Hi. I'd like to pour a simple 3' x 8' concrete slab (4" thick) as a walkout
from my basement's sliding door. Since I don't really need to dig very deep
into the soil for this, I'm wondering if I still need to have my local
utility companies come out and mark the location of underground cables. For
that matter, if there are buried cables right under this area, is it even a
good idea to put a slab on top? Or should I put something more "temporary"
(bricks on sand, patio blocks, etc.) that I can remove easily if needed?
Thanks for the help.


Fr@nk

Fr@nk, 8/6/2005, 9:47:48 AM, wrote:

Hi. I'd like to pour a simple 3' x 8' concrete slab (4" thick) as a
walkout from my basement's sliding door. Since I don't really need to
dig very deep into the soil for this, I'm wondering if I still need
to have my local utility companies come out and mark the location of
underground cables. For that matter, if there are buried cables right
under this area, is it even a good idea to put a slab on top? Or
should I put something more "temporary" (bricks on sand, patio
blocks, etc.) that I can remove easily if needed? Thanks for the
help.


Fr@nk

What would it hurt to call them out? It's free and you will not have
to worry about possibly cutting something.

--
"The least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because
of the uproar of butterflies in the adjoining meadows."
P.G. Wodehouse

"badgolferman" wrote in message
...

What would it hurt to call them out? It's free and you will not have
to worry about possibly cutting something.

--
"The least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because
of the uproar of butterflies in the adjoining meadows."
P.G. Wodehouse

Yeah, you're right, and I do plan to call them out. I guess I should've
asked this question differently: what I'm really wondering is if I can still
throw a 4" slab on top of buried cables at all. I mean, if I don't have to
dig down deep enough to disturb the cables, can I still pour concrete on
top? The cables would be undisturbed.

But of course they'd now be buried under a 4" concrete slab...


Fr@nk

"Fr@nk" wrote in message
news:ip4Je.68426$FP2.47426@lakeread03...


Yeah, you're right, and I do plan to call them out. I guess I should've
asked this question differently: what I'm really wondering is if I can
still
throw a 4" slab on top of buried cables at all. I mean, if I don't have to
dig down deep enough to disturb the cables, can I still pour concrete on
top? The cables would be undisturbed.

But of course they'd now be buried under a 4" concrete slab...

Sure. but there is probably nothing under there anyway. If you don't see
anything coming into the house in that area you are probably safe. Right at
the door is a dumb place for anything to be routed, but you never know. In
most areas, 12" is the minimum to trench and you are only going 4".

I doubt you will ever need to get to the cables. Its not like there's a
junction box down there. The only thing I can imagine is a problem with a
water or sewer line.

If there is any problem a new line will probably be run and it will just be
run around the slab.


"Fr@nk" wrote in message
news:xc3Je.68416$FP2.5752@lakeread03...
Hi. I'd like to pour a simple 3' x 8' concrete slab (4" thick) as a
walkout
from my basement's sliding door. Since I don't really need to dig very
deep
into the soil for this, I'm wondering if I still need to have my local
utility companies come out and mark the location of underground cables.
For
that matter, if there are buried cables right under this area, is it even
a
good idea to put a slab on top? Or should I put something more "temporary"
(bricks on sand, patio blocks, etc.) that I can remove easily if needed?
Thanks for the help.


Fr@nk

"Fr@nk" wrote in message
news:xc3Je.68416$FP2.5752@lakeread03...
Hi. I'd like to pour a simple 3' x 8' concrete slab (4" thick) as a
walkout
from my basement's sliding door. Since I don't really need to dig very
deep
into the soil for this, I'm wondering if I still need to have my local
utility companies come out and mark the location of underground cables.
For
that matter, if there are buried cables right under this area, is it even
a
good idea to put a slab on top? Or should I put something more "temporary"
(bricks on sand, patio blocks, etc.) that I can remove easily if needed?
Thanks for the help.


Fr@nk

Calling them is pretty cheap insurance.

I have seen phone cables just covered over in a yard. Do not concern your
self about the concrete. The utilities where I live will avoid it or go
under it. If replacement becomes an issue.