How much decorative gravel do I need?

TommyBoy

Morning folks.

I am planning on covering a small area of my garden in decorative gravel as an area to put a few benches and maybe have BBQ's in. Its 6m x 4m and is currently flat crazy paving so I shouldn't think that I need the gravel too thick. I was thinking of going for blue slate chippings but I have no idea how much of it I need? There's a few gravel calculators online but I don't know how thick I need the gravel?

Also am I likely to get it cheaper anywhere else than B&Q/Wickes?

Thanks in advance

olibearhorse

Have you got any quarry's near you? We get ours direct from them and they are much cheaper. If it is only a small amount you may have to collect but worth a try? We regards to how much, ask the supplier, it's their job to know/advise.

Solomon_Broad

Wickes will price match. Be warned that there are lots of terms and conditions attached to it. You need to have found the exact same item, at a cheaper price, in a local store (within 3 miles, I think) within the last 7 days. You also need to bring physical proof into the store, like a till receipt, or a competitors brochure with the prices in it. They will not phone the competitor for you.

Are you laying the gravel onto the crazy paving, or taking it up? If you're putting it on top, you'll need some way to hold it in place.

TommyBoy

Solomon_Broad wrote: »

Are you laying the gravel onto the crazy paving, or taking it up? If you're putting it on top, you'll need some way to hold it in place.

I'm just going to stick some membrane down and lay it on top of the paving. Seems to be the easiest way to get rid of the nasty crazy paving. I shall probably edge the area with bricks to stop it spilling onto the grass although it is actually slightly sunk already... Can you see any problems with this?

Solomon_Broad

As long as you cement the bricks in, and they are level, I don't see a problem. Personally speaking, I'd be inclined to remove some of the crazy paving, round the outside, and lay the bricks on some cement, on the soil. Unless of course the crazy paving is in good nick on the outside, then I wouldn't bother. Be sure to put something round, though, that you can mow up to/over. Chippings + lawnmower blades = nastiness. Having the bricks level with the lawn itself will make it easier, because you can run the lawnmower wheel over the brick, and not have to go back later to trim the edges. How easy that will be to do depends on what the site is like.

What sort of plastic are you using? Wickes sell Landscape fabric, which is woven. This will let the water drain away, but still stop the chippings from sinking.

If you're planning on having a BBQ on there, consider some hard standing. Slate doesn't "lock together" like something like Cotswold chippings will (though that won't do it very much), and you need to be careful with a BBQ on stuff like that. Benches and tables aren't so bad, unless someone keeps fidgeting. :rotfl:

TommyBoy

My garden is a bit of a mish-mash with 5 different levels (terraces?) So this should make it easier actually I think as the gravel shouldn't spill onto the lawn. I think I'll take your advice though and use that landscape fabric and cement some bricks in round the sides. Lucky me, my nan has hundereds of blue bricks in her garden that she's been trying to get rid of for years

flea72

i wouldnt recommend slate chippings for areas that are to be walked on, its more of a decorative stone, and will just break up into tiny pieces if walked on.

definitely use a weed supressing membrane like Mypex, and you need the stone to be at least 1" deep, if you want to keep the weeds away.

we used 2 ton of shale on an area of about 20msq and that just about covered the ground, prob could do with a bit more. think i paid about £100 a ton

smk77

flea72 wrote: »

we used 2 ton of shale on an area of about 20msq and that just about covered the ground, prob could do with a bit more. think i paid about £100 a ton

When ordering gravel at the weekend I was told that a 1 ton bag would cover 8m sq at a depth of 1". I think I need a max of 12 m sq but decided just to order 1 bag and see how it goes. From what you have said it sounds like I'll definitely be needing another bag!

TommyBoy

flea72 wrote: »

i wouldnt recommend slate chippings for areas that are to be walked on, its more of a decorative stone, and will just break up into tiny pieces if walked on.

Oh pants, I thought it was fine for paths and things but may need topping up ocassionally. Is there something else you can recommend?

flea72

gravel/pea git is ok for paths, ie small roundish stones, but if you are looking at decorativae slate, then no, i wouldnt use it on a path, as the pieces will just break.

also pea grit (small gravel) stays put better if whacker plated into hoggin, rather than laying on a weed supressant membrane. larger gravel, might be ok, but if you put than down at a decent depth, its quite hard work to walk on, ie, like on a shingle beach

Solomon_Broad

Pea gravel is cheap too. Wickes sell a Jumbo bag for about £35.