Browse Forums Paving & Concreting 1 Jul 02, 2012 9:19 am Lots of threads on here, in particular ones that Building-Expert comments on, reccommend laying concrete around the perimiter of the house to ensure that water drains away from the house and does not affect the walls or slab. We are building a house in Epping (Northern Melbourne) and due to the size of the block and size of the house were not able to have any eaves on the house. This makes me uncomfortable due to summer heat gains and also water running down the exposed brick walls directly onto the soil adjacent to the slab. I'm wondering if it is sufficient to simply pave (e.g. with aerated concrete pavers, i.e. imitation limestone or similar) a 600mm border around the house or if that is too porous to water and concrete is truly required to protect our house's foundations. We won't be able to get a whole metre paving or concrete around the house as our north side has only 1200mm to the boundary and there is a 300mm site cut at one end and similar fill at the other end. 600mm from the house should be achievable. TLDR: To protect slab, does boundary of house need to be concreted or is paving sufficient; and is 600mm sufficient or better than nothing. Re: Boundary concrete to prevent slab infiltration 3Jul 02, 2012 10:28 am I recommend concrete apron paving but in reality anything that does the job in keeping water from getting to the foundation is fine provided it is not porous and absorbs moisture. If you don't like the look of concrete paving you can have it as a base for paving under pavers. But make sure it slopes away and that there is functioning Agi drain at the bottom of site cut. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Boundary concrete to prevent slab infiltration 4Jul 02, 2012 10:35 am Thanks, we do have ag drain on the three sides of the block that are cut, which feed into a silt pit in each corner that (I assume) then drains into the storm water drains. I'm OK with concrete but our budget is tight. I can economise by DIYing (say 100mm thick concrete with mesh) and I'm aware that the top of the concrete must be 150mm below the weep holes. I'll have to borrow Dad's cement mixer Re: Boundary concrete to prevent slab infiltration 5Jul 02, 2012 11:00 am Correction Finished floor level of a landscaped or concreted surface must be no less than 75mm below damp proof course (bottom of weep hole) Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Boundary concrete to prevent slab infiltration 7Jul 04, 2012 12:16 am wokwon I'll have to borrow Dad's cement mixer I cannot recommend highly enough to purchased concrete and have it delivered! I made the mistake of laying the foundation of concrete for pavers of which even though the job wasn't big, I would never do it again (and didn't). Recently I moved to a 30 year old house and found within few months there are small brown nests in the brick mortar and few small round holes in few places of brick… 0 22677 thanks Chippy, i hope they have applied sealer but i am doubt to be honest, so i am gonna do this job after handover. 8 16268 You should be able to encase the sewer but you will need it designed and approved and access to lot 580 to do the work 2 17154 |