Interesting you mention crushed granite—I had a similar experience when I built a small walkway in my backyard. Initially went with polymeric sand too, thinking it'd be the easiest route, but weeds still found their way through somehow. Switched to pea gravel on a whim (mostly because it was cheaper, honestly), and it's been surprisingly solid. Makes me wonder if sometimes simpler materials might actually be better long-term... Have you noticed any difference in maintenance between the granite and polymeric sections?
Yeah, I noticed something similar with polymeric sand. It seemed great at first, but weeds still popped up here and there, and honestly, it was a pain to fix once they did. Crushed granite has been way easier for me—just a quick rake or sweep every now and then keeps it looking fresh. Plus, I kinda like how it settles naturally over time... feels less fussy somehow. Maybe simpler really is better sometimes?
"Maybe simpler really is better sometimes?"
Couldn't agree more. I've worked with polymeric sand before, and while it looks fantastic initially, maintenance can become a headache—especially when weeds inevitably appear. Crushed granite is definitely easier, but another option I've found surprisingly effective is pea gravel. It's low-maintenance, drains well, and gives a nice, casual look. Just lay down a good weed barrier first, and refresh the gravel every couple of years... keeps things tidy without much fuss.
Pea gravel's not bad, but have you ever tried decomposed granite? I was skeptical at first, but it's surprisingly solid once compacted. Here's how I did it: first, cleared out the area and laid down landscape fabric (like you mentioned), then spread a good layer of DG. Wet it down slightly, compacted it thoroughly, and let it dry overnight. Turned out neat and tidy, drains well, and weeds barely pop through. Might be worth a shot if you're up for trying something new...
Decomposed granite is definitely a solid choice—used it myself on a backyard seating area last summer. It holds up surprisingly well, even with heavy furniture and foot traffic. Your method sounds spot-on, especially the compacting part. One thing I'd suggest from experience: if your area's prone to heavy rains or runoff, consider adding a slight slope or drainage channel to direct water away. Learned that the hard way after a storm left me with a mini pond situation...not exactly the water feature I had in mind, haha.
Also, if you're planning to put chairs or tables out there, make sure you compact it extra thoroughly around those spots. Nothing worse than wobbly patio furniture when you're trying to enjoy your morning coffee.
Overall though, DG's pretty forgiving and easy to maintain. Even if weeds do pop through occasionally, they're usually shallow-rooted and easy to pull. Definitely beats wrestling with concrete forms and mixers—been there, done that, not eager for round two anytime soon.
