do I need a concrete base?

Question

I want to lay a pebbled path and patio, do I need a cocrete base to lay the pebbles on top of or can they be laid on top of the ground?

Answer 1

You can lay this on almost any surface you like. This would suffice for a patio or path but I would put down a membrane to stop any weeds, also edging stones or blocks or just plain treated timber will keep the path and patio in place....

Answer 2

Certainly for a ground level patio, a "slab" would suit you best; and allow that you won't have to deal with plant growth over/through it.

For the path you can grade the area lower than ground level; lay a substantial weed barrier; then crushed limerock perhaps, probably "tamped" then add your pebbles. For a pathway I prefer river rock, usually a medium grade in size. I advise against "pea gravel" or rock so large as to be uncomfortable to walk on. You'll still have weed growth issues at some point but they aren't so difficult to deal with.

If it was my job and the two choices were available, I might opt to leave the pebbles at the dealer. But I also enjoy "natural"

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

You don't need a concrete base. Just what you do need will depend on your ground conditions. I'd dig out the area where you want to lay your path and patio then refill with 150mm of crushed stone, allowing enough depth on top for your pebbles or paving slabs. Level the crushed stone and compact it with a roller - a heavy garden roller - or even better a vibrating roller or plate vibrator. If you are going to lay slabs for a patio, put 25mm of sand on top of the crushed stone and lay the slabs on that.

Answer 4

no concrete base is required but i would advice laying polythene sheeting under the pebbles to stop weeds growing up through the pebbles. Some sort of border/edging would be useful to stop the pebbles straying on to other surrounding areas.

Answer 5

you must dig down to clay then put a layer of viscreen down{plastic sheet} then fill in the area with inch down dolomite to about 3 inches from the topthen your pebbles for the patio do exactly the same but top it off with coarse sand and cement 5 to 1 then lay your patio good luck

Answer 6

At least 3 1/2 to 4 inches thick. If your ground is level dig down four inches just bigger than your 10x10 area. lay down a one inch layer of gravel and level. purchase five 2x4x12 and build your frame. Use the off fall to make your stakes you should yield 16 a foot long. place the frame in the prepared area square taking corner measurements. stake it off four per side pound stakes in below your frame level back fill your frame with some of the dirt you excavated out of the hole.Your frame should be about 1/2 to 1 inch above the ground. you need about a yard and a quarter of concrete mix. call all your Buddy's over for a mix party (free beer and cooked meat works wonders when exploiting labor from your friends) mix up the concrete fill up your frame strike it off with your fifth 2x4 float out to your desired finish. Let cure one day remove frame back fill seed and straw.

Answer 7

Lay them on the ground but put plastic or something down first to stop the weeds peeking through.

Answer 8

no concrete but you may want a border to contain the pebbles.

Answer 9

just spread it down on any surface but gravel path and driveways are always needing sweeping up they tread all over the place //not ideal

Answer 10

u need to put down about one inch of sand so u can level the bricks then spread sand on top to fill in all the cracks.. sweep the sand off wall-la your done