Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire

How to lay a gravel patio area for seating correctly

12/21/2022

0 Comments

 
How to lay a gravel patio area for seating
This article contains affiliate links


Gravel is one of the most versatile and decorative of all garden surface options. Not only does it come in a wide variety of materials it is much more affordable than other surfaces.

Unlike conventional paving gravel, does not require skilled labour to spread and lay. Spreading gravel is a much faster process than laying paving making it more economical and efficient.

Gravels come in various size grades which can create aesthetically, pleasing, visual, textures.

They also provide an opportunity to combine areas of seating and circulation with planting.  
​
Gravel garden
Gravel is also a more ecological surface allowing storm water to permeate back into the soil. This reduces the risk of flash flooding and the polluting of natural watercourses and wetlands.
​
In this article I will answer some common questions about laying gravel within your garden. I will also explain how to lay a gravel patio area for seating correctly. 

Do I need to dig out soil before laying gravel?

​
It depends if you intend to grow plants through the gravel or use the gravel as a path of patio. If you are using gravel as mulch for planting beds you will not need to dig out soil.

​However, if you are laying gravel for human traffic you should excavate out at least 100mm of topsoil.

If you wish to lay gravel to a driveway you should excavate at least 200mm of topsoil. 
​
Digging out

Do I need a sub base for a gravel patio and seating?

​
For a gravel patio it is ideal to have a compacted sub base of between 75 -120 millimetres deep. The perfect depth will depend upon your soil type, surrounding trees and expected traffic volumes.

A well compacted and even sub base will ensure a firm and robust surface which will resist weed encroachment. 

Do I need to put sand under a gravel patio? 

​
Gravel by its very nature will displace and move under foot. Therefore you only want to spread materials under gravel which are stable.

This is why compacted mot type one is the best material for under a gravel patio. Sand will easily rutt and displace making your gravel surface unstable.

​Sand also provides an easy root run for surrounding trees and shrubs. This can lead to bulges and undulation within the gravel surface. 

Do I need to lay plastic membrane under a gravel patio?  

​
​It is always recommended to lay a robust landscape membrane under your gravel. This will act as a separation barrier between your sub base and gravel.

​Separating the two surfaces will prevent sub base working its way up and infiltrating your gravel. Plastic membrane will also act as a root barrier preventing weeds encroaching upon your gravel patio. 
​
Cutting landscape fabric

What type of gravel is best for patios? 

​
It is difficult to isolate any one type of gravel which is the best for patios. However the best aggregates will be ones which do not absorb moisture.

This will prevent algae and discolouration from microorganisms. Generally the best gravels will be graded between 10 -20 millimetres in size and compliment your gardens style.

​One of the most commonly used and reasonably priced gravel is shingle gravel. 
​

pea gravel

What tools will I need to lay a gravel patio?

​
The great thing about laying a gravel patio is you do not need many tools; Usually a spade, shovel, spirit level and wheel barrow is enough.


You will probably need more tools to install your edgings than laying the gravel itself. The most common edgings for gravel are stainless steel, timber gravel boards and masonry.

Installing these will normally require brick laying tools, a sledge hammer and drills for fixing. 

What is the best edging for a gravel patio?

​
The best edging for gravel will depend upon the design and style of the patio. For modern patios stainless steel is minimalist and effective.

For sheer durability and choice however I feel masonry materials are the best edgings for gravel patios. Materials like natural stone, brick and concrete blocks offer a strong and robust edging. 
​
Garden edging from gravel

How to lay a gravel patio area step by step

Step 1.

​Excavate out your new gravel patio or seating area to a depth of 140mm and dispose of the spoil.  If you are removing soil from site you may want of fill up a skip with the excavated ground. 
​
Digging out for gravel

Step 2.

​Install your patio edgings so the sub base and gravel can be contained. These may consist of stainless steel edging, timber boards, bricks, natural stone or concrete blocks. 
​

edgings

Step 3.

​Using pegs, peg out your sub base level. This will help you to achieve a consistent depth of gravel without too much displacement. Run a string line tightly across your gravel patio from the tops of your edging. Tap pegs in 40mm below the finished level, this will enable you to peg out a perfectly level base. 
​
Pegging out

Step 4.

​Supply and spread your hardcore, the best aggregate for this is mot type 1 compactable hardcore. With a wheelbarrow and a rake spread out your type 1 evenly to the top of your pegs. 
​

Raking and levelling out type 1

Step 5.

​Compact your type 1 sub base with a vibro compaction plate. These are available to hire from most good hire companies. 
​

Picture

Step 6.

