Concrete or paving around slab

StGeorgeBuild · Jun 25, 2013 2:20 pm

We are still in the early stages of our house design. I'm after some thoughts if there is any difference using pavers or concrete to protect the slab?

Our current house has paving, but to me it seems that water can get through there more easily than concrete.

Any issues/benefits of using concrete or paving?

Thanks!

Uncle Arfur · Jun 25, 2013 3:34 pm

When we built part of the warranty stated that perimeter concrete paving had to be installed to avoid water ingress to the footings or we risked the warranty becoming void

StGeorgeBuild · Jun 26, 2013 2:43 pm

Thanks... i thought concrete paving is the way to go too. I'm just a bit puzzled as to why our current house (circa 2005) has paving instead of concrete as it wouldn't provide as much of a barrier for water.

Lex · Jun 27, 2013 3:29 pm

Maybe there is a builder's plastic under the pavers?? Or some other waterproof material ...

building-expert · Jun 27, 2013 4:32 pm

You can always do 75mm slab as primary foundation protection and then have it as base for pavers, just make sure your levels and grades are OK

CC101 · Jun 28, 2013 1:49 am

paving is fine as long as level is such that water is flowing away from house.

Wazza78 · Jul 01, 2013 10:22 pm

I have been wondering the same thing as we are about to build and have been reading the Csiro guide lines. I was wondering about doing pavers to and using a good road base under them with the correct fall. Any more thoughts and would doing pavers that way be cheaper then concrete ?

building-expert · Jul 02, 2013 6:53 am

Road base is porous material and would not be a good option. You need protective apron with impervious material.

Wazza78 · Jul 02, 2013 12:13 pm

building-expert

Road base is porous material and would not be a good option. You need protective apron with impervious material.

So having road base then paving won't be good enough ?

building-expert · Jul 02, 2013 12:42 pm

No. because you have gaps between pavers and water will go straight through crushed rock. As 2870 talks about unsuitability of granular fill around reactive soil sites.

Wazza78 · Jul 02, 2013 10:34 pm

Can you use cement to brush between the pavers to seal them or some thing like that ?

StGeorgeBuild · Jul 02, 2013 10:57 pm

I thought the pavers were porous, so would still let water through

Wazza78 · Jul 04, 2013 10:07 pm

Doesn't seem like many options but to have ugly concrete

building-expert · Jul 05, 2013 6:51 am

No, you can still have the pavers but use 75mm concrete apron underneath instead of road base.

Danois · Jul 05, 2013 6:56 am

building-expert

No, you can still have the pavers but use 75mm concrete apron underneath instead of road base.

This!

You can even have loose pebbles, cobble stones, or something else if you go this route.

Edit:
From my (granted, quite limited) reading of various rules, there is nothing to stop you from having the watertight apron be at a lower level than the actual surface. It's to stop water falling in around the foundation/slap and creating havoc down there. So as long as you get something sturdy that directs the water away from that, you are good to go.

Wazza78 · Jul 05, 2013 10:32 pm

Just sounds expensive is all

Danois · Jul 05, 2013 10:43 pm

Well, it's to protect the very foundation of your house. Without it, it will turn out much mroe expensive in the long run.

Wazza78 · Jul 06, 2013 8:29 pm

Yes I realize this. A lot of people don't do it

theanonyuser · Jul 06, 2013 11:56 pm

I'm getting concrete around the slab. Fortunately I've found a good concreter, his concrete slopes the correct way and drains off into a drain near the garage.
And around the rest of the house will just slope away from the house slab itself.

Wazza78 · Jul 08, 2013 4:25 pm

How much did that cost if you don't mind me asking. And how many squares is your house