does pea gravel need a base?
There are a couple of ways to create a pea gravel patio: using bare ground as a base or over a base layer of crushed stone. If you have loose or sandy soil, you’ll need a base layer. If the soil in your area is a hard clay soil, it may support the pea gravel on its own.
How does pea gravel help drainage?
Water moves through gravel a lot faster than it does through the majority of soil and other materials. Since the drainage process is expedited when gravel is used at the base of the water body, puddles and wet areas are able to dry out quickly instead of pooling up on top of soil and other land materials.
How do you get pea gravel to stay in place?
The best way to stabilize pea gravel is by using a binding agent such as cement, plaster, polyurethane, or epoxy coatings. If the pea gravel has not yet been installed, begin by laying down cement plaster on the area. Next, using pressurized water, remove loose gravel from the area. Finish by applying pea gravel.
Is pea gravel permeable?
Pea gravel is small enough to form a solid, level surface for walking and driving, especially when used in conjunction with a stabilizer grid. The space between pieces of gravel is enough room for water and other liquids to drain through as well, making it permeable to a degree.
Is pea gravel good for driveways?
Pea gravel driveways offer many benefits to homeowners, including curb appeal and a relatively low cost of installation. These advantages make it one of the more popular alternatives to asphalt, and it’s also environmentally friendly.
What kind of gravel is good for drainage?
Like crushed stone, pea gravel can also be used for underground projects, such as drainage and pipe bedding. It’s also a good choice when looking for fence post installation aggregate.
What kind of gravel is best for drainage?
For the best drainage, look for coarse washed rock (gravel) that is screened, with a stone size of 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Smaller rock with fine particles could clog the holes of the drain pipe. Pea stone works, but the smooth stones settle together and don’t move as much water as coarse rock.
Why does gravel help with drainage?
Gravel (and other rocks) act as barriers that shun rain and other forms of precipitation away from a building’s foundation. … This helps to melt ice more quickly and move water away from a home’s foundation in a much faster way. Be sure to only use rocks for drainage if your soil slopes away from your home’s foundation.
Is gravel or pavers cheaper?
Pea gravel is cheaper than other hardscaping materials like poured or stamped concrete, pavers and natural flagstones. It takes less time and effort to install the stones with ease. It can take a day or two to have a complete patio in your backyard.
How much does it cost to build a pea gravel patio?
Gravel Patio Cost
For a simple patio idea with natural stone, 200 square feet of pea gravel costs $300 to $400. Area prep and labor can bring that number closer to $1,500 to $2,500. You’ll pay $1-$4 per square foot for the materials or about $5 to $10 per square foot for a complete install, including labor.
Does pea gravel make a good patio?
It’s made up of small, rounded stones about 3/8 of an inch in diameter. This type of gravel has several features that make it great for use as a DIY patio: Pea gravel is easier and more economical to install than other patio materials. … The natural beauty of the stones give your space an attractive, classic look.
How do I calculate how much pea gravel I need?
Measure the length, width and depth in feet of the area to be covered. Multiply the three numbers together. Divide by 27 to get the number of cubic yards of pea gravel needed. For example, if the area is 9 feet square and the gravel is to be a foot deep, multiply 9 by 9 by 1 to get 81.
How many feet does a ton gravel cover?
A ton of gravel will cover approximately 100 square feet, 2 inches deep.
What area does a ton of gravel cover?
Therefore if you wish to apply them at a 50mm depth (the normal depth for a driveway) one tonne will cover 14 square metres. For pedestrian pathways, 35mm is normally sufficient in which case 1 tonne will be sufficient to cover approximately 20 square metres.