Interesting point about the gravel base—I hadn't considered how much rain could affect stability. Did you notice any issues with drainage after adding the gravel? I'm wondering if there's a specific type or size of gravel that's better for keeping things stable and dry underneath...wouldn't want to redo mine twice if I can help it.
"Did you notice any issues with drainage after adding the gravel?"
Funny you mention that—I was skeptical about gravel at first too. I mean, gravel's gravel, right? But turns out size and type really do matter. I started with smaller pea gravel initially, thinking it'd compact nicely and look tidy. Big mistake. After the first heavy rain, it turned into a soggy mess underneath, and I ended up redoing the entire thing with larger, angular gravel (around 3/4 inch). That stuff drains way better and stays stable even after a downpour.
Still, I'm not fully convinced gravel alone is enough to guarantee safety long-term. Did you use any kind of edging or barrier to keep it in place? I've seen setups shift over time, especially if people keep stepping on the edges or dragging chairs around. Hate to be the skeptic here, but better safe than sorry...
Good points about gravel size—pea gravel can definitely get messy. A couple things that helped me:
- Used angular gravel (3/4 inch) like you mentioned, drains way better.
- Added a permeable landscape fabric underneath to keep weeds out and improve drainage.
- Installed metal edging around the perimeter to keep gravel from shifting.
Been over a year now, and it's held up pretty well, even with chairs dragging around. Might be worth considering something similar if you're worried about long-term stability.
Your setup sounds really solid and well-thought-out. I appreciate you sharing those details, especially about the angular gravel and metal edging. I've been considering a similar project myself, but budget constraints have me hesitating a bit. Still, it's reassuring to hear that your approach has held up nicely over time—even with chairs scraping around, which was one of my main concerns.
I hadn't thought much about landscape fabric underneath, but now that you mention it, it makes sense for drainage and weed control. Definitely seems like a worthwhile investment to avoid headaches later on. Your experience gives me confidence that even a budget-friendly approach can be durable and safe if planned properly.
Thanks again for sharing your insights—it's encouraging to see practical solutions working out in the real world.
I've had landscape fabric under my fire pit area for a couple years now, and honestly, it's been great for weeds. But drainage-wise...not sure it makes a huge difference. Still worth it overall, though—less hassle later on.
