How Much Slope Should A Patio Have
The lay of the land is a key consideration when placing and building a patio, and ensuring it falls so it sheds water quickly. Surfaces stretching out from a building should move water away from the structure. It may be necessary to angle the grade towards one end or even a corner depending on its relationship to foundation walls and the flow of the ground.
The slope, setbacks, and materials also may be governed by local ordinances and codes that differ from other areas. It is best to check locally for any requirements or restrictions.
Repairing Your Sunken Concrete Patio Will:
- Save Money
- Repairing your concrete is a cost-effective solution to sunken, cracked concrete
- Save Time
- Youre able to walk on your cement immediately after it is pumped
- Is Less Intrusive
- Some of our clients barely even know were there! If you needed to replace your concrete, the sound of jackhammers would disrupt you all day long. Were in and out as fast as the job gets done!
- Our drill hole size is the size of a dime. You will barely notice that your patio was pumped with polyurethane. With other cement leveling techniques, like mudjacking, your holes are much bigger and more noticable.
- We try and match your concrete with what we put in the hole.
- Aides in Water Damage
- The polyurethane foam used to repair the sunken concrete is water-tight. This prevents any water damage from happening under the concrete.
In order to replace the patio in the example shown in the video, they would have needed to spend $6,5000! Mr. Level was able to repair this sunken patio with concrete leveling. It really saved this patio. Not only does it look better, it is no longer a safety hazard, and will help in preventing water damage to their home.
How To Measure Slope For A Patio
Unlike stairs which are measured from their lowest point to highest, the slope of patios is measured from the highest point, commonly nearest a building, to its lowest. So, instead of using the rise over the run, we use the fall over the run. The size of the patio determines which is the easiest way to measure the slope.
Measure the distance out from the building to where the patio ends. Convert that distance from feet to inches and divide by 48. For example, a 16 run is 192-inches which has a 4 fall . The resulting value is the overall required fall of the surface from one side to the other to achieve a fall to run ratio of 4:198 which reduces to 1:48, or a 2% slope .
Using a 4-foot builders level and tape measure to identify the slope is helpful and accurate in short distances. A short 6 level or a 2-foot level is often used when laying pavers and bricks which fall 1/4 per foot, and a long, flat board with a 4 or 8-foot level is useful for checking larger concrete surfaces. However, patios may need to slope in more than one direction, which means a string line and string-level is helpful.
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Concrete Patio Repair Solutions
Concrete is heavy, and when the soil supporting it becomes weak, it can crack and sink. Cement patios are often subject to extreme weather, moisture and extra wear and tear, which can lead to cracking, sinking, or more extensive damage, such as cracking, flaking, pitting or crumbling.
Regardless of what’s caused your concrete patio to sink, settle or crack, we can fix it. At Thrasher, we offer a comprehensive concrete protection system. After lifting and leveling your patio with PolyLevel, we use NexusPro to fill and seal cracks and control joints. Then we apply SealantPro, which permanently bonds with the concrete and protects it from moisture, chemical elements and seasonal changes.
Can You Lay Pavers Over Uneven Concrete
According to several paver manufacturers, paving blocks can be installed on top of concrete without mortar if you first lay down a 1/2 to 1 bed of coarse sand. Drainage: The biggest problem with laying pavers over a concrete slab is the inability for water to drain through the blocks and down into the earth.
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How To Build A Patio On A Slope
A well-built patio adds beauty, value, and a place for fellowship to your home. If your backyard backs right up to a hill, you may be concerned that you wont be able to make your patio dream a reality.
Im happy to tell you that whether youre using pavers, stone, or paved concrete, building a patio on a slope is not really that different than building on a level surface. Stay tuned, because Im about to share what I know about how to build a patio on a slope.
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Why Its Important To Repair Your Concrete Patio
Aside from the poor aesthetics of having a sunken patio, it presents a safety hazard. It could injure you if you trip or slip on the pavers because they are uneven. This becomes a legal concern if someone else is injured on your property. As a responsible homeowner, you want to take steps to keep your family and guests safe.
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How To Level A Concrete Patio
Despite being one of the toughest, most utilized construction materials in existence, concrete doesnt always come without issues. This is especially the case with concrete patios, which can become uneven overtime. An uneven concrete patio is not only unsightly, but can also be dangerous, creating a trip-and-fall hazard or even a cave-in that can cause significant injury.
