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Our front porch is poured concrete on a concrete frame that is up four steps from the ground. The slab is sloped to the house and water is penetrating everything – rotting wood as it goes.
I need to fix the problem – without removing the slab. I have an idea about cutting a channel into the concrete to epoxy aluminum flashing material to cover the side of the house under the siding material. I have attached a sketch of what I am trying to do.
If I am making a big mistake or if there is a better way to do this (short of the right way of removing and replacing the concrete) I would love to know.
Jerry
Replies
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I've had some pretty good results pushing small slabs (8' x 8') around with a bottle jack, and just cramming sand under them to hold them level. Without seeing it, I can't say whether this would be practical in your case.
If you demo the concrete, you don't necessarily have to replace it with concrete. You could go to a wooden porch. This could be an opportunity to do a little design change.
-- J.S.
*I cant see this attached drawing. Do you have siding below the concrete a little or does it end right where the concrete starts? If so after removing it it should give you enough room for the flashings. I would not use aluminium. I would use a sheet of epdm in one peice and just slide it down after removing all the nails. Then slide down a piece or two of aluminium just to protect the epdm.After you do this then try the epoxy and drip edge to try and stop the waters entry to the area but I dont think that would be full proof. You could try to get some primer on the concrete for epdm and glue a one piece again on the slab and up the wall. Cover it up with the drip cap for looks.
*mudjacking: they'll drill some small holes in the lower edge and pump a concrete slurry under the slab, floating it up into place.Any attempt to keep water out is doomed to eventual failure: you need to keep water away.
*I have a similiar problem and I need more info on mudjacking. I have several sections of slab that have sunk down around the house. I assume the problem is that they were pored on topsoil rather than a proper base. I have several areas where small corners of a slab are broken off and falling away (triangular or square pieces about 2-3 ft). Will mudjacking work on small pieces? Does it solve the long term settling problem? What is the cost? TIA
*Dean,the mud jacking outfit in my area won't do broken pieces; mudjacking won't cure ongoing settlement; $150 for the first section of sidewalk - price goes down from there, but your milage may vary.
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Our front porch is poured concrete on a concrete frame that is up four steps from the ground. The slab is sloped to the house and water is penetrating everything - rotting wood as it goes.
I need to fix the problem - without removing the slab. I have an idea about cutting a channel into the concrete to epoxy aluminum flashing material to cover the side of the house under the siding material. I have attached a sketch of what I am trying to do.
If I am making a big mistake or if there is a better way to do this (short of the right way of removing and replacing the concrete) I would love to know.
Jerry