Pea gravel has a wide range of uses in exterior design, and as with any landscaping product, the goal is to find pea gravel at a competitive price from a supplier that cares about what they do.
To find a quality supplier, you need to understand the factors that determine the price of pea gravel and learn how to compare and contrast the available suppliers.
Pea Gravel Costs: What Is Pea Gravel?
Broadly speaking, gravel is a construction and landscaping product made up of rock and stone fragments that conform to relatively small size characteristics.
The defining feature of pea gravel is that its component rocks are small, rounded and uniform in size – like peas.
The United States has been one of the world’s most prolific gravel producers for many years, and as such, the domestic market is replete with options. Quality pea gravel has several defining characteristics, but before considering these, you should first have a thorough understanding of its range of possible uses.
Pea Gravel Costs: Top Uses for Pea Gravel
Here are the four most common applications for pea gravel:
- Landscaping: Pea gravel lends gardens, fountains and landscaping features a rustic and natural appeal while helping protect plant roots and inhibit weed growth.
- Residential construction: Pea gravel is a popular material for driveways as well as walkways, particularly in rural areas.
- Playgrounds: One of the most useful features of pea gravel is that it allows water to drain through the spaces between the stones very easily, making it an excellent choice for keeping playgrounds dry and safe.
- Pool decks and aquariums: Pea gravel is commonly seen filling the bottom layer of home aquariums, and it is also an excellent natural material for filling in the decks of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Some people also like the look and feel of pea gravel as a patio surface, especially if they’re going for a natural esthetic in yards and gardens.
Pea Gravel Costs: Factors Affecting Price
There are numerous factors that affect the cost of pea gravel, the most important of which are the amount you are ordering and delivery.
Also, as with just about all landscaping and construction materials, you’ll usually get a volume discount if you buy in bulk. In other words, the more pea gravel you buy, the lower your per-unit costs will be. However, because pea gravel is typically sold by weight/volume, you should perform careful surface area calculations to ensure you’re purchasing the right amount.
Pea Gravel Costs: Choosing the Right Supplier
As mentioned, pea gravel costs are not the only thing to consider when choosing a supplier. It’s also important to consider how much expertise the supplier has, and how their customer service policies will affect your satisfaction.
Many people, particularly hobbyists and people just starting out with DIY projects, make the mistake of assuming that there isn’t much to know about pea gravel.
The truth is that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye – the type of rock, its finish, its weight and drainage characteristics all need to be taken into careful consideration. That’s why choosing a supplier that knows its business is vital if you want to get the best possible performance.
Finally, consider delivery costs and options. If you need a large volume of pea gravel, or if you’re in a remote location without the ability to pick the gravel up yourself, you’ll want to choose a pea gravel supplier that offers courteous, cost-effective delivery and on-site drop off to ensure your full satisfaction
