Rock patios can be aesthetically appealing, yet simple and easy-to-construct, inclusions in your landscaping. Rather than needing to hire a crew of construction workers, for this new addition, you can actually do all the work yourself. Without too much stress or effort, you can create a gorgeous, brand-new patio that will extend your family space into the great outdoors.
In addition to being great-looking additions to your property that all family members, visitors, and even possible buyers will enjoy, rock patios are also extremely resistant and heavy-duty. Whether you want to use your new patio for barbecues, get-togethers, or just quiet time outside, we are ready to help you get it ready to go. JK Enterprise will guide you through the process of choosing your type of gravel and patio size, and once you have the perfect rock patio designed, we will give you everything you need to be successful with your project.
Things To Consider for a Rock Patio
Before you do anything else for this project, you should do some planning for your rock patio. Here are a couple of major considerations that you may want to start with:
- How big is your yard, and how big do you want the patio to be? Do you want it to take up all of your outdoor space or just some of it?
- What activities do you enjoy doing outside, and in particular, what activities would you be doing on your new patio?
- How much are you willing to spend on this project? What budget do you have set aside for it?
Additionally, there are numerous structural considerations to keep in mind when planning the construction of a rock patio:
- Are there any nearby trees? If so, the roots could prevent you from digging in certain places, and the construction project could possibly hurt these trees.
- Are there any buried lines in your yard? The best way to figure this out is to call your utility company and make sure that there are not any in the area where you plan to build the patio.
- Is your site well drained? Extra wetness or slope in the land could decrease a potential patio’s durability.
- Lastly, is there shade in the area, and if so, do you want your patio to be shaded?
While some of the answers to these questions may come to you naturally, other considerations may be more difficult. But don’t worry – we commonly advise our customers and help them create their uniquely perfect rock patios. You can call JK Enterprise to get a consultation from an expert so that you are confident and secure in your decisions before you actually commit to anything. This rock patio may be an integral part of your home and family life for many years, so we want to ensure that you get the most out of it as possible and have no regrets or issues with it later on.
Once you feel good about your preliminary planning process, it will be time for the next step: choosing the rock to use for your rock patio.
What Rock Should I Choose?
The type of rock you decide to use for your rock patio will depend on various different factors, and ultimately you want it to be the best fit for your space and the function you have planned for it. Each of our many different rock options has its own pros and cons, and each of our customers has different priorities, so you should take your time when making this important decision.
JK Enterprise offers numerous options for the base of your rock patio, including gravel and stone. Grey stone, pea gravel, red rock, washed river stone, river jacks, and river wash are some of our options. You can also choose the size of your stone or gravel.
Typically, we recommend the use of pea gravel for rock patio projects. We offer two different sizes of pea gravel, 3/8” and 1/4” – 1/2.” Pea gravel is one of our most popular products, as it can be used for many different landscaping projects. It is small enough that you will not trip on it, but it is also large enough that you will not get too dusty or find small rocks in your shoes. Additionally, when you pack pea gravel together and compact it, its stability is nearly as good as actual concrete, especially when you choose the 3/8” option.
Overall, as you make your decision of which rock to use for your rock patio, whether or not you take our advice to get pea gravel, JK Enterprise is here to help. We understand that you have unique needs for this project, and we want to help you make the best decisions and plans possible.
How Do I Build My Rock Patio?
After considering the many planning questions and choosing what type of rock you will use for your project, it will finally be time to get to work on the patio. Place an order at JK Enterprise for your rock, and you should also obtain the following materials before getting started:
- A shovel
- A can of spray paint
- Edging material (enough to line the perimeter)
- Landscape fabric (enough for the base of the patio)
Once you have these items ready to go and have received your shipment of rocks, you can get started on the rock patio project.
First, you should take some time to do some general maintenance and prepare your yard for the construction process. Here are some of the ways you can do this:
- Pull weeds and remove plants that will be in your construction zone
- Dig a few inches of the dirt so that when you add the rocks, the rocks will be in line with the ground
- Tidy up the space and remove any unnecessary furniture or other objects
Once the preparatory work is done, you can go ahead and draw the shape of your future patio on the ground. With the spray paint, draw on the dirt where you want the border of your rock patio to be. Whether this is a square, a rectangle, or a more random-looking path will depend on what you have in mind for the finished project.
When the paint has dried on the ground and you are pleased with the outline, install some sort of frame or edge on top of it. Bricks, boards, and other materials can work well for this task. The most important consideration is that the material will not decompose in the ground over the years and that you like the overall way that it will look as a part of your patio.
Then, it will be time to get your landscape fabric out and lay it on the ground within the installed edges. If you have any grass in the area, this fabric will kill it and prevent future plants or weeds from growing as well. The fabric will also serve as a firm foundation for the patio. In order to take full advantage of this, it is important that you carefully lay it down and ensure that there are no gaps between the end of the fabric and the patio’s edges.
Once the ground is covered by fabric, you can finally bring out the rocks and add them in. No matter what type of rock you decided on during the planning stage, you should spread them out all over the space set aside for the patio. Some people choose to add just one layer of the rocks, while other people find it more aesthetically appealing to add extra rocks so that they reach the top of the patio’s edging material. Adding more rocks can also prevent them from moving around or creating gaps between one another.
While a couple of inches of rocks in your patio space is generally enough and you can easily spread them out with a rake or shovel, if you are using smaller rocks, then you may want to use a compactor after installing the rocks. This will make the structure much more secure and firm, so you can rest assured that no activity will stir them.
Get Outside and Relax
Hopefully, these steps do not seem too difficult, and once you complete this process, it is time for you to finally take advantage of your new landscaping addition! This outdoor extension of your home will offer everyone in the family a new oasis and place to relax and rejuvenate. After just a few hours of work, you can enjoy your beautiful and functional rock patio!
Throughout the whole process, do not hesitate to reach out to JK Enterprise if you have any questions or need a bit of extra assistance. You have no reason to outsource the job to an unpredictable installation worker when you can easily get the job done yourself with just these quick and easy steps! This investment will not only pay off now but also in the long run when you look to host events or even sell your home.
Are you ready to get started? We’re here to help with all the rocks, additional materials, and, of course, any advice you may need.
