Yes, you can put pea gravel around your pool. It can provide a safe, slip-resistant surface for people to walk on, as well as an attractive decorative element. Pea gravel also has good drainage properties and won’t be damaged by water or pool chemicals.
It is similarly low maintenance, as you don’t need to mow or water it to keep it looking nice. You can also use landscape fabric, a plastic liner, or a commercial pool edge to keep the pea gravel from washing away.
Before beginning, make sure to clear away any weed or plant growth near the area to prevent woody roots from entering and disturbing your pool. When laying the gravel, dig at least 6–8 inches deep and fill with at least 4–6 inches of pea gravel.
You can also use a border of bricks, rocks, or other material to create an attractive frame and distinguish the pool surface from its surroundings. For the best appearance, use five to ten different sizes of pea gravel to form a surface with a multi-dimensional effect.
What is the rock to put around an above ground pool?
The most common type of rock to put around an above ground pool is river rock, which can be either natural or landscaping stone. River rocks are known for their durability, affordability, and wide variety of colors, making them an ideal choice for pool landscaping.
Additionally, river rocks come in a range of sizes, allowing for increased customization for creating a desired look for your above ground pool. If you prefer a more polished look, pea gravel is a great option because it can provide a more natural feeling with its smaller, smooth, and bright appearance.
Another good option is crushed stone, which is available in a wide array of colors, sizes, and shapes, depending on the specific project requirements. For an even more creative look, consider using colored glass, which can be dyed with various shades of paint to match the desired look.
Finally, fire pit rocks are another great choice for an above ground pool because they not only look great, but they also provide a great way to keep the area around the pool safe.
Does water drain through pea gravel?
Yes, water does drain through pea gravel. Pea gravel is a type of small rounded stone commonly used in landscaping projects. The gravel is a naturally porous material, which means it has tiny spaces between each stone where water can pass through.
It allows water to flow through the gravel, allowing it to drain away from the area. It is often used for drainage in landscaping, as the gravel helps water to percolate down through the soil, so it can be held by the soil and not just run off the surface.
The amount of drainage the gravel will provide depends on the size of the gravel you choose, as larger gravel will allow more water to pass through than smaller sizes. It’s important to ensure that pea gravel is used in well-draining soils, with a minimum of 40% infiltration rate.
If the soils are too compact, they won’t allow the water to percolate down, meaning the gravel won’t be able to perform its function.
Will pea gravel wash away?
Pea gravel is generally composed of small, rounded stones, often ranging in size from tiny grains of sand to larger pebbles. In general, it is a very durable surface material, often used in driveways, gardens, and landscapes.
However, pea gravel can be susceptible to erosion under certain conditions. The stones are small and light, making them especially vulnerable to water and wind forces. Under heavy water flow, pea gravel can wash away, especially on slopes or in areas that are not properly drained.
Wind can also cause small particles of the gravel to be blown away.
To protect against wash away and erosion, a variety of techniques may be used on surfaces where pea gravel is in use. Applying a sealant to the pea gravel can help it to bind better to the ground and more easily resist erosion.
Adding a layer of geotextile fabric can also help keep the pea gravel in place, as can surrounding the area with barriers or edging made of stone blocks or other materials.
In conclusion, pea gravel can wash away under certain conditions. To reduce the potential for erosion, it is generally advisable to take preventative steps such as applying sealants or adding edging.
Does pea gravel get hot?
Yes, pea gravel can get hot when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. This is because pea gravel is a non-porous material, meaning that it does not absorb any of the heat from the sunlight.
Instead, the heat from the sunlight is reflected off of the gravel material, causing it to become hot to the touch. If you are looking to keep your pea gravel area cool, consider adding some shade structures such as trees or parasols to help deflect some of the sun’s rays.
Alternatively, you could also incorporate some lighter colored pea gravel, as this would help to reflect some of the sunlight as well as dissipate some of the heat absorbed by the pea gravel.
Can you use pea shingle for drainage?
