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I too am interested adding more patio to the backward of my house. The problem here in TX is that not only is the ground a spongy clay but also that the foundation of the house and the ground needs to “watered” in order for the slab the house sits on to maintain its integrity.
When putting in a new slab, should room be left for water to get to the foundation (if so approx. how much ?)
Is there any better idea that I should consider that would be better for this situation, pave stone, etc.
Thanks in Advance,
Krishna
Replies
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Perhaps you might consider a Ipe or Redwood deck instead of concrete. You could even add a wood pergola with some built in benches for climbing plants which would give some much needed shade from that hot Texas summer sun.
*Krishna,I'd talk with the concrete contractor about that. Some of your slab will always be exposed to the elements. It shouldn't be below grade. I haven't heard of anyone leaving room for water.The pave stones sound good. No upkeep. But as carpenters, me and Frank are partial to wood.Good luck,Ed. Williams
*Krishna, what you actually are doing is water the ground aound the foundation. The soil below the slab pretty much stays at a stable moisture content because it can't evaporate upward, and it's always in the shade. If you keep the surrounding area watered properly, then the dry exposed soil doesn't wick the moisture out from under the slab. Keep the new slab tight to the house slab, and keep the soaker hose going in the summer. You might have some luck by excavating the soil under the new slab to a sufficient depth, and filling with a less expansive base mixture, which would include more sand and a lot less clay.
*Thanks for the help. I didn't want the hassle of staining wood periodically so I was going for some kind of stone product. I was all in the pavestone vs. concrete debate with myself.I am unclear whether or not I still need my soaker hose to "wet down" the area where the new slab makes contact to the house slab. It sounds like I don't have to because wetting down the area next to it will get the underside wet.Yep...I'll admit it. I'm a Northerner and a former apt dweller so this is doubly new to me.
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I too am interested adding more patio to the backward of my house. The problem here in TX is that not only is the ground a spongy clay but also that the foundation of the house and the ground needs to "watered" in order for the slab the house sits on to maintain its integrity.
When putting in a new slab, should room be left for water to get to the foundation (if so approx. how much ?)
Is there any better idea that I should consider that would be better for this situation, pave stone, etc.
Thanks in Advance,
Krishna