​Apply a robust weed membrane to the surface of your sub base and fix it firmly into position.
​

Laying membrane

Step 7.

​Supply and spread your gravel to the top of your edgings and at an even level across your patio. 
​

Picture
​You have now completed laying your gravel patio and seating area! 
 
Thank you for reading our article on how to lay a gravel patio area. We hope you found it useful and have linked to some other relevant articles below. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


'As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases'
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The
    ​Author 

    Paul Nicolaides 
    BA (Hons) Dip

    Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening. 
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from graibeard, UK Prime Minister, Maggie Hoffman, Aaron Volkening, Darlene Roelofsen, David Paul Ohmer, denis.zabin, Permaculture Association, Bill Selak, The fixed factor, The Garden Smallholder, Tauralbus, nan palmero, Lee Cannon, Monkeystyle3000, Darlene Roelofsen, nicolas.boullosa, Bryn Pinzgauer, cattan2011, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Matthew Paul Argall, tdlucas5000, Acabashi, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, Gilles Gonthier, Martin Hesketh, Owen P, alljengi, steve p2008, romana klee, Bennilover, *_*, blumenbiene, Julianna, Daryll90ca, Wendell Smith, Acabashi, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Permaculture Association, MizGingerSnaps, Tjflex2, wuestenigel, travel oriented, Aaron Volkening, shixart1985, SupportPDX, pete. #hwcp, MostlyDross, Local Food Initiative, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Torquay Palms, Oregon State University, perfectgrassltd, aarongunnar, Acabashi, Actual Brian Crawford, jeans_Photos, alh1, Darlene Roelofsen, Rromani from Romania, docoverachiever, tawalker, markfountain52, Maria Eklind, treegrow, deckerme, Kevan, richardghawley, Ivan Radic, Mark Wordy, garryknight, Matt Lavin, greger.ravik, Capt' Gorgeous, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, Wonderlane, Rudi1976, stonescape, Dinesh Valke, troutcolor, Acabashi, Juhele_CZ, Darlene Roelofsen, pikkuanna, tdlucas5000, Jocey K, Acabashi, focusonmore.com, BethinAZ, zoetnet, kurt.stocker, Monkeystyle3000, ell brown, Bryn Pinzgauer, Mark Wordy, infomatique, Linda N., Armcon Precast, Tinkers Moon, AnnSophieQ, mikecogh, Bob Klannukarn, Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac, ChrisHamby, Alessandro_Corsoni, Stiller Beobachter, GLVF, denisbin, MizGingerSnaps, garryknight, goforchris, Dick Thompson Sandian, Paul Comstock, Kelowna09, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Kanesue, BlossomPDX, Wonderlane, alh1, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, Paul and Jill, Gilles Gonthier, katunchik, thinkactlove, gidlark, jugreen_de, Henry Hemming, Ivan Radic, tompagenet, corsi photo, www.to-tuscany.com, Mark Wordy, UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, Aaron Volkening, Mark AC Photos, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, arripay, denisbin, alans1948, wallygrom, Frank.Vassen, alh1, Scottb211, LenkinDesign, wallygrom, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, juliamaudlin, dwblakey, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, HerryLawford, mikecogh, jeans_Photos, Corey Leopold, Jeremy Levine Design, Kaibab National Forest Photography, Ciarán Mooney, onnola, 35mmMan, longlabcomms, nc.hort, Jamiecat *, pom'., Puddin Tain, Acabashi, tompagenet, Loz Flowers, Alan Stanton, Darlene Roelofsen, denisbin, Darlene Roelofsen, zakzak7, Center for Neighborhood Technology, wht_wolf9653, LenkinDesign, HerryLawford, FoodCraftLab, Miranda J Wood, Key West Wedding Photography, Montgomery County Planning Commission, bienen-nachrichten.de, zaphad1, SupportPDX, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, itmpa, Judy Gallagher, SteveR-, kylehase, simonmgc, treegrow, garryknight, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, el cajon yacht club, cattan2011, Ed Bierman, mikecogh, Mike Prince, photofarmer, M. Martin Vicente, Darlene Roelofsen, La Citta Vita, Mary Gillham Archive Project, Puddin Tain, sustainablejill, mikecogh, ScotGov Rural, Macleay Grass Man, Andesine, denisbin, *_*, samsaundersleeds, onnola, James St. John, Pixelteufel, www.twin-loc.fr, The359, F. D. Richards, berniedup, Monkeystyle3000, Mark AC Photos, Mark Wordy, Swallowtail Garden Seeds