What material do i use to build my patio?
Question:i have a 8x 10 peice of my yard that i would like to put a patio on. the only problem is that it retains water no matter which way i slope it. if its level or sloped either way it holds water. what should i do about the water and what material should i use to build my pation i was thinking either concrete or paver. your suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Answers:
If you want to go with concrete, you can install what is called a underslab drainage system underneath the concrete. Before you pour concrete, go to Lowe's, home depot, etc, and find some PVC pipe to use as a drain system. Place the pipe so that it is underneath of the slab, and falls in the direction you want the water to go. Secure it with some sort of large staple into the ground, be sure the fall is right. Pour the concrete over those pipes, and it should drain the underside of the slab when water pools. Where you want the water to drain to is up to you. You can dig a small trench to fall the water to another area of your yard, or even install a prefabricated trench drain.
In addition, you can bring in fill dirt, sand, etc to stabilize the soil before you install the drain system and concrete. You can look up "mud matting" as well, which is nothing more than pouring a rough slab of concrete first to stablize the area, then pouring finish concrete over that later. There are a lot of options here, it all depends on what your yard is really like.
Can't you fill that area with soil so that it is not pooling before you use cement or pavers? If not, why not use TREX and built it up off the ground a little so that it isn't soggy.
If you install a patio and grade it at 2%, water should not collect. 2% is equal to 1/4" per foot, ie, 2" in 8'.
1. Start where your yard is the highest in elevation, and make this the highest side of the patio. Water here can drain across the patio.
2. Or...make all adjacent areas of the patio a little lower that the patio. Re-grade areas away from patio.
I would use pavers. They are easier to work with, nicer looking, and will not crack as concrete can. In addition, water can seep through to help with your drainage problem.
Good luck.
Susan
www.landscape-design-advice.co...
More Related Questions & Answers...