I've been thinking about skipping fabric too, glad to hear it's working out. Do you notice gravel shifting around much without the fabric underneath? My main worry was stability, especially around seating areas and stuff. Also wondering if larger gravel feels awkward underfoot or chair legs...not trying to spill my drink every time I stand up, you know?
"Also wondering if larger gravel feels awkward underfoot or chair legs...not trying to spill my drink every time I stand up, you know?"
Haha, totally get what you mean about the drink situation. I skipped the fabric under mine last summer and went with a medium-sized gravel. Honestly, stability hasn't been much of an issue—chairs sit pretty steady, and I haven't noticed any major shifting. But I have to say, barefoot isn't exactly comfy... learned that the hard way! Maybe toss down an outdoor rug near seating spots for extra comfort?
I went with larger gravel around my fire pit area mainly because it was cheaper at the time, and honestly, it hasn't been too bad stability-wise. Chairs don't feel wobbly or anything, but yeah, barefoot is definitely a no-go—it's like stepping on Lego bricks sometimes, haha. I ended up grabbing a couple of cheap outdoor rugs from a clearance sale and tossed them around the seating area. Made a huge difference comfort-wise, and it looks pretty cozy too.
One thing I'm still wondering about, though, is how easy is it to clean up ashes and debris from smaller gravel? With the larger stones, it's pretty simple to sweep or hose off, but I'm guessing smaller gravel might trap stuff more easily? Has anyone had trouble keeping their fire pit area tidy, or found a good trick for cleaning up quickly after a night around the fire?
I've found smaller gravel does tend to trap ashes and debris more, especially after a windy night. Sweeping isn't as effective since the gravel moves around easily, and hosing it down sometimes just pushes the mess deeper. A leaf blower set on low can help, but it's not perfect—sometimes it scatters gravel too. Curious if anyone's tried that polymeric sand stuff between smaller gravel to stabilize things? Might help keep cleanup easier without sacrificing aesthetics or comfort...
I've messed around with polymeric sand quite a bit on various projects, and honestly, it can be a real game changer if you're dealing with smaller gravel. It does stabilize things nicely and helps keep debris from getting too deeply embedded. Plus, it looks pretty clean once it's set up properly.
But here's the catch—it's not exactly foolproof. If your gravel is really small and loose, polymeric sand might not bond as effectively as you'd hope. I've seen it work wonders on slightly larger gravel or pavers, but with tiny pea gravel or similar stuff, it can sometimes crumble or wash away after heavy rain or repeated cleanups.
One trick I've found helpful is mixing in a slightly larger stone size to create a more stable base before adding polymeric sand. It gives the sand something solid to grip onto, reducing shifting and scattering. Also, when applying the sand, make sure you compact it well and follow the instructions closely—don't rush this step (speaking from experience here...).
As for cleanup, I totally get your frustration with leaf blowers scattering gravel everywhere—been there! One workaround I've tried is placing a mesh screen or tarp temporarily around the fire pit area when using the blower. Sounds silly, but it actually helps catch flying gravel bits without sacrificing convenience.
Another thought: have you considered edging materials like metal strips or even decorative bricks around the perimeter? They can help contain both gravel and ashes while adding some visual appeal.
Anyway, polymeric sand could definitely be worth experimenting with—just keep expectations realistic. It's not magic dust (sadly), but with a bit of prep and patience, it might make your cleanup routine less of a headache.
