This front porch was added on the house 20 yrs ago. Originally there was a slab at a lower grade that had a step down off the “sidewalk to nowhere” A 2x4 was bolted to the slab and posts nailed on top. After that the homeowners used recycled handmade bricks on a peastone bed and mortar it’s really uneven lots of toe kickers and the brick grows algae constantly making slip hazard. On top of this they sculpted mortar around the 4x4 posts which has led to moisture retention and rot- not 100% sure they are even PT. So I’m looking at options of tearing it all out temporarily supports on the roof and adding a sailor course of pavers on the edge bedded in mortar/concrete then replacing rotten posts with stand-off anchors. Then redo the sidewalk with pavers.
Why mortar ???? for a bed use #8 crushed limestone it will allow drainage, it is a little harder to screed but will be better when finished. Stands up tp any freeze thaw cycles. Use mason sand to fill the gaps, mason sand is rough and locks together. For edging pour a concrete border and put the soldiers inside of that, if you use math and figure out your brick layout before you start you can eliminate a lot of cutting.
Just thinking of bedding the outside perimeter to bring the patio to level where the porch posts will sit on top of them. Contemplated pouring an outside footer on the existing slab but not sure I’d like the finished look. Still plan to bed the interior on crush &run with sand layer. Walkway will be done the same with paver edging
Here’s another picture of the post to 2x4 connection with patio grade. I think it would look cleaner with pavers bedded on mortar to support the posts vs concrete perimeter. Main concern would be paver base compacting over time and leaving a lip where it transitions to mortar bedded.
I haven’t been slacking just bouts of torrential rain and then 20’s in the temperature department. Ripped all the old brick out in 3hrs with the sand bed, part of the bed was play sand the rest mason sand to reveal a nice smooth porch slab walkway was concrete repaired prior to brick laying. They used plastic trays designed for basket weave pattern with mortar gaps not sure how it got so out of level other than 2” of sand at the house graded to 1” at the porch footer. My only assumption is the bricks were laid out and no plywood was placed on top for weight distribution during mortar installation. used my digging bar to pry them up
If you're gonna rip it all out why not just do a solid slab stamped concrete and be done with it. Or just plain concrete. Use the pavers for a paver walkway.
It crossed my mind before I started. The aesthetics of pavers over stamped concrete and multiple materials just doesn’t do it for me.
Sidewalk to no where is gone. The piece near the existing porch slab was straight cement no aggregate and cracked so it came out then dug the remaining sidewalk with the backhoe. Moved all the big chunks with the grapple then started digging to grade. Was going to rent a plate compactor but debating on just buying one at HF then sell when I’m done
Thanks - I glanced at those, but 2 week lead time on shipping. Could you elaborate on setting the pavers on screeded #8. Had 20T of “base” material delivered it’s similar to crush and run but delivery guy claimed it packs better. Would you pack the material near close to grade then screed with just some fines/gravel dust? Second question is how to best transition the paver grade form the sidewalk sloping towards the porch and the porch sloping from the house? Planning on 1/2” of slope over 71” run from the house- could go steeper Sidewalk is over a foot on a 64’ run Don’t want to end up with a sharp V at the transition, plus rain water sheeting down
Thought I was going to be further along yesterday and my buddy Murphy showed up on St. patty’s day.... I had ran conduit under the sidewalk area ~9yrs ago for satellite cable and speaker wire to the garage. Purposely didn’t dig the area with the backhoe and while hand excavating my pick axe glanced off a piece of shale and shattered the conduit. Happened to have an extra piece laying out back- rare occasion didn’t have to drive to town. Anyways after fixing that and finished digging tackled the temporary supports on the front porch roof.
This afternoon picked up a plate compactor at HF- saved $120 for joining the “buyers club” and some other bs that you inevitably buy when going in there. Got first base layer spread and packed it’s a decent little machine- like every Predator engine I’ve ever bought gas & oil and starts on the first pull.
