Had a show down between paver base panels vs gravel this weekend

My neighbor Frank swore by the old school gravel method for his patio, so I went with paver base panels on my side. After a full season of rain and freeze thaw cycles here in Portland, his pavers are already shifting and I've got zero movement. The panels cost me about $200 for a 10x10 area, but I saved 6 hours of digging and hauling. Has anyone else tried these panels or am I just lucky so far?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jake23d ago

Jumped on the paver panels last year for a 12x12 area in my backyard and I'm a total convert now. Honestly felt like cheating compared to the wheelbarrow full of gravel my buddy was hauling around. After a wet Massachusetts winter, I've got maybe 1/8 inch of settling while his whole pathway looks like a roller coaster. Your mileage may vary but I think the key is making sure the ground underneath is packed super flat before you lay the panels down.

jasonallen23d agoTop Commenter

Yeah, I saw a video about that over the winter from some contractor in the Northeast. He said the same thing about packing the ground tight and that the panels stay put way better than loose gravel. Sounded like a no-brainer after hearing how his was holding up.

susanb3423d ago

That 1/8 inch settling is basically nothing, my neighbor's gravel path sank a good 2 inches after one winter here in upstate NY. Sounds like you prepped it right, the flat base is everything with those panels.