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My dad said to put down a 6-inch gravel base for my paver patio, but my contractor friend argued for 4 inches.

I went with the 4 inches to save some cash, and after one Michigan winter, the whole thing is shifting and uneven. Who actually had the right advice here, and what's the real minimum for a patio that won't move?
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4 Comments
wesley_jones
wesley_jones4mo agoTop Commenter
Guess my cheap patio is now a modern art piece.
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wendy131
wendy1314mo ago
Look at it this way, @wesley_jones, at least it's not sinking like Seth's friend's did.
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the_wesley
the_wesley1mo ago
Actually, I'd argue your dad was right all along on this one, @wendy131. A 4-inch base might work fine in places without freeze-thaw cycles, but in Michigan you're basically asking for trouble - the frost line there means anything less than 6 inches is just a gamble. Its not like your contractor friend is paying for the redo next spring.
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seth_shah
seth_shah4mo agoOG Member
Ugh, my buddy did the same thing and his patio sank.
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