Building a porch

[fatjay]

I currently have a 16'x20' poured concrete back porch. The problem is over the years the slabs have settled and become uneven. To get it repaired would be very expensive($2000+). So I was going to build on top of it.

First thought was a deck out of trex. Problem is it's expensive, and I was looking for something a bit sturdier. So I was thinking of going pavers. If I do the perimiter in 6"x8"x16" cinder block, then I can mix morter and sand for a base, and put 12"x12" pavers down. I was going to build the cinderblocks up 3 or 4 high, so either 24" or 32" high, then put something on top, stucco the outside and paint it. then i can water the pavers which should solidify the sand/mortar under it to keep them from moving, then put down a sealer and paint it tan or something like that. There's a spigot against the house, which I was going to put a stainless outdoor sink in so I'd have running water, and run a drain line over into the yard.

Problem is I've never done something like this so I'm not sure what challenges I'm going to face, or problems that may come up. The 20' length and 6' wide cinder blocks means 19 blocks. but i'd rather have the blocks in place before i do anything permanent, to avoid having spacing issues. so if anyone has experience with this sort of thing I'd love to hear it.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

It sounds like you are going to create a a pond unless you are planning on filling the entire block with mortar. I'd look very closely at my drainage for that setup. Also, if the slab has settled that much over the years, what is going to keep it from moving with additional weight? Obviously nothing. I'd be more interested in ditching the existing slab, putting in a frost wall, and back filling with soil and compacting in 4" lifts until I got high enough to switch to stone, Id also have some drains laid in so that any water making it through the pavers got an easy escape.


Trex is very sturdy if installed correctly. Why are you leaning towards masonry instead of wood?

 

[EddieWalker]

If you calculate all the materials its going to take to cover the existing concrete with pavers, you'll find that pouring new concrete is going to be cheaper.

 

[Snobdds]

If you calculate all the materials its going to take to cover the existing concrete with pavers, you'll find that pouring new concrete is going to be cheaper.

Exactly!

Pavers require a lot of prep work to do right. I mean a lot.

I put a stamped and stained concrete patio in because it cheaper and less work for a back yard.

 

[fatjay]

Trex is on the expensive side. The location of the porch i can't get a cement truck to without removing a fence. The disposal of old concrete would be a pain and expensive. the existing slabs are 18" thick, I've drilled down in multiple places, they really went to town, it's a lot of concrete. The slabs were poured in '64 and the dirt wasn't properly settled when they poured. In the 10 years I've lived there the concrete hasn't moved at all, so I don't think there will be additional shifting.

I was planning to pitch it away from the house and have drain holes in the corners so it would not retain water. Right now water just sits because the middle is the area where the slabs have shifted, up to 2" in some areas. it is gradually absorbed by the ground under through the seams between them.

 

[fatjay]

Priced out the material for the pavers/blocks is about $800, compared to about $2300 for trex. pouring new, while ideal, would be a great deal of hassle since i can't really get a cement truck there. and i already have mixed concrete for a new slabs around the pool when i had to remove them. 20 bags didn't go nearly as far as i thought it would.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Have you priced having someone lift you existing pad?

 

[fatjay]

Yes the price to fix the pads is about $2000. Then they're still stained and pitted and generally unpleasant looking. I've pressure washed them every year but it's had little effect.

 

[Billrog]

There are no short cuts or cheap way to make a decent deck that won't come back to haunt you in the future. If the existing pads are 18" thick sounds like they'd make a good foundation to work from.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Yes the price to fix the pads is about $2000. Then they're still stained and pitted and generally unpleasant looking. I've pressure washed them every year but it's had little effect.

Ok. Where they mud jacking or where they going to lift it wilts foam?