There are several factors that contribute to an uneven concrete patio, including:
- Improper pouring technique during installation
- Soil shifting underneath the concrete
- Natural wear and tear due to extreme weather conditions
Theres nothing worse than putting time and energy into a concrete patio pour only to have it settle unevenly. To ensure this doesnt happen, consider hiring a professional to construct your concrete patio. A perfect patio requires skills and techniques that only a professional concrete contractor will possess.
Soil tends to shift overtime as erosion and other environmental factors take their toll on outdoor concrete surfaces. In some cases, it may happen sooner rather than later due to improper stamping of the soil prior to patio installation. Its important to address soil shift / erosion immediately, as it can create voids underneath your concrete patio that can lead to much bigger and more dangerous problems.
Use a Concrete Leveling Compound
Patching Problem Areas
To learn more about our mudjacking services and to get a free estimate, contact us today.
Clean The Floor And Continue
Clean the floor using a mop and then allow it to dry. What you need to do now is to keep switching to progressively finer grit sandpaper until you reach around 1,500 grit or even finer. All you have to do is keep cleaning and mopping the floor and then keep switching to finer sandpaper until you reach the ideal smoothness for your concrete patio. Once you have achieved the desired smoothness, you can give your concrete patio one last mopping and cleaning.
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Mix And Apply Concrete Leveler
After the primer has dried, you can apply the concrete leveler. But first, you have to mix the leveling compound with water to properly prepare it. Most concrete leveling compound comes in a 50-pound bag. To do this, mix the contents of the bag with five quarts of water in your five-gallon bucket.
Use an electric drill with a mixing paddle attachment to thoroughly mix the compound and water until it has a smooth consistency. After mixing, you will need to work quickly because the concrete leveler will start to harden after about 30 minutes.
Pour the concrete leveler onto the floor and use a long-handled squeegee to spread it out so that it coats the entire floor, including the edges and corners. At this point, gravity will be on your side as it will help create a level surface.
The material will start to harden and will be dry enough to walk on in about 4-6 hours. If youre planning on installing new hard flooring on top of the concrete, such as wood or tile, you can do so after this time period. For carpet, you should wait until 16-24 hours have passed.
See more: Can You Float A Hardwood Floor Over Concrete?
How To Lay Out & Excavate A Patio Site
1. Lay out a rough project outline with a rope or hose. Use a carpenterâs square to set perpendicular lines. To create the actual layout, begin by driving wood stakes near each corner of the rough layout. The goal is to arrange the stakes so they are outside the actual project area, but in alignment with the borders of the project. Where possible, use two stakes set back 1 ft. from each corner, so strings intersect to mark each corner . Note: In projects built next to permanent structures, the structure will define one project side.
2. Connect the stakes with masonâs strings. The strings should follow the actual project outlines. To make sure the strings are square, use the 3-4-5 triangle method: measure and mark points 3 ft. out from one corner along one string, and 4 ft. out along the intersecting string at the corner. Measure between the points, and adjust the positions of the strings until the distance between the points is exactly 5 ft. A helper will make this easier.
3. Reset the stakes, if necessary, to conform to the positions of the squared strings. Check all corners with the 3-4-5 method, and adjust until the entire project area is exactly square. This can be a lengthy process with plenty of trial and error, but it is very important to the success of the project, especially if you plan to build on the concrete surface.
8. Lay a subbase for the project . Pour a 5″-thick layer of gravel, and tamp until the gravel is even and compressed to 4″ in depth.
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Leveling Uneven Concrete Patios
- Written by Emma McKie on Feb 06, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
As concrete patios get older, they often begin to sink or crack. You may not need to replace the entire slab because there are a few different techniques available to help you level the surface again so that you have a patio to be proud of once more. You will be able to carry out some of the procedures yourself but may want to call in a professional company when specialized equipment is required.
Slab Jacking
Whether your whole concrete slab or only some sections have sunk, slab jacking is one option to repair the damage. It is recommended that you use a professional company to carry out this procedure as it needs specialist equipment and knowledge for the best results. A concrete mixture is pumped underneath the existing slab to raise it so that it is level.
An advantage of this procedure is that it will also fill in any gaps under the concrete where sinking has not yet occurred and prevents water from pooling or running through the foundations. This reduces the odds of a similar problem occurring again.
Patching
Veneering
Once the surface has been prepared, mix a thin mortar, pour it onto the surface and level it carefully. After leaving it to cure for 30 minutes, use a trowel or brush to finish the surface.
Extensive Veneering
Reinstall Stones Or Pavers
Once youve filled in the gap, you can put the pavers or stones back in place. There will be spaces between them that you should fill in with pavers and sand. The best way to distribute the sand and ensure all of the gaps are filled is with a broom, sweeping the sand over the surface to fill it in.
