Gravel...

[varova87]

What size gravel is good for a small parking lot? #57 sound right, or do I need to go bigger?

I'm redesigning our "recreation" area at the farm. I'm going to do a 10-car parking lot beside our pavilion, and a gravel walkway to the fire pit area.

I'm considering pea gravel for the walkway and fire pit area. I plan to line the walkway (80 feet from the pavilion) with tiki torches. The fire pit area currently seats about 160, and has a small wood stage built behind it for local bands, speakers, etc.

Those of you who know what you're talking about, what are your recommendations for gravel size, and does anyone in VA have a connection where we can get a good deal?

 

[Ballah06]

A buddy of mine used to have a stamped concrete/pool company and they did a lot of yard work. The best place price wise was off i wanna say rt 2 from Fredericksburg toward King George that he got his stuff from.
I m pretty sure i got river rock #57 in front of the house (in the area around the bushes). It looks good IMO. About a year or two ago he paid 14 bucks a yard i think, vs. something like 50 bucks at a "rock" place just up the road.

Another thing that works great on that rock is if you spray it with the same sealer as used for sealing the stamped concrete. It stays shiny, no matter the weather and gets rid of the stony dusty look. Probably something thats good around a smaller area that is not walked on much.

 

[d2dave]

57 to drive/park on. i recommed not doing pea gravel for the walkway, unless you put a base layer of chirt down first. pack the chirt down well. then an inch of pea gravel on top. if you just use pea gravel, you will mire down just trying to walk.a lot of people use pea gravel incorrectly. my parents actually have a pea gravel driveway.

 

[apg]

Roger that.... Toughest 'surface' I have ever tried to drive cross was the "pebble quicksands" on the beach just north of Duck, NC. (This was decades ago before any development in the area.) Entire beach was composed of polished, pea-sized gravel that was akin to trying to drive through ball bearings.

If you do use gravel on your path - or parking area - put down landscape fabric first. A thin layer of #57 gravel has a tendency to 'disappear' into the soil unless it has a layer of crusher run or fabric underneath it.

 

[D Chapman]

Just ask for crush-and-run.

 

[Ballah06]

Roger that.... Toughest 'surface' I have ever tried to drive cross was the "pebble quicksands" on the beach just north of Duck, NC. (This was decades ago before any development in the area.) Entire beach was composed of polished, pea-sized gravel that was akin to trying to drive through ball bearings.

If you do use gravel on your path - or parking area - put down landscape fabric first. A thin layer of #57 gravel has a tendency to 'disappear' into the soil unless it has a layer of crusher run or fabric underneath it.

On the landscape fabric, i d probably throw in some plastic underneath it. I got the 15-30 year anti weed one and still have stuff coming through despite the rocks on top of it.

 

[garrett]

The purpose of the landscape fabric it to keep the surface pervious. You want water to drain through it. Plastic won't allow this.

 

[bri]

On the landscape fabric, i d probably throw in some plastic underneath it. I got the 15-30 year anti weed one and still have stuff coming through despite the rocks on top of it.

Use a grass/weed killer for a week or two before te fabric. If it is still warm where you are put down some black plastic to help the kill (warm helps with the kill and so does the plastic).

Then when it is dead remove plastic and place the heaviest weed barrier you can buy.

 

[Ballah06]

The purpose of the landscape fabric it to keep the surface pervious. You want water to drain through it. Plastic won't allow this.

True, unless you poke a few holes here and there. Probably would not work for a large area, in my case its just around the bushes by the house, so there is a space for water run off.

 

[varova87]

Just ask for crush-and-run.

I had been reading about this stuff on the internet, but still wasn't sure what it was or the purpose.

I'll start using the kabota next week to do some leveling work for the parking lot. I'll kill the grass, lay down some fabric, an inch or two of crush and run, then 3-4 inches of #57.

For the walkway... dig it out, lay the fabric, an inch or two of crush and run, and some pea gravel.

For the fire pit, the same as the walkway.

Don't ask why I'm so set on pea gravel, because I have no idea.

 

[Ballah06]

Crush and run, among i m sure other applications is put under the concrete, before it is poured. At least that is what i have seen done first hand.