Stone pebble borders

Does a stone pebble garden border cause damp issues between it and wall of property ? Do these borders cause more weeds to grow through them ? How easy is it to remove these and relay with either concrete or paving slabs instead ?

Asked by Gillian on 14th Jul 2021
Expert Trade Answers
"The wall of the property should have a damp course layer usually 3 or 4 courses up from the footing. Damp on the wall will be entirely dependent on the draining of the material that abutts the wall, if the water does not drain away and is sitting there then there is more risk of damp. Weeds grow on / in all soil so they wont be worse in a pebble border just more work to keep weed free as all the pebbles mean it cant be turned with a fork. Laying concrete or slabs is not a thing we do in forestry and tree work you will need to ask a builder for that advice.
Kind regards
Greg"
Answered on 14th Jul 2021 - Member since Oct 2020 - report
"You need to check where your damp proof course is the course of brickwork at the bottom of your house that has a black plastic on top of it (dpc) if your stone boarder is lower than that course you shouldn’t get any damp inside your house providing the damp proof course has been fitted correctly (it probably is )

And if you buy the correct membrane to place under your stone boarder you shouldn’t have a problem with weeds you would need to keep the stone boarder free of soil and leaves as if they are left between the stones you will have a soil lay build up on top of your membrane rendering it useless as it’s the wrong side of the soil to prevent weeds

And removal should be easy if you have the membrane underneath you can use it by pulling it up at one side and bringing all the stone on it together

And replacing with slabs is doable depending on your skill and knowledge about how to dig out to depth create a base and then lay slabs to spec

Hope this helps"
Answered on 14th Jul 2021 - Member since Jan 2020 - report
"If the pebbles are below the property damp course there should be no issues with damp, this is true of a slab patio or any other surface, adjacent to a property wall.

There should be no more weeds than any other material, particularly so ,if a weed control fabric has been laid under the pebbles.

Not difficult to remove, but there is a cost of getting rid of them ,and they are heavy."
Answered on 14th Jul 2021 - Member since Jun 2015 - report
"Hi if you have pebbles or stone it Acts as a soak away as long as the stone isn't layed on a concrete base otherwise the water will not be able to soak away.and will corse water to rise and puddles of water.it would be wise to use a teran sheeting.which you can lay over soil then put your pebbles or stone on top the teran will allow the water to drain and stop most if not all weeds coming up .if laying slabs do the same put Turan under as slabs made of cement and cement will in time allow warter to soak through .which is fine but will stop weeds. Do not put plastic under anything as this will hold warter and not allow it to soak through .hope this helps .col"
Answered on 14th Jul 2021 - Member since Dec 2020 - report
"They are good for soaking up the rain also can add sleepers with gravel tops"
Answered on 8th Feb 2022 - Member since Jan 2022 - report
"They shouldn’t necessarily cause any problems but being such an old way of building they’re could be underlying problems. There is no real extra work than normal to remove and replace this with slabs 100%. Any local competent builder should be able to do this."
Answered on 13th Aug 2021 - Member since Aug 2021 - report
"as long as its below the damp course of the house it should be fine"
Answered on 26th Jul 2022 - Member since Jul 2022 - report
"The only way it will cause damp to a property is if it’s too high up stonework, on brick-built properties nothing should be piled laid or left within three brick courses of DPC damp proof coarse. It’s fairly easy to remove if your fit"
Answered on 5th Jan 2022 - Member since Mar 2021 - report
"No it doesn’t, it actually helps get air down to whatever the border is situated, because the stones have a tiny gap between them.
Removing them is an easy job and shouldn’t cost that much and in some cases weeds do grow through them but it is not the pebbles that cause that"
Answered on 30th Jul 2021 - Member since Jul 2021 - report
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