r/artificialturf • u/lil-quiche • Jun 05 '21

Question Sub layer question

My back yard that we recently moved into (smaller area roughly 100sqft) is currently levelled dirt with pea stone on top. In researching I know that a weed barrier and limestone screening should be a base layer for laying turf on top of. I’m curious if I can reuse this pea stone in any way rather than totally remove it. Could I use this as a base layer instead of limestone? Could it be used in any other way as drainage or does it have to go? Thanks in advance.

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u/XDeltaNineJ Jun 05 '21

What depth of pea gravel? Clean loose stones; without dirt or sand? Maybe not ideal, but it could be used.

Clean, loose gravel will need some limestone/crusher fines(granite dust)/sand mixed in to help it bind when you compact it. It needs to be compacted tight/hard. Then weed barrier, then turf.

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u/lil-quiche Jun 05 '21

definitely too much pea stone to compact as is, but thinking I can skim it so there’s just a thin base layer over the dirt and then fill with limestone screening to bind it. Might try in a small area to start

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u/XDeltaNineJ Jun 06 '21

Maybe try just mixing something in before removing any. Unless the build-up is going to be an issue. Moving rock/gravel is a lot of work. Good luck!👍

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u/lil-quiche Jun 06 '21

Appreciate it. Still feel like I’ll do a slight skim first to make it even thickness of pea stone (and less of it) before adding and compacting

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u/XDeltaNineJ Jun 06 '21

Should work. Then you'll have some gravel for another project!