Hit $500 exactly on my backyard patio project and it changed my whole plan

I was aiming for a $400 budget for flagstone and gravel, but when I priced out the good stone dust base and compacted gravel base, it came to exactly $500. That extra $100 made me realize I should skip the fancy border stones and just go with a simple edge, and honestly it looks way better now. Anyone else have a budget number that totally shifted your design choice?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.finley24d ago

Didn't your buddy try rebar instead of fancy edging and it held up better?

miles_burns23d ago

Heard that rebar trick actually worked pretty well. Did he use a specific grade or just whatever was lying around? I'm curious because regular rebar has that rough surface that might hold soil better but could rust out faster. Also wonder how he bent it into shape without a proper bender. Was it just straight runs or did he try any curves? That's the part I always struggle with, getting clean angles on cheap materials.

seth_singh2023d ago

Wait, are you saying that rough surface is actually a good thing for dirt? I always figured the rougher texture would just trap moisture and speed up rusting, not hold soil better. I mean, I've seen guys use whatever leftover rebar they had in the shed and it seems to work fine, but I'd worry about it snapping in a couple years, not holding up.