Snoopy11 5,714 #1 Posted August 10, 2022 Hello my good people! So... as many of you know here at Redsquare... I am a rather proactive individual. And... out of all the grading, hundreds of loads of dirt, and tractor work I have done around the funny farm... there is one place that has really given me trouble. Last year, I brought in 45 trailer loads of dirt with the Wheel Horses... and filled in the below areas... then put beautiful grass seed down, which grew wonderfully... but look at these areas now... The first picture is a place under the 'crete where I can literally put my hand 6 inches under. The last picture was the worst area, so I pushed some rock there with the tractor... but I am not very happy about any of it. Those are the various areas around the concrete patio, but it all pretty much looks like that. Keep in mind, this patio is GINORMOUS!!! It goes around the entire pool. Having said all of that, I am about ready to bring in more dirt to fill in this area... probably coming up soon in September... when the weather cools a bit. BUT... I would really like some advice from you guys... if you have any thoughts, please do share. @Jeff-C175... @ebinmaine... @8ntruck... @davem1111... @Achto... @kpinnc... and many more... Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #2 Posted August 10, 2022 12 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said: thoughts, Expanding spray foam around the edge, then a gravel border all around held in by those 'plastic polymeric' sands that they sweep into cracks between pavers and wet with a hose. Or, you could probably even sweep dry mortar 'sand mix' into the gravel and wet with a hose. You need to keep the runoff from the patio from pouring over the edges and washing out underneath. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,586 #3 Posted August 10, 2022 If this is a continuous problem, I would suggest adding a river rock boarder about 3ft or so out around the patio in stead of dirt. some thing similar to this. This would help keep the erosion down. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #4 Posted August 10, 2022 1 minute ago, Jeff-C175 said: Expanding spray foam around the edge Huh... I never thought about that... Do you just think I should use that in the "worst" areas... or even in the areas that looks like this? 'dat 'dare grabel hain't el-cheapo! Don 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #5 Posted August 10, 2022 One thought I had was... perhaps using mulch as the border instead of rock or gravel? Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #6 Posted August 10, 2022 1 minute ago, Snoopy11 said: even in the areas that looks like this Wherever you have a void. You could also possibly put something like this: 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #7 Posted August 10, 2022 3 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said: perhaps using mulch as the border If you can get grass growing right up to the concrete it should keep it from washing out underneath. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #8 Posted August 10, 2022 3 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said: Wherever you have a void. We talkin' 'bout this stuff here, correct? Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #9 Posted August 10, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Snoopy11 said: We talkin' 'bout this stuff here, correct? Don Yup. I've used that stuff to repair retaining walls... ummmm... temporarily... and it worked so well that it became permanent. It turns BROWN when exposed to the sun but that brown-ness doesn't penetrate further than the exposed surface. Be careful! Don't use too much! It's possible to actually LIFT the concrete! There are companies that specialize in using the same basic thing to level sidewalks and driveways. That slab is not real thick, you don't want to use so much that you crack it around the edges! Do a test in a small section first, to see how much it's actually going to expand. Then gauge how much you apply by looking at that test section. Edited August 10, 2022 by Jeff-C175 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #10 Posted August 10, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said: it worked so well that it became permanent Hopefully... the least it does is block the squirrels and chipmunks from digging under the patio like I have caught them doing... They see a gap there and must think it is a storage area for acorns and other nuts... Don Edited August 10, 2022 by Snoopy11 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,902 #11 Posted August 10, 2022 59 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said: If you can get grass growing right up to the concrete it should keep it from washing out underneath. I’d suggest having grass grow on fill up to the same plane as the top of the concrete. It shouldn’t be sitting on top of the ground, but rather in. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #12 Posted August 10, 2022 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Pullstart said: It shouldn’t be sitting on top of the ground, but rather in. Good point... Don, get a few tons of top soil and spread it around the patio so it's 'almost' level with it. Go out about 5-6 feet from the patio and then grade it away to blend with the rest of the property. Like in this random example I found on the web that I've scribbled on: And I'm sure you know how to plant grass seed... not just spread on the ground for birds to eat, but about 1/4" down from the surface. Edited August 10, 2022 by Jeff-C175 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,232 #13 Posted August 10, 2022 The foams come in varying degrees of expansion and expansion pressure (i.e. their capacity to lift the concrete). There are also applicator guns that use screw-on canisters (these typically contain as much as 3 or even 4 single-use cans). This can be economical if you have a lot to do. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #14 Posted August 10, 2022 Well, I picked up a dozen of these... so... hopefully that is enough! THEN... I got's to haul in lot's and lot's and lot's of dirt... Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #15 Posted August 10, 2022 2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said: And I'm sure you know how to plant grass seed... not just spread on the ground for birds to eat, but about 1/4" down from the surface. Yep... certainly learned how to do that around the pond area... lot's and lot's of grass seed got purchased for that... Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,007 #16 Posted August 11, 2022 (edited) I like @Jeff-C175 idea of adding fill around the edges of the concrete to embed the concrete and reduce the slope of the ground as it comes off of the concrete. Careful with the expanding foam. Too much will cause big problems. Another question - are you seeing runoff erosion, or are you seeing settling of the fill material you poured the concrete on? If you are not seeing material that has been moved by water, that would be a good indication that you are seeing settling. In one of the plants I worked in, we cut a large section of floor to install a foundation for another machine. As the floor was broken up, it fell into a void that had settled under the floor. We ended up pumping in a couple of truckloads of concrete slurry to fill the void under the floor under the part of the slab that we wanted to keep. In fact, we had 3 CNC lathes on the floor over the void with fork truck traffic delivering and removing parts! Good luck. Edited August 11, 2022 by 8ntruck 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,065 #17 Posted August 11, 2022 I'm late to the party here, but all the recommendations make good sense to me. Foam to support the edges, rocks to prevent excessive washout. The only other thing I can think is possibly some way to direct runoff water away from the area- but that can be tricky. Just depends on alot of variables: fall across the field around the patio, soil type, etc... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,121 #18 Posted August 11, 2022 Pick up truck "Body in a Can! 2 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,902 #19 Posted August 11, 2022 12 minutes ago, squonk said: Pick up truck "Body in a Can! oh you’re one of THOSE truck guys! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,260 #20 Posted August 11, 2022 I'm a bit late to this party too. It appears that the new fill soil you put in was not compacted properly prior to putting in the deck. At the very least there should have been a thickened edge if not a footing around the slab. In my opinion the only way to correct this situation would be to undercut the edge of deck by six inches or more at least a foot deep and pour a support footer with reinforcing steel. If you don't ad some strength to the edge frost will start breaking it apart each winter. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #21 Posted August 11, 2022 Well, I got the oompa-loompa's to work and made some progress... (not really, there is only 1 oompa-loompa working with 3 Wheel Horses)... I went around the whole parameter with foam (I ended up not having enough... as I had to go 6 inches into the underside of the concrete in many areas)... had to go pick up more cans of da' foam... but I ended up with this, which is MUCH better... 12 loads of dirt (not entirely sure how much these trailerfulls actually weigh... has to be way over 300lbs... The work crew... I will get to spreading the dirt later on today... gotta' go pick up some groceries here in a few minutes... 416-8 performed beautifully... with low range helping me get in and out of the woods back up on the main path. I really love this 416-8... @davem1111 Nothing like an old pissed-off Kohler kickin' butt! Don 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #22 Posted August 11, 2022 (edited) I possibly may end up needing to pull in some more dirt... if so... that isn't a problem... but 12 loads is A LOT... especially since I have to go ALL the way... a couple acres... into the woods to get the dirt... Not to mention... with 12 loads... at... let's say 300lbs per load... that's... well... a ton and some... I can't stress enough that I am so very pleased with the 416-8... it has done all the work so far... (I feel privileged to have this tractor in my collection!) Hopefully... later I will be able to grade the dirt with the L-157... while the 800 Special supervises... and the 416-8 takes a siesta... Don Edited August 11, 2022 by Snoopy11 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davem1111 2,030 #23 Posted August 11, 2022 41 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said: I possibly may end up needing to pull in some more dirt... if so... that isn't a problem... but 12 loads is A LOT... especially since I have to go ALL the way... a couple acres... into the woods to get the dirt... Not to mention... with 12 loads... at... let's say 300lbs per load... that's... well... a ton and some... I can't stress enough that I am so very pleased with the 416-8... it has done all the work so far... (I feel privileged to have this tractor in my collection!) Hopefully... later I will be able to grade the dirt with the L-157... while the 800 Special supervises... and the 416-8 takes a siesta... Don I have to say, I've heard it said that "Youth is wasted on the young", but not in this case. Don, I sure wish I still had the energy like you have to do all this stuff! Impressive! Hey, when you finish that project, I've got a few things around the farm here I could use some of that energy helping with... (just kidding, unless you get bored and need something to do. Heck, I'll pay $15/hr. for some good help. ) 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #24 Posted August 11, 2022 1 hour ago, davem1111 said: unless you get bored and need something to do I don't think THAT is going to happen any time soon... But... if it has anything to do with Wheel Horses... I might consider... (not really... I'm pulling my hair out as it is...) Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #25 Posted August 11, 2022 AND NOW... it is raining here... so... I guess I won't be able to spread the dirt today... The good news is... I got home in time to put the herd up before they got wet! Don 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