Yes, you can use pea shingle for drainage in some circumstances. Pea shingle is a small, pebble-like gravel with rounded edges, usually rounded off quarried material. It is frequently used as environmental or landscape mulch in planters and beds, as ground cover on paths and patios, as drainage rock in French drains, or as bedding material in play areas or sandboxes.
Pea shingle is a lightweight aggregate, which makes it suitable as a drainage material in some cases. When mixed with a soil-sand or other base material, pea shingle can be used as a drainage material around drains and for filling drainage trenches.
Pea shingle absorbs water much better than larger, angular gravel and serves to soak up excess water in soil and help reduce overwatering of lawns, gardens and landscape beds. Pea shingle also helps to keep moisture away from structures such as foundations and is great for helping to reduce unwanted drainage issues.
What type of gravel is for drainage?
For drainage purposes, it is best to use gravel with smooth or rounded edges. This type of gravel, often referred to as ‘pea gravel’ or ‘pea shingle’, is one of the most popular types of gravel used in drainage.
It has a variety of sizes, usually ranging from 1/4 inch all the way up to 3/4 inch. The smooth edges of the pea gravel allow water to easily move through the gravel bed and be quickly drained away, helping to prevent water build-up and flooding.
Additionally, pea gravel creates a permeable surface that helps groundwater to replenish aquifers, while also helping the soil to stay in place and preventing erosion. Some other types of gravel that can be used for drainage include crushed rock, crushed concrete and decomposed granite.
However, pea gravel is an ideal choice because it is small enough not to compromise the drainage system, and big enough to provide adequate protection against erosion.
How do I calculate how much pea gravel I need?
Calculating how much pea gravel you need for your project requires a few pieces of information. First, you need to determine the total area that you want to cover with the gravel. To do this, measure the length and width of the area in feet.
If the area is a square or rectangle, you can simply multiply the lengths to get the square footage. For example, if the area measures 10 feet by 15 feet, the area would be 150 square feet. However, if the area is not a regular shape, break it into smaller rectangles or squares and calculate the area of each section.
Finally, add the areas together to get the total.
Once you have the total square footage of the area, multiply this number by the desired depth of the gravel. Depth is typically measured in inches, so you need to convert the number to feet. If you are looking for a gravel depth of 2 inches, this would be equal to 0.17 feet.
Multiplying the total area of 150 square feet by 0.17 gives you a total of 25.5 cubic feet.
Finally, to calculate how many bags of pea gravel you need, divide the total cubic feet by the amount in each bag. Most bags of pea gravel contain about 0.5 cubic feet of material, so dividing 25.5 by 0.
5 gives you 51 bags of pea gravel. You will need approximately 51 bags of pea gravel to cover 150 square feet at 2 inches deep.
How much pea gravel do I need for 400 square feet?
The amount of pea gravel you need to cover 400 square feet will depend on the depth of gravel you are looking to have. Generally, when using 1/4 inch size or smaller pea gravel, the recommendation is to use 2-3 inches of depth for the coverage.
To calculate the amount of pea gravel needed for coverage of 400 square feet, simply multiply the total square feet by the desired depth. For example, for 2 inches of depth for 400 square feet, you will need 800 cubic feet of pea gravel.
Conversely, for 3 inches of depth for a 400 square feet space, you will need 1200 cubic feet of pea gravel. To convert cubic feet to the amount of pea gravel you will need, simply divide the total cubic feet by 0.2.
Therefore, for 2 inches of depth (equalling 800 cubic feet) you would need 4,000 lbs of pea gravel and for 3 inches of depth (equalling 1200 cubic feet) you would need 6,000 lbs of pea gravel.
How many bags of pea gravel do I need?
The number of bags of pea gravel you need depends on the size of the area you need to cover and the depth of the gravel. Generally, it is recommended to use a 2- to 3-inch layer of pea gravel for walkways and paths, and a 4-inch layer for driveways, patios and parking areas.
For example, if you want to create a 4-inch layer of pea gravel in an area that measures 10 feet by 10 feet, the calculation would be 10 x 10 x 0.33 for a total of 33 cubic feet. A standard bag of pea gravel contains 0.
