Was installing a door through a brick wall for a client the other day. I noticed that the dirt was all the way up on her third course of brick, so I told her she really needs to get her dirt pulled back from the house because a normal brick ledge is 1.5 inches high and she risks flooding and all the other things that go wrong. When I start busting the bricks loose for the door way, I noticed that the brick ledge was 5.5 inches VERTICALLY. So to explain further, starting from the outside going inward you have an 1.5 inches horizontal, 5.5 inches vertical and then you slab that the plates rest on. Why did thaey do it that way. Is that normal. Is it ok to have the bricks buried that deep. Do you think she needs to pull the dirt away after all. I hate offering info to the client and then finding out I was wrong. Makes me look like I am not omnipotent after all 🙂
thanks
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No, 5.5" isn't unusual. In our commercial applications, they can be 24". 1.5" for the shelf is unusual, though. Are you saying that the bricks are only bearing on 1.5" for a 3.5" wide brick ?
carpenter in transition
No, Sorry,...Starting at the ground....5.5 inches horizontal, 5.5 vert, then top of slab. This is a residential. I never knew they went sodeep for a brick ledge.
While I got you on the horn. Concrete guy wants to pour up to the house. He stil needs to go to the base of the brick ledge right? Or can he pour up to the bricks. Small patio slab for leisure, no bearing. MY problem is that dirt seems too high and needs to be graded in order to get slope. However, if it is ok to pour up to the bricks themselves there is no problem. I was under the assumption that the ledge was only 1.5 inches. Now that i know the top of the slab is 5.5 up I am not as concerned about water infiltration, Though I would still rather pour to the base of the brick ledge. There is a beautiful oak tree in the middle of this area; a crucial element to the whole "patio experience" I am worried about hitting roots if we have to dig too deep.
<Now that i know the top of the slab is 5.5 up I am not as concerned about water infiltration,>
What you should be concerned with is the weep holes that should be in the head joints of the brick and BELOW the top of the slab. Flashing behind the brick should be continuous and with proper overlap and extend under the bottom course of brick. You should not have a concrete pour up the brick.
Regarding the concrete patio surrounding a "beautiful oak tree... a crucial element... to... 'the patio experience'....."
The root area under the canopy needs to "breath" and the tree system can be severely damaged by compaction of the overlying ground, as may happen when you cover it with a few tons of concrete patio. I would consult an arborist(sp) for advice in this area.
Use pavers.