Hi All!
I’m new here and hoping for some advice. We’re planning on putting in a patio that is a mix of stone and cedar decking material. We’re assuming that we need to dig down several inches into the earth and first lay down some kind of pressure-treated lumber to nail the cedar to.
Any thoughts? Is this unnecessary work or is there something else we should think about?
Thanks!
GardenBug
Replies
A mix of cedar and stone.
What sort of pattern are you wanting? Size of pavers and cedar area?
Overall size of patio?
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
It's small. Three areas - cedar: 20x15. stone: 8x8 and 10x7. Small flagstones to be used.
Drainage and avoiding heaving are a main consideration. If there's no grade change to speak of and you'd be digging out the cedar area to place "joists" to fasten to, I would be concerned with creating a pond or an area that will be constantly damp-not good for wood. Could you elevate the cedar, come down to the stone with maybe a limestone or granite step? That way you could have perhaps some ventilation under the cedar deck.
Initially I gave some thought to making a sort of parquet with sleepers covered with cedar that could maybe be laid on a bed of crushed stone. 2x2 or 2x3 foot "tiles" in some sort of pattern. I don't know if you could get a treated framework to lay flat over time tho.
Best of luck with whatever you end up doing.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I think your climate (freeze in winter?) and your drainage conditions would also figure in. If you have poor drainage and clay in soil, you might want to even dig out soil and replace with gravel for drainage, with a sort of frame embedded in the gravel. You may also want to see what you local code says--it may require some sort of footings to be below frost line (if you get frost). I am thinking that well drained gravel would prevent much shifting even in an area where it freezes, but I don't know if that would be to code.
Thanks so much! Good points. Really appreciate it. GB
seall the crap outta the cedar!!!!
contrary to popular myth, Cedar WILL rot eventually...
#$&%(*$#
Please excuse our mess....
Tagline under reconstruction...