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Saw a drainage fact that made me ditch my original patio plan
I was dead set on putting in a gravel patio until I read a study from Oregon State that said gravel actually increases water runoff by 40% compared to turf. That little detail made me switch to permeable pavers instead. Anyone else run into a stat that totally flipped your backyard idea?
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william_harris25d ago
Yeah, I had something similar happen with my backyard but it was about tree roots instead of drainage. I was all set to put in a raised garden bed right under this big oak tree, you know, thinking the shade would be nice for lettuce and stuff. Then I read something from some arborist group that said even a shallow raised bed can smother the feeder roots of an oak and kill it over a few years (which is apparently a slow, sad death for a tree). So I scrapped the whole garden box plan and just put some potted plants on the patio instead. The funny part is, now I spend way more time watering those stupid pots than I would have with a bed, but my tree is still alive so I guess it's a win.
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mark43625d ago
Swap to permeable pavers was a smart move. I've pulled up enough gravel patios that turned into muddy messes or washout zones to know that stat is legit. The key with permeable pavers is you gotta get the base right, though. If you just lay them on compacted sand without a proper gravel reservoir underneath, they don't drain worth a damn either. I'd recommend digging down at least 8 inches below the pavers and filling that with angular crushed stone, not the smooth round stuff. That creates actual pore space for water to soak in instead of just sitting there. Also make sure your base slopes slightly away from your house, maybe a quarter inch per foot. Saved me from ripping out my own patio a few years ago when I installed it that way.
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mason_lopez25d ago
Wait, 40% more? That can't be right. I figured gravel would drain better than lawn since it's basically rocks with gaps. Guess I was way off about how the whole thing works underground though.
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