This fix may solve your problem. If you have a concrete slab that continues to settle, you may need to consider repouring the foundation. If ground settling or poor water drainage is the cause of your concrete patio sinking, youll want to check on your homes foundation as well.
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Eroded Soil And Foundations
Your underlayment might be disturbed over time due to unfavorable weather conditions. The water that seeps beneath the surface of the soil may be washing away the gravel and joint sand that makes up the underlayment under your foundation. When this occurs, it softens the foundation and causes it to sink. Sometimes, a single deluge of rain can saturate the ground enough to damage your foundation.
How Do You Raise The Level Of A Concrete Patio
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Considering this, how much does it cost to level a concrete patio?
The cost of leveling a slab usually averages around $500 to $1,500, but it all depends on the size of the area to level, the materials used, and the labor involved. Foam leveling will likely cost around $2,000-2,500 for a 100 square foot slab.
One may also ask, will Great Stuff foam lift concrete? Geolift can help to lift existing concrete surfaces and fix those problem areas around your house with much less labor. Geolift works for driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, even pool decks.
Also Know, does foam jacking last?
Mudjacking can last for long periods, but it is inherently less reliable and usually does need to be replaced. The injected materials are extremely heavy and can cause a new round of soil compression beneath the slab.
How do you fill voids under concrete?
How to Repair Sinking Concrete Steps
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Code Requirements For Patios
The main concern for most codes is people and building safety. So, ensuring patios are constructed to meet safe usage requirements, dont interfere with egress, and wont cause damage to the structure which could lead to injury are important.
The 2018 IRC is used by many States and jurisdictions to guide their codes. Some States use older versions of the IRC, and others use completely different regulations.
Section R401.3 addresses drainage and requires the grade or slope to fall 6 or more in the first 10-feet. An exception is impervious or hardscape surfaces like patios within 10 of a building, they must have a 2% or greater slope away from the structure.
A 2% grade is 1:48 or 1-inch every 4-feet or 1/4 per foot. In addition to the building code, many home associations and communities may have other unique requirements.
Use Wooden Shims And A Platform
For slopes around an inch or so, you can build your own shims and a platform from pressure-treated lumber. After moving the tub aside, use pressure-treated 2×4 boards and a sheet of exterior grade plywood and:
For added stability, consider topping your platform with a spa pad like an E-Z pad. Specifically designed for use with hot tubs, these pads are relatively inexpensive and have a lifetime guarantee.
They are made of heavy-duty plastic and can be picked up and moved if you ever need to relocate your hot tub. E-Z pads can also be used by themselves on any level surface.
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Lay Out The Rebar Grid
Cut and bend pieces of rebar to form the perimeter reinforcing. Splice the pieces together by overlapping them at least 6 in. and wrapping tie wire around the overlap. Wire the perimeter rebar to rebar stakes for support. Then cut and lay out pieces in a 4-ft.-on-center grid pattern. Wire the intersections together. Youll pull the grid up into the center of the concrete as you pour the slab.
Need Affordable Payment Options We’ve Got You Covered
Cracked foundations, leaky basements and mildewy crawlspaces are often serious problems that shouldn’t be ignored. If you feel you’ve put your repair project off long enough, financing can help you get it done now instead of later. It’s not worth gambling with the investment you’ve made in your home!
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How To Broom Finish And Seal The Concrete
Knowing how and when to start the finishing process is one of the hardest things to learn about concrete finishing.
In the video below, I will show you how we start the finishing process and apply a broom finish to the concrete.
The finishing is always determined by how fast of slow the concrete sets up. I’ll show you the best time to start finishing in the video below for best results.
I used a penetrating sealer to seal the concrete with in the video. This type of sealer will not leave a slippery film on the surface but will seal and protect your concrete.
It’s best applied with some type of sprayer. We’re using a power sprayer in the video but you can use a simple garden pump up style sprayer if you like.
tools you’ll need to build a concrete patio slab
I’ve made a list of all the tools you’ll need to build your concrete patio slab.
Most of these you can get at your local hardware store or even easier, you can order them right from Amazon.
IN CONCLUSION:
I built this page to help you decide if you want to pour your own concrete patio or not.
If you kind of handy and like building and doing things on your own, then maybe it’s something you can tackle by yourself after watching my videos.
If the size of your patio slab isn’t too large, maybe you can do it yourself with the information I’ve given you on this page.
If you have any doubts or questions, then look to hire a pro like me. We do this kind of work every day.