Hi all —
I’m working on a project where we are going to pour a slab over some cmu planters and then face and cap the planters with granite slab material. The planters are about 4’x8′, three-sided, and built right up against a three-coat stucco sided house. They were filled with dirt and gravel and water was wicking up between the framing and stucco and causing mold inside the house at the baseboard level. We decided that they would be more attractive and functional as stone pedestals. I’m planning on waterproofing the interior of the planters with Pacific Polymers Elasto-Deck 5000 then filling them with either 3/4″ crushed gravel or sand, pouring a 2″-3″ slab with a slight pitch on top, removing about 8″ of stucco, then waterproofing the slab and wall up under the existing felt paper. I’m wondering if residual moisture in the sand or gravel could cause a problem if it is sealed in by the new slab. Should I vent the inside by means of some holes drilled through the cmu walls? Ideas?
Thanks,
Pete
Replies
You should have drain holes at the bottom. But those should have been there already.
There aren't any drain holes. The bottom of the planter is sand/dirt. I thought I'd cap that with a couple inches of cement to prevent rodents from tunnelling up into the enclosure. Do you think a series of 1" holes around the base behind the new granite facing would do?
If the dirt "communicates"
If the dirt "communicates" with the ground below that should be sufficient -- just stick some cardboard around the edges of the cap to keep it loose. Any holes should be a quarter-inch or smaller, to keep mice from taking up residence.
I figured I should pour a couple inches of cement over the bare ground inside so rodents don't bore up into the covered planter. I can drill a series of 1/4" hole, but won't they just fill with sand over time and clog up? Do you think there will be a lot of moisture inside this structure once it's all waterproofed?