So