Sidewalk Construction – grading question
Hi,
I am installing a sidewalk at my house approximately 34′ long. The end of the sidewalk that is furthest away from the house is about 71/2 inches higher than the end closest to the house. In other words, the water slopes back towards the house. The end furthest away is at the bottom of some steps that lead up to a parking pad. I am thinking about leveling the new sidewalk but it will be a lot of work. Does anyone have an opinion on whether I should put the sidewalk in at the current grade or go through the trouble of digging down to make it level? Thanks
Replies
You could try putting a small step (4" or so?) in your sidewalk close to the house.
If you dig down to level out your sidewalk as it nears the steps leading to your parking area, you will have to do some sort of landscaping to keep the soil from washing onto your sidewalk.
I would think that deep control joints cut across the walk every 5-6 feet (you want these anyway) will prevent most of the water from coming back toward the house.... it'll hit the joints and flow off to one side or the other. You could also do a bit of grading and make the section nearest the house slope away from the house, depending on the situation.
Kevin2803
I am thinking too that you want to make certain there is no sag or low spot in your 34' span of walk, as is the case at my residence; every heavy rainstorm here leaves an impassable lake in the sidewalk owing to the way our walk was sited and formed up. I am in the process of raising the whole thing about 4".
And be certain to either slightly slightly slope the walk to one side or the other, preferably the lower side if you have that luxury in the natural grade.