What to use under my deck?

[Ixer]

Hello all,
I’m having my first attempt at building a raised deck in the garden. It sits between 20-40cm off the ground (sloped garden). My support posts are all in and now I’m laying the weed suppressing fabric. What I want to know is if I can just use any old ballast and sub base that’s lying around on top of it? Or is it essential to use gravel as is suggested on most websites?

What are people’s thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Marcr2712]

I have just finished something very similar and used cheap pea gravel.

 

[Ixer]

I have just finished something very similar and used cheap pea gravel.
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That looks great!
The issue I’m having is getting hold of enough pea gravel to complete the task and wondered if the ballast or sub base would be suitable alternatives?

 

[Marcr2712]

Thanks, getting hold of material has been a challenge! To be honest this is only the second deck I’ve laid as a diyer, my idea was to use pea gravel to stop water pooling. On the first deck I did I just used weed matting. Out of the two I’d go for sub base, ballast may hold water.

 

[Halitosis]

You need to make sure it’s something no plant can grow in. Pea gravel is good. Ballast may just hold enough organically and moisture for weeds to take hold. I’d go big size as once weeds take hold under a deck it’s a pain in the a***