5 cubic feet, so you would need 66 bags of pea gravel to cover your area. It is important to take into consideration that the calculation is based on a loose application of the material, and more may be needed depending on how tightly the pea gravel is packed.
Is 2 inches of pea gravel enough?
The amount of pea gravel you need to sufficiently cover an area depends on several factors, including size of the area, purpose of the pebble, and your desired aesthetic. Generally speaking, 2 inches of pea gravel will cover a fairly small area, so if you are covering a larger area, more pea gravel may be required.
With pea gravel, you want to make sure there is enough to provide adequate drainage, as well as allowing for slight settling over time. As such, if you are using pea gravel for a walkway, driveway, or other surface that may need more support, then more pea gravel may need to be laid down.
Additionally, if using the pea gravel for decorative purposes, you may need more to create the desired look. Ultimately, it is best to speak to an expert in order to determine the optimal amount of pea gravel you will need.
How deep do you lay pea gravel?
When laying pea gravel, it is important to consider the depth of the gravel layers according to the purpose and location. Generally, a depth of 2-4 inches is sufficient for a walkway or for aesthetic purposes.
For driveways, 4-6 inches is recommended for maximum support of vehicular traffic. However, in areas of heavy vehicular traffic or for other structural applications, 6-8 inches or more may be required for a strong and stable foundation.
Additionally, when laying pea gravel for pathways and for other landscaping projects, be sure to consider the existing soil structure to ensure proper drainage and to avoid settling or cracking. Furthermore, excavate the area to the prescribed depth before installing a durable fabric underlayment to prevent soil and plant material from passing through the gravel layers.
Finally, once the gravel has been spread, tamp or roll it down to a level surface and secure with edging material such as metal, plastic, or treated wood.
How much gravel do I need to go around my pool?
The amount of gravel you need to go around your pool will depend on the size of the pool and the size of the area you are looking to cover. Generally, you will need a minimum of 4 inches of gravel spread evenly around your pool for optimal drainage.
To determine how much gravel you need, you will need to measure the area you are looking to cover. First, measure the length and the width of the area, then multiply those two figures together to calculate the square footage.
You will then need to multiply the square footage by the depth of the gravel (generally 4 inches or 0.33 feet) to determine how many cubic feet of gravel you will need.
For example, if the area you wish to cover is 10 feet by 20 feet then you would need approximately 66 cubic feet of gravel. You should also factor in some additional gravel for any dips in the uneven terrain.
It’s also important to note that gravel is generally sold in cubic yards, so converting the cubic feet of gravel to cubic yards may be necessary.
What rocks are around pools?
The rocks typically found around pools are usually construction materials designed to create a finished look around the edge of the pool. These are usually called pool coping stones and usually vary in size, shape and color.
Common materials used for pool coping are concrete, flagstone, brick, travertine, and natural stone. Pool coping can be used to create many design elements such as flat coping, cantilevered coping and bullnose coping.
The material used depends on the design of the pool, the look you are going for and the budget. Pool coping can really bring a pool area to life and give pool owners a way to customize it to their own taste.
How much does it cost to put rocks around pool?
The cost of putting rocks around a pool can vary based on a number of factors. The type of rock will affect the cost, as well as the size of the area and the amount of labor involved. Additionally, the availability of materials and the distance of the delivery will contribute to the overall cost.
When assessing the cost of putting rocks around a pool, the first cost to consider is the actual rock material cost. Pebble-size rocks are typically less expensive than larger stones, and natural stone is usually more expensive than man-made concrete varieties.
Additionally, regional labor and material costs can impact the cost of purchasing and placing the stones.
The second cost to consider is the labor involved in putting the rocks around the pool. The labor cost can vary significantly depending on the size of the project and the number of workers involved. It will also depend on the degree of labour such as removing existing landscaping materials, digging or clearing, and installation of the rocks.
Additionally, the terrain and the availability of electricity and water can affect the labor cost.
In most cases, the total cost for putting rocks around a pool is about $4 to $7 per square foot. However, this can vary significantly depending on the factors mentioned. As a guideline for budgeting purposes, the total cost for putting rocks around a pool can range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the size, materials chosen, and the labor involved.
