Hot water system below brick level.

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 4:19 pm

Sometimes you try not to interfere with the builder thinking they know better.
But the moment you don't say something you get this.

The Hot water slab is below the 1st row of bricks. So when landscaping or footpath I will basically bury the bottom of my Hot water tank.

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Forg · Apr 16, 2019 4:28 pm

I'm not sure on that one, should the water & aircon slab be under the main slab, so water runs away from the slab? We had ours poured as part of the main slab, and it's lower than the main slab … but also, should courses of bricks be under ground-level?

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 4:32 pm

Forg

I'm not sure on that one, should the water & aircon slab be under the main slab, so water runs away from the slab? We had ours poured as part of the main slab, and it's lower than the main slab … but also, should courses of bricks be under ground-level?

No the 1st course of brick bottom will on level with the ground. My weep hole is on the 2nd course of brick.
So if I landscape or put foot path, it will be level with the slab which means my HWS bottom will be buried??

Could you share a photo of yours pls? How do you landscape around the HWS then?

kks · Apr 16, 2019 4:48 pm

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect. Good, eh?

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 4:49 pm

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect.

So we are suppose to expose a bit of the house slab... So grey concrete all around?
Arent you suppose to cover up the house slab...

SejaeD · Apr 16, 2019 4:51 pm

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect. Good, eh?

you are 10000000000000% correct

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 4:53 pm

http://www.termitetactics.com.au/a/How-to-Stop-Termites/Expose-Concrete-Slab-Edges

Ok KKS, you are correct. BUT NOBODY DOES THIS EVER! and won't it look ugly???? A 5-8cm slab edge exposed all around the house??

SejaeD · Apr 16, 2019 4:54 pm

MyFirst

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect.

So we are suppose to expose a bit of the house slab... So grey concrete all around?
Arent you suppose to cover up the house slab...

you should definitely keep the slab exposed. termites come out of the ground and build a mud tunnel up the edge of the slab before entering your cavity. You detect the termites by visually seeing the mud tunnel. If it is covered then you wont know when your house is getting eaten

kks · Apr 16, 2019 4:57 pm

MyFirst

http://www.termitetactics.com.au/a/How-to-Stop-Termites/Expose-Concrete-Slab-Edges

Ok KKS, you are correct. BUT NOBODY DOES THIS EVER! and won't it look ugly???? A 5-8cm slab edge exposed all around the house??

It does, it does, it looks terribly, horribly, unbelievably ugly. It does.

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 4:58 pm

SejaeD

MyFirst

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect.

So we are suppose to expose a bit of the house slab... So grey concrete all around?
Arent you suppose to cover up the house slab...

you should definitely keep the slab exposed. termites come out of the ground and build a mud tunnel up the edge of the slab before entering your cavity. You detect the termites by visually seeing the mud tunnel. If it is covered then you wont know when your house is getting eaten

For this once, I wish the contractor did not follow correct rules. LOL... I want to be like everyone else. Don't expose the slab edge...

Thanks everyone for explaining this!! This forum teaches you new thins everyday.

MyFirst · Apr 16, 2019 5:05 pm

SejaeD

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect. Good, eh?

you are 10000000000000% correct

SejaeD,
Will you expose your slab edges when your house is completed?

SejaeD · Apr 16, 2019 5:08 pm

MyFirst

SejaeD

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect. Good, eh?

you are 10000000000000% correct

SejaeD,
Will you expose your slab edges when your house is completed?

probably not...its ugly lol

its easy to preach isnt it!

I however am using 3 termite treatments as I am in a really bushy area. Granitgard, H2 Frames and chemical injecting the soil and I will get it checked every year.

Edit: forgot to mention that my frames were standing for so long we had termites in already which had to be treated

SejaeD · Apr 16, 2019 5:10 pm

MyFirst

SejaeD

kks

I keep on saying I won't say this anymore. But. That concrete slab edge you can see is your number one termite control mechanism. We do not cover it with earth or pavers or anything. It's how we monitor for termite tunnel-building on slab edge. So, after you rake all the earth out flat, the position of your HWS slab is perfect. Good, eh?

you are 10000000000000% correct

SejaeD,
Will you expose your slab edges when your house is completed?

You know what you can do, render the slab edge. Now that I am thinking about it thats what i will do

kks · Apr 16, 2019 5:49 pm

Or we can always just take a chance and shove the garden and mulch and paving up against the slab. No worries.. What are the stats for Oz, 1 on 3 or 1 in 4 houses have the 'ol termites. One of the things I love about modern Oz houses is where you have these brick columns with timber inside supporting a bit of a roof. The termites just by-pass the wall structure, straight up the nice, dank, moist brick super-highway and straight into the roof timbers. Lovely grub. Not scaring, just saying. :-)

Edit: And was just thinking that those stats for infestation are being drawn out of a housing pool where a large number of homes would have had some sort of termite deterrent incorporated in their build.