Small rock base for sitting/fire pit area?

[MuleyFever]

I am looking at creating a sitting area in my back yard with a fire pit. Probably going to get one of the smokeless fire pits. I like the idea of pavers but hate the idea of doing it myself, properly. The other option is doing a small rock base. Has anyone done this? Any regrets?

 

[Soj51hopeful]

Trump hasn’t deported all the Mexicans yet.

 

[MuleyFever]

Guess I needed to mention you cant get a landscaper to call you back around here. And if they do they are a year out.

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Haven’t done it yet, but planning on doing a 16x24 gravel patio for my wife and I’s raised garden area out back. Planning on doing it all by hand, should be fun and honestly can’t wait to get outside and start. Currently stinking 10 degrees and snowing here in Indiana.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I have a metal fire pit. I installed some wire mesh on the inside to ensure coals don’t fall out of it. it works great, no added landscaping, easy to clean out, and easily replaceable if/when it burns out. Well worth the money to me.

 

[MTtrout]

Might fine this tread helpful, I believe it’s yours

Laying a small area in pavers or flagstone question

OK, one for the landscapers or DIYers. I want to make a small area into a sitting area in my back yard. This is a small spot just big enough for 2 chairs with a spot for the dog in between. I want to use large pavers or flagstone. Given the size, do I really need to dig out 8" and lay gravel...

rokslide.com

 

[longspeak74]

The base for pavers is a different material than if you're just putting decorative crushed stone down.
We use decomposed red granite or 3/4 minus with fines over fabric for ours.
3/4" clear base goes under all our paver work.
You'll want some type of edging if just using the decorative stone.

 

[MuleyFever]

Might fine this tread helpful, I believe it’s yours

Laying a small area in pavers or flagstone question

OK, one for the landscapers or DIYers. I want to make a small area into a sitting area in my back yard. This is a small spot just big enough for 2 chairs with a spot for the dog in between. I want to use large pavers or flagstone. Given the size, do I really need to dig out 8" and lay gravel...

rokslide.com

Yes, I did some lage pavers in another area just big enough for a couple of chairs. This time I am looking at about a 20x20 area that doesnt drain well and dont really want to have to dig it out and all that for a proper paver base. Looking for a quicker option.

I am just asking if anyone has done the small rock and if they liked it or regretted it.

 

[Carr5vols]

I dug the pit..put drain holes and poured concrete..was super easy...

 

[Geewhiz]

You could just pour a small concrete slab and stamp/stain it. That would look nice and be relatively simple

 

[justinspicher]

I made one out of cinder blocks and filled it with lava rock. Took a couple of hours.

 

[doc holiday13]

Not hard, you just need to make sure you put in a proper base. Rent a Dingo and Plate Compactor and you could have the entire project completed in a 4 day weekend

 

[camping1601]

Yes, I did some lage pavers in another area just big enough for a couple of chairs. This time I am looking at about a 20x20 area that doent drain well and dont really want to have to dig it out and all that for a proper paver base. Looking for a quicker option.

I am just asking if anyone has done the small rock and if they liked it or regretted it.

Im planning on doing this once the ground thaws. My FP sits in a grassy wet spot of the yard that doesn't really dry out till late spring. I'm gonna build it up a couple inches, put some fabric down, and use small river gravel. I have the grade so I might dig a French drain under it as well. Pavers would be nice but the given how wet it is the prep work to keep them from moving from frost would be major work.

 

[Jimmy]

Small rock can look nice. Idk your situation but I get a lot of blown sand and dirt onto the rock that fills it in and eventually it's just dirt with rocks in it.

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Not hard, you just need to make sure you put in a proper base. Rent a Dingo and Plate Compactor and you could have the entire project completed in a 4 day weekend

What would be the proper base? In my mind th order of operation would be to take the Dingo with bucket to scrape up the grass and sod, do some grading and leveling, put in some sand, compact it, and then use the dingo with bucket to drop in pea gravel/small rack and then rake it out to level?

I'm planning on using 4x4 cedar or pressure treated timbers to edge the patio. And considerations for this? Appreciate the input.

 

[doc holiday13]

What would be the proper base? In my mind th order of operation would be to take the Dingo with bucket to scrape up the grass and sod, do some grading and leveling, put in some sand, compact it, and then use the dingo with bucket to drop in pea gravel/small rack and then rake it out to level?

I'm planning on using 4x4 cedar or pressure treated timbers to edge the patio. And considerations for this? Appreciate the input.

Not sure how well your soil holds water or your stone/material choice thickness, but 2-3" gravel compacted, 1" crush and run then 1" sand. If you're doing pavers, you'll want to do polymeric sand swept over the bricks. I can't give you much beyond that because there are a few dependencies based on the job site slope and drainage

 

[longspeak74]

If you're doing pavers, stay away from sand as your bedding course. Use 3/8 limestone chips. Only sand you use is the polymeric that gets swept into the joints.