My contractor is about to pour a 600 sq. ft. slab over a sub base of new fill and natural grade.The new fill is up to 24″ deep and comprises about 60% of the area.The fill has been in place for 2 weeks and has not been compacted in any manor.I say this is not going to work–he sez it’ll be fine.Any words of wisdom?
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it will settle and crack ther slab
Fire him.
Compacting with a typical plate compactor at this time won't even help.
The fill should have gone on undisturbed soil, and the native soil, if previously disturbed, should have been compacted in lifts to provide a solid base before the fill was added.
Also, he should have removed any organics (top soil) over the "native" area you described. Intuitive to most, but who knows with your guy. Organics will eventually break down and leave voids under the slab.
If the base is decent, the best bet is to remove the added fill to get down to about 4" of new, compact that, then add another 4", compact that, keep adding and compacting in 4" lifts until yoou get to the desired elevation.
This is a bad situation, if the slab is against your house you might end up with basement water issues down the road. Depends on which way the slab pitches when it cracks/settles.
That is not going to work.
Fire him.
Backcharge him the cost of having it corrected before you pay him off.
SamT