"I've always been a bit skeptical about landscape fabric myself... seems great at first, but after a few years it tends to clog up and cause more drainage headaches than it solves."
Yeah, same here. When I put in my fire pit area, I skipped the landscape fabric entirely after seeing how it performed in my garden beds—ended up with puddles every time it rained. Instead, I went for a good gravel base with proper grading underneath. Haven't had any soggy spots yet, even after heavy storms. Did you use gravel or sand beneath yours?
Instead, I went for a good gravel base with proper grading underneath. Haven't had any soggy spots yet, even after heavy storms.
I get the hesitation about landscape fabric, but honestly, I've had decent luck with it under my fire pit area. Maybe it's the type or brand, but mine hasn't clogged yet... going on four years now. Could be worth another shot if drainage is done right underneath.
I've seen landscape fabric work well too, but honestly, proper grading and gravel usually do the trick without extra layers.
"Haven't had any soggy spots yet, even after heavy storms."
Did you compact the gravel base first or just spread it out evenly? Curious how much difference that makes...
I skipped compacting once to save time—big mistake. Here's what I've noticed from experience:
- Compacting definitely helps keep things level long-term, especially after rain.
- Without compacting, my gravel shifted around after a few storms, leaving some uneven spots.
- If you're budget-conscious like me, renting a compactor for half a day isn't too pricey and makes a noticeable difference.
"Haven't had any soggy spots yet, even after heavy storms."
Lucky you...my first pit turned into a mini pond after skipping compaction. Lesson learned the soggy way.
Totally agree, compacting is a must if you want your fire pit to stay looking good. I skipped it on my first DIY build thinking, "how much difference could it really make?" Well, after one rainy season, my once elegant seating area looked like a poorly maintained hiking trail—uneven and messy. If you're investing in nice materials or aiming for that luxury backyard feel, compacting isn't just recommended, it's essential. I learned the hard way too...
