Any advice on patio building?
 

I'm considering putting down a patio at the rear of our home and was
hoping / wondering if I could avoid one tedious step (digging and earth
removal). :) So feel free to fire away with "good idea" and/or "don't
do that you idiot" advice. Large amounts of digging and earth
moving/removal drive me insane. It's a mental thing I can't overcome.

The basement is at walk-out level in the rear. The area in mind is
fairly level, with a slight slope away from the house already
conveniently in place. I've read all about digging 7 or 8 inches deep
for laying all of the base materials. I had also briefly considered a
"raised-bed garden" (or whatever the proper term is) in this spot.

So... my idea was to combine the two concepts (thus a slightly raised
patio)... "frame" the area for the patio on top of the existing
ground, then use a little extra top soil to fill in some "divots" or
depressions, ensure the slope is good again, then lay down the base
materials, then the stone...

I'm not too concerned about the aesthetic appeal (at the edges) of a 6
or 8 inch raised patio, as my plan is to box most of the border in with
some trellis structures, then grow some ivy-like plant on them to give
it a cozy feel (and being in a cookie-cutter development, some privacy
from the neighbors). Two openings would serve as a step up onto the
patio...

Anyway, any and all opinions would be appreciated!

Any advice on patio building?
 

If basement is ground level whatever you do will raise it above door
level, that does not sound right. Putting in a base is also for drainage
and easy leveling of the instalation and keepng mud from comming up and
the patio from sinking enevenly, so you hire someone to dig.

Any advice on patio building?
 

Any advice on patio building?
 

I used those home depot fake bricks created with a plastic molding
and quickcrete..
Pretty, but.
Don't neglect some steel. Cracks
Don't put it right against the house foundation. Termites....


On 5 Jul 2006 20:29:58 -0700, wrote:


I'm considering putting down a patio at the rear of our home and was
hoping / wondering if I could avoid one tedious step (digging and earth
removal). :) So feel free to fire away with "good idea" and/or "don't
do that you idiot" advice. Large amounts of digging and earth
moving/removal drive me insane. It's a mental thing I can't overcome.

The basement is at walk-out level in the rear. The area in mind is
fairly level, with a slight slope away from the house already
conveniently in place. I've read all about digging 7 or 8 inches deep
for laying all of the base materials. I had also briefly considered a
"raised-bed garden" (or whatever the proper term is) in this spot.

So... my idea was to combine the two concepts (thus a slightly raised
patio)... "frame" the area for the patio on top of the existing
ground, then use a little extra top soil to fill in some "divots" or
depressions, ensure the slope is good again, then lay down the base
materials, then the stone...

I'm not too concerned about the aesthetic appeal (at the edges) of a 6
or 8 inch raised patio, as my plan is to box most of the border in with
some trellis structures, then grow some ivy-like plant on them to give
it a cozy feel (and being in a cookie-cutter development, some privacy
from the neighbors). Two openings would serve as a step up onto the
patio...

Anyway, any and all opinions would be appreciated!

Any advice on patio building?
 

I've read all about digging 7 or 8 inches deep
for laying all of the base materials. I had also briefly considered a
"raised-bed garden" (or whatever the proper term is) in this spot.

So... my idea was to combine the two concepts (thus a slightly raised
patio)... "frame" the area for the patio on top of the existing
ground, then use a little extra top soil to fill in some "divots" or
depressions, ensure the slope is good again, then lay down the base
materials, then the stone...

What is important is the solidity of the base. Topsoil is generally not as
hard and compactable as clay. The failure may not come for a few years, but
if the ground moves, heaves, whatever, you will end up with cracks or worse.
If need be, pay someone to do the digging, but do the job right. Fixing it
three years later will be much more labor, much more.