Tried pea gravel first, then switched to decomposed granite for my patio base

When I started building out my 12x16 patio in the backyard last month, I went with pea gravel because it was cheaper and looked nice in the pictures. After about two weeks, every time I walked on it the stones would shift and slide under my feet. Plus my dog kept kicking it all over the yard. I finally got fed up and hauled out about 400 pounds of it, then put down decomposed granite instead. The difference is night and day. It compacts down solid like concrete almost, drains way better, and my chairs don't wobble anymore. Has anyone else dealt with this same switch or found something else that works for a stable patio surface?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenkins.reese9d ago

Learned the exact same lesson myself a few years back when I redid my side patio. Pea gravel looks real pretty in the bag but turns into a mess the second anything heavier than a hose touches it. I stuck with decomposed granite too and its been solid ever since, just top it off every couple years and it stays put.

rileyb619d ago

@jenkins.reese nailed it. Pea gravel is basically a scam for anything you gotta walk on. I did the same thing with mine, spent a whole weekend cursing at shifting stones. The decomposed granite with a plate compactor made it rock hard, my lawn chairs stay put and the dogs quit digging at it. Just gotta wet it down good when you tamp it, makes a world of difference.