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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:53 pm
by nato
Hi. I am attempting to lay a new patio. Our garden is on a slight slope from the right, to the left of our house (back garden)

I have excavated the area, but because it used to flood slightly I have decided to build a retaining wall around the patio, so as to provide a slight barrier from the lawn. So I am planning the wall first, then the patio.

I have dug the trench for the wall, and I have decided to use Concrete blocks cemented in on a compacted hardcore base for the footing as the wall is less than two feet high. My question is - Will this be ok? The wall will be less than two feet. The new patio will be laid up to the wall. The concrete blocks for the foundations will sit about 2 inches below the patio and the lawn the other side of the footing is about 1.5 ft high. Will a foot and half of lawn cause the footings to move in time?

Thanks in advance

Nath

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:21 pm
by Tony McC
No: you need a proper concrete foundation, minimum 300mm wide and 100mm deep. Compacted hardcore will move, especially in ground that's subject to regular inundation.