[mrusk]

I have a client who wants a seperate step down area on a raised patio we are desiging. There will be two steps down from their patio and it will be basicly a circle with a firepit in the center.

Clients wants something natural, they mentioned wanting to use some kind of gravel. They are looking at debarking logs and staining them to use for seats. If that kind of helps you decided what type of mood we are trying to set.

Has anyone ever done anything like this? I really do not want to use gravel. Any of you ever built a area like this?

Matt

[Stonehenge]

Yes, and I'm pretty sure the clients regretted it.

They had seen something in France that they wanted to duplicate, and the closest thing they could get here was pea gravel. So I made them a patio of pea gravel, all contained within retaining block.

Can you imagine how good it had to feel on bare feet, when you step on pea gravel that's sitting on Versa-Lok caps?

And how about the fun of cleaning the pea gravel out of your house?

Unless this step-down area is going to be a great distance from the house, I'd try to sell them on flagstone, possibly with creeping thyme or some other plant life filling the joints.

[GLAN]

my tree sprayer had his driveway done in gravel with some kind of slurry poured or sprayed over the top.

I haven't seen it in some years........but it was very cool at the time.

I'll give him a call and find out what

[Fine Edge]

A concrete pool deck was just poured yesterday at our project and they used what they called pebble-tech or something like that. Basically a concrete with colored pebbles on top. Looks awesome but I can't post a pic until Mon.

Or try this site: www.coverallstone.com.
Just got their catalog and might be better than pea gravel, just not inexpensive.

[4seasons]

Pour some concrete and pressure wash the surface to expose the aggregate.
Go w/ some stone benches-- maybe granite or sandstone?

[GLAN]

Haven't heard from my friend yet.....


That is one other option I saw done on TV long, long time ago.....


Contractor did a concrete walk. let it set a bit and spread pea gravel over the top.............floated that down into the cement, then with the garden hose washed the cememt off exposing the stone......finished product looked awesome

[agla]

If you pave it, keep in mind that you have a sunk in area with a fire pit. Water has to go somewhere, so you need to think about drainage. ... probably why peastone is being considered.