If you’re looking for low-cost patio material, you might want to consider pea gravel. There are several advantages to using pea gravel, like being able to walk on it barefoot without discomfort, being able to get creative with it, having a natural weed barrier when you use the right amount, and being able to lay it flat without worrying about flooding problems.
However, there are also some disadvantages, like having to create a border for the patio, needing a solid foundation, it doesn’t work well with furniture, and removing snow can be a hassle. We’ll explain all the pea gravel patio pros and cons in this article.
Pros
It provides excellent results at an affordable price.
Usually, you can cover a whole patio with one ton of pea gravel. Before laying down the stones in the yard, use landscaping fabric to keep weeds at bay. You may also have to compact the dirt.
Once you have the gravel in place, you can enjoy the outdoors. You can usually lay it in a day because it’s less expensive than pavers and easier than flagstone.
The surface is comfortable enough to walk barefoot.
Small, round pea gravel can be easily walked on with various types of footwear. Because there are no sharp edges, you can walk barefoot on it. The material is stable and maintainable, even though it acts like sand.
Pea gravel can be used in creative ways.
Because pea gravel is small, you can design a patio to suit your tastes. Combine it with other stones or gravel-like materials to create an eye-catching landscaping feature. It can stand alone, fill in spaces between paving stones, or serve as a focal point around a bird feeder, statue, or other parts of your backyard.
Pea gravel naturally prevents weed growth.
There’s good news if you want to put pea gravel on your porch without laying down landscaping fabric. A 4-inch thick layer of pea gravel naturally prevents weed growth on your patio. A thicker layer also stays cleaner longer since it won’t become muddy after rain. This will reduce pest problems.
It won’t flood if you lay it flat.
Other landscaping gravels need an incline to prevent rainwater accumulation. The stones of a pea gravel patio allow water to soak into them rather than run over them. You don’t have to change your yard’s slope.
It’s widely available.
If you want to install a pea gravel patio on your property, most retailers sell it. You can buy this product from most hardware stores if your community doesn’t provide landscaping services. You can even buy 5 to 40 pounds on Amazon in order to slowly build the patio.
Over time, the material will compact.
Pea gravel starts compacting and hardening as you place heavy objects on it. As it hardens, you can add oil to increase the process. You can create a solid surface much less expensively than concrete.
Cons
Pea gravel patios require an edge barrier.
The pea gravel you use for landscaping migrates. It can contaminate garden beds, lawns, or homes as people walk across it. Patio edges are the only solution. As a result, you have to add a step in order to access the surface, reducing your savings.
Pea gravel eventually shifts away from its original position.
Patio surfaces made of pea gravel require lots of care. Even a 4-6 inch thick layer will quickly displace large areas. In order to achieve the aesthetics you want, you will need to keep raking. Sometimes, gravel needs to be replaced.
To be useful, your patio needs a solid foundation.
A pea gravel patio still needs a solid foundation. For your patio to be useful, you must prepare the site as you would if it were made of concrete or stone. If the base isn’t created, the surface will quickly become unusable.
Pea gravel patios aren’t suitable for furniture.
Most types of furniture cannot be used on pea gravel surfaces. Weight causes the product to sink down into a firm foundation. In order to build a dining area outside, you’ll need at least six inches of material, as well as a rock base to keep it stable. Without these measures, you risk damaging your patio furniture.
Pea gravel sinks.
After a while, pea gravel sinks into the ground, unlike stones or pavers that break down or deteriorate over time. This reinforces the need to keep replenishing the surface. Generally, The homeowner must add new stones between 24 to 36 months after installing them.
Weeds can still grow in pea gravel.
Next on our list of pea gravel patio pros and cons, we have weeds. Pea gravel prevents weed growth underground but doesn’t eliminate all your patio’s weeds. Seeds can still germinate in rocks that you put in your yard. This can happen even after you install landscaping fabric beneath the gravel.
Pea gravel patios can be a pain to remove snow from.
Maintaining pea gravel patios isn’t difficult if you take proactive measures, like raking back the rocks. Your only real concern is removing snow. You can shovel off the thick snow, then use a leaf blower or salt to remove the snow right above the pea gravel.
Over time, pea gravel polishes and shapes itself.
When using pea gravel with other pavers, flagstone, or slate, the stones will continue to polish and round as you walk over them. If you catch the pebbles just right, you can roll them under your foot like marbles. Pea gravel moves a lot, so think about that if product movement and stability are an issue.
Conclusion
Consider these pea gravel patio pros and cons of pea gravel if you’re looking for an affordable, fast way to upgrade your property. You can transform unused space into something fun and dynamic. As long as you manage the potential adverse outcomes with care and refresh the stones every so often, you’ll find that the visual aesthetic that this product offers is worth every penny. We hope these pea gravel patio pros and cons have helped you make a decision as to whether or not it is right for your patio.