I’m going to put a slab on the side of the house with a shed roof over it for storage. I’m getting close to grading for the slab ( I’m moving dirt around ) and had a question about the height of the top of the slab. There is a brick veneer on the side of the house. The picture shows a pipe coming out of the wall. It sits on top of the foundation plate. The plate that sits on the concrete. The grade is about at the bottom of the pipe right now. So I dig out 3 1/2″ of dirt and form up to under this pipe?
So in relation to the bottom plate. Can the slab be at the height of the top of the plate? Right under the pipe? The slab will be covered by a roof. I’m concerned about trapping any moister in the wall. But like I said, It will be covered and we are in Colorado.
Edited 8/28/2007 12:31 am ET by popawheelie
Edited 8/28/2007 12:32 am ET by popawheelie
Replies
What you need to do is find out where the cavity behind the brick veneer is draining, and make sure you aren't going to block the point of exit for the draining moisture. Somewhere near the bottom of the brick should be a row of either round holes or vertical slots to let water out of the cavity. As long as you keep those above the slab, you should be OK.
Bob
I'll clean it up and look for weep holes. The grade right now is above the bottom of the brick. But only by about an 1"-1 1/2". So if I put the top of the slab below the bottom course it will be below grade.
I guess it's common to see this in older homes because at some point there was water coming in to the basement and the homeowner changed the grade to slope away from the house more than it was. So they pile more dirt up beside the house covering the bottom of the brick.
Does that sound right?
More support for the poster on another thread who believe all "old" construction should be torn down. Dirt up against the brick? Given enough time and some home owner will distroy every house. The previous owner of my house poured a patio slab right up to the bottom of the fiber siding. I kept looking at it and shaking my head. One of these days the siding will rot and perhaps the bottom plate behind it and the stubs and . . . So far I must say all is fine as I can access this area from an unfinished garage. But it never should have been done and dirt up against brick should not have been done for the same reasons.
I agree with you on well intended homeowners making things worse or just not really improving anything. Our house was built in the late fiftys and it shows. The original owner was in it for a long time and Mickey moused a lot of stuff.
When we moved in neighbors said he was real handy and kept the house real nice. But under the paint there all sorts of stuff that needs repair. He had the neighbors bamboozled. I don't really mind. It gives me things to do on the house. I like improving the house.
> I don't really mind. It gives me things to do on the house. I like improving the house.
What you're REALLY saying here is that it gives you an excuse to buy more tools . . .
Don
Well, here in PA, the dirt needs to be 6 1/2" below the top of the foundation if the plate is Pressure treated, otherwise 8". That is to keep ground moisture and termites from decimating the house in short order.
I would, at least, make sure the slab is below the top of the foundation, if even 1/2" but the more the better.
I would also make sure to cut a riglet in the brick where the shed roof ties into the brick and flash it properly to keep any water from running down the brick. (keep moisture away)
Also, are termites an issue out there? If so, I would bring a termite guy in to treat the soil before pouring the slab. An ounce of prevention!!
Hope those ramblings help.
From a poor but passionate builder in PA
Excellent ideas. I was going to go a 1/2" below the brick. I think the brick stops right where the framing stops.
I haven't seen any signs of termites but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
I have a bug company that's come several times to dust the entrance to yellow jacket hives. There were two hives where I've been trying to work. He came out again today. Hopefully that is the last of them. I'm allergic to bees. I'll ask them about termites.
I do like it when wood is at lest 6" above the dirt. That's code where I grew up.And you want the 6" to be visible.
Appears as though you know what you are doing.
Are you in those expansive clay soil areas of Colorado where you have to do Post Tensioned slabs or do you have a conventional foundation?
If you have ugly soils, I'd add plenty of stone below and make sure it is well drained to minimize problems but dont know a whole lot about those methods of construction.
I have always build on sand, dirt, or rock. The clays are not a big problem here.