Pea Gravel Patio Pros and Cons

A pea gravel patio can be easy, affordable, and beautiful. Pea gravel patio pros and cons and tips to DIY this project in your yard.

Are you considering installing a pea gravel patio in your yard? Today I’m sharing pea gravel patio pros and cons, as well as the steps for DIYing this project. A few years back we created a pea gravel patio with a fire pit area, and we absolutely loved the aesthetic of the pea gravel. It fit in a small area where two sidewalks converged into one, and was a cozy little spot to spend time in.

A few weeks back I shared an article all about the cabin/garage that we are building on our lake property. As I mentioned in the article, I’ve been managing the build and working with the contractors who are doing the various tasks. Drywall is on the go, and we should be in working on the finishing aspects of the project within the next couple of weeks. Now that we’ve made most of the decisions regarding the actual building, we’ve started to think ahead to the landscape side of things. As such, I’ve decided to start an Exterior Series where I share about all the things we are considering and working on for the landscaping and exterior design of the cabin build. Read more about this project here. 

As you probably know, building is an expensive process, and we’ve made various compromises along the way to stay on budget. One of the things we are considering is delaying installing a concrete patio in front of the building and creating a pea gravel patio area instead. This would also allow us to be flexible going forward, when it comes time to build the house, with where exactly we want the concrete to extend to. When deciding, it’s important to consider all the pea gravel patio pros and cons before going ahead with your project.

Is a pea gravel patio a good idea?

Gravel patios have several advantages over concrete, as well as a few cons. The benefits are that a gravel patio is easier to install than concrete, much less expensive, and versatile. You are less committed to it than you are once you’ve installed a large concrete pad. They’re also a much easier DIY project than concrete, which is another way to keep the cost down. Installed properly, they can be low-maintenance and prevent (or minimize) weed growth, as well as promote more even water drainage in your yard.

What’s the downside of a gravel patio?

If not installed properly, a gravel patio can become a magnet for weed growth. It’s important to ensure that you have a proper week barrier along the whole bottom and edges of your patio area before laying the gravel. You should also consider bordering the gravel with something that makes a clean edge between the gravel and the garden or lawn, such a small patio stones.

Gravel, especially pea gravel, can tend to scatter easily and may need to be raked occasionally to maintain a relatively level surface. Furniture can also tend to sink down into gravel, especially pea gravel as it does not create as firm a surface as crushed gravel does. Lastly, a gravel patio is not as easy to keep clean by sweeping etc. as concrete is. You can often remove most debris with a leaf blower. Make sure it’s set low enough so as to not actually blow the gravel away as well!

What’s the difference between a regular gravel patio and a pea gravel patio?

When discussing gravel patios most people tend to think of a pea gravel patio, but it is not the only option available. Pea gravel is the most popular and trendy choice for patios because of its aesthetic. It seems to have a great deal of character when compared to rough cut gravel. Pea gravel patios are also more popular because it’s smoother and generally more pleasant to walk on. It makes a lovely crunchy sound underfoot, and usually has an attractive variety of colours within it rather than the monochromatic look of many types of gravel. Pea gravel can be more expensive depending upon the availability of it in your area.

What do you put under the gravel?

As I mentioned, it’s super important to use thick, good quality landscape fabric underneath and along the edges of a gravel patio so that you prevent the growth of weeds. Alternatively, you could consider using thick plastic or poly, but landscape fabric is generally the preferable product to use under gravel as it allows for much better drainage than plastic does. You certainly don’t want water pooling in your gravel patio.

It is also a good idea to put a couple of layers of sand over top of the landscape fabric and under the gravel layer. This provides more cushioning, as well as prevents the gravel from piercing the landscape fabric and allowing weeds to penetrate. After you’ve spread a couple of inches of sand with a rake, you can finish it off with a couple of inches of gravel on top.

Tips for this DIY Project:

1. Layout your area and dig down to remove about 4 inches of soil or lawn.
2. Lay down a good quality landscape fabric.
3. Edge the area with small concrete paving stones or blocks.
4. Lay a base for the gravel using a 2-inch depth of sand, raked smooth.
5. Install 2 inches of gravel and rake until flat.
6. If using regular gravel, you could compact it with a compactor to make the patio quite solid and firm. Pea gravel cannot be compacted.

Jen, over at City Farmhouse, has a stunning pea gravel patio in her yard and shared a fabulous article on How to Create a DIY Pea Gravel Patio the Easy Way. It’s well worth a read if you are considering installing one. I also love the pretty colour of the gravel she sourced.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas and tips! If we do install a one on our property, I’ll be sure to share pictures and an article about the whole process.