Nothing adds class to your backyard’s aesthetics better than a well-done patio. Stone or pea gravel patios add a modern yet almost beachy vibe to the garden or lawn if done right. Moreover, they can go with absolutely anything in your garden atmosphere. Firepits? Fairy lights? Garden table? Lawn sofa? You name it.
The cost of the essentials landscape supplies you’ll need to build a pea gravel patio won’t break the bank. And the patio will not need much maintenance either, which means more money saved in the long-run.
While the supplies needed to construct a pea gravel patio in Calgary are affordable, the labor cost is quite hefty. If you’re not skilled in construction, you may want to hire a professional to do the job. Construction labor will probably do a good job, but it’ll substantially increase your patio’s cost.
But do you know that with some basic knowledge and tools, you can do it yourself? Constructing a patio is a lot easier than how that seems.
We have created this DIY guide to help you make your own pea gravel patio in two- or three-days tops!
Materials and Equipment
The task at hand, although not that complicated, will require the correct items and gear. Make sure you have all of these with you before starting.
Equipment:
- Shovel
- Drilling machine
- Pick-Axe
- Hammer
- Measuring tape or scale
- Bow rake
- Wheelbarrow
Landscape Supplies:
- Landscape fabric
- Pea gravel
- #4 Rebar pieces
- Landscape fabric staples
- Landscape timbers
Cost: $130 – $250
DIY Steps to Build a Pea Gravel Patio
It’s not hard to find landscape products in Calgary, thanks to Ornamental Stone Calgary for making landscaping delivery possible in and around Calgary. Ornamental Stone can get pea gravel delivered at your doorstep within days.
1. Confirm the location for your patio
Choose the perfect spot beforehand. Make sure the ground is not too steep and the soil not too hard. Remember that the gravel is smooth and round, meaning it tends to shift and overlap.
Make sure you have enough area to construct your patio. Also, avoid areas exposed to water, as water can affect the gravel in negative ways. Also, find out the possible existence of electrical and plumbing lines beneath the surface of the designated area before starting the hardscaping process. The digging procedure could damage these lines easily.
2. Excavation
First, you’ll need to make the frame on which you’ll set the pea gravel. Dig out all of the flora, rocks, and debris till the desired thickness of the pea gravel patio is achieved. You can then level the remaining soil to be raked and leveled. Finish it up by walking over the area repeatedly.
3. Lay down the frame
Time to place the landscaping timbers. In whatever shape you decided, make sure you finish off with each timber overlapped at the ends. In the case of a square patio, you’ll need even pieces of the timbers placed so that the diagonal measurements are equal.
4. Secure it
Drill half-inch holes into the timbers, then secure them with the rebars by using a hammer or a hand sledge.
5. Add the fabric
Now that you are done with the frame, it’s time to add the landscaping fabric to cover the area enclosed by the frame you made earlier. Secure the fabric with pins after they reach out of the frame’s sides by a few inches.
6. Add the pea gravel
Now, its time for adding the gravel. Start by gradually adding the gravel evenly throughout the area in a way that you can further secure the fabric at the ends.
Be careful not to tear the fabric by stepping on it or hitting it with some tools. Keep on gradually adding the gravel in areas where it’s lacking. While adding the gravel, be sure to even out the layers. Once the pea gravel layer is uniform and thick enough to your liking, smooth it out even further with the help of a rake.
Give it a finishing touch with a good wash of the gravel to remove existing residue. Your patio is now ready for use!
Final Thoughts
Building your pea gravel patio in Calgary is a project that you can do yourself. It will require some time, money, and effort; nonetheless, it is easily a one-man job. Use the steps explained in this guide to create a beautiful patio that would not enhance your landscape’s aesthetics but also add more value to your entire home.