I seldom get on this board so hope this subject has not recently been addressed.

The grass in my side yard does not get much sunlight since the houses are so close together. I have given up on the grass and thinking about going to the crushed granite looking material. Does anyone have any thoughts good or bad and does anyone have a recommendation for someone who does that type of work. Thanks.

Consider running a french drain or catch-basin and drain line out to your street below the granite.

I prefer weed barrier, a layer of sand, and pavers since you can roll stuff across them more easily like trash cans and wheel barrows. These should be $0.25 or 0.33 each memorial day weekend:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Holland-7-75-in-x-4-in-x-1-75-in-River-Red-Concrete-Paver-22051/100619492

MS08 said:

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Consider "Black Star" or "Texas Star" for an upscale look over crushed granite. Also, they are bigger size rocks so they don't get stuck on your feet like crushed granite does.

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I looked "Black Star" up and it definitely is a good look with larger pebble size.

If the area is more or less out is site and all you need functionality the decomposed granite is a good option. I have some DG pathways in back of my yard they are compacted firm so you can easily move wheeled things along and it drain real well.

Ryan the Temp said:

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MS08 said:

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Consider "Black Star" or "Texas Star" for an upscale look over crushed granite. Also, they are bigger size rocks so they don't get stuck on your feet like crushed granite does.

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100% this. Crushed/decomposed granite sticks to your shoes and get tracked inside where it tears up your floors.

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Yessir! If you know, you know! Hah.

I have some black star that I can't walk on with bare feet, must be something different

Keeper of The Spirits said:

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I have some black star that I can't walk on with bare feet, must be something different

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Nope. Same stuff - black star is uncomfortable to walk on with bare feet, no doubt about that. But crushed granite will stick to shoes, socks, bare feet, etc., which causes it to track into the house.

I appreciate all the input. Very helpful.

I may be a big baby but that stuff hurts to walk across barefoot.

Thanks for the input on blackstar. The War Department has been talking up a crushed granite path that I've been dodging on install for a while. We don't use the area much and it would be at a minimum 30-40 steps from the house before you would track any in.

If you are anywhere near Knippa, get some "trap rock" or screenings. Stays in place, doesn't stick to shoes/feet. Does the same job and probably cheaper.

will black star stay in place if you use a blower? we have live oaks and red oaks, so there are a lot of leaves in the fall and spring. I was looking at decent sized river rock since crush granite/limestone would blow all over the place.

Yes but leaves will migrate into the black granite voids.

I've got a lot of decomposed granite at my place and I blow leaves from it just fine. After compacting and watering it in, it stays pretty well.

I use the 1/2-3/4" granite chips (used to have decomposed granite). The chips hold much better against the blower, and they hide any remaining leaves and debris way better than the black. I

I had the same issue. Used crushed granite with some 24 x 24 paverstones. Also had the gutter downspouts buried and run to the French drain in my backyard. Made a huge difference.

We had crushed granite pathways with pavers in between. We just did a project to remove it and replace it with stamped concrete sidewalks.

Our experience was that over time the crush granite rocks get smaller and smaller. If you ever plan walk around the area barefoot it can be painful. Plan on having to redo the crush granite and "refill" the area in about 5-7 years depending on foot traffic.

I've done a few crushed granite projects over the years. One word of advice…. whatever you think you need, double it.

I spent about $800 on crushed granite from Home Depot, and the actual material was garbage. Ended up covering with pea gravel.

Quote:

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Consider "Black Star" or "Texas Star" for an upscale look over crushed granite. Also, they are bigger size rocks so they don't get stuck on your feet like crushed granite does.100% this. Crushed/decomposed granite sticks to your shoes and get tracked inside where it tears up your floors.

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Black/Texas Star (Both Basalt gravels from the same pit in Knippa Texas where all that gravel comes from) are nice but 3x the cost of Granite from the Hill Country area.

You can buy the granite in larger sizes just like the Black Star. (They call it "Fairland Pink" in some stores) Install gravel over 4OZ filter fabric so the material doesn't migrate into the subgrade with rain & compression. (Try Collier Materials)
5/8" material and above will hold together pretty well when hit with a blower, 1" is better. Larger than 1" and it starts to get difficult to walk on, especially when barefoot.

You only need a couple of inches of gravel.
To calculate how much you need, multiple the square footage x depth in inches & divide by 324.
1000 SF x 2" divided by 324 is a little over 6 cubic yards.
Multiple by 1.2 to get tonnage required if the place you're buying from sells by weight.

+1 for Collier Materials. Only effective for Bulk Loads if you are going to get it trucked in. I guess you could pick up, don't know their on the ground setup. I get all of my Black Star and Crushed Granite from them by the 18 wheeler loads.

JBLHAG03 said:

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I spent about $800 on crushed granite from Home Depot, and the actual material was garbage. Ended up covering with pea gravel.

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I think pea gravel may be the one material I despise more than crushed granite in traffic areas…..