Crushed stone patio?


  #1  
Old 05-23-16, 05:44 AM
C
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,503
Received 350 Upvotes on 293 Posts
Crushed stone patio?

I have a fire pit that is currently surrounded by grass. My plan is to take up the sod and replace it with a compacted gravel or crushed stone of some sort. We do not want a paver or field stone look.

Any recommendations for a material that can be compacted and fairly stable over New England winters. I have a small area around the firepit with crushed marble over paver base and it seems stable but it is not the look we want. Right now we are thinking crushed granite.
 
  #2  
Old 05-23-16, 07:24 AM
chandler's Avatar
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 36,607
Upvotes: 0
Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts
Following the grass removal, I would definitely start with Typar to keep weeds and grass to a minimum, then basically any stone you would feel comfortable walking on. Crushed granite is stable and won't need compacting, but has sharp edges sometimes. I have pea gravel as a walkway from our house to the back driveway and it has stood the test of time and is easy on the feet.
 
  #3  
Old 05-23-16, 07:48 AM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,592
Received 2,144 Upvotes on 1,920 Posts
I personally don't like pea gravel as it never compacts as the round stones just roll past each other. A fine crushed stone can be compacted to be quite firm and smooth. In my area a good product is called stone dust and it contains stones/flakes from 1/4" down to dust.
 
  #4  
Old 05-23-16, 08:22 AM
chandler's Avatar
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 36,607
Upvotes: 0
Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts
I didn't know it existed far from granite quarries or I would have suggested it. We lived near Elberton, GA for a while and it was a common (really cheap) by product. We carried our own feed bags and scooped up as much as we wanted for a few dollars. If we needed more, they would scoop it for us a yard at a time for $5. Works really great and compacts well.
 
  #5  
Old 05-23-16, 04:39 PM
C
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,503
Received 350 Upvotes on 293 Posts
We've decided to go with decomposed granite although I can't figure out how crushed stone can decompose. I had never heard of the stuff. The landscaper brought by a sample and it's basically a stone dust product. He will install it with a plate compactor.

Chandler - I think the term pea stone or gravel may be different in different areas.
What we get for pea stone is not a good material for walkways or patios. It never compacts. I have a 100' walkway made from field stones set in pea stone. The stuff was a real PITA. It just never stabilized. I ended up adding sand and paver base to try to get it to set up. If I wasn't so lazy I would tear it up and start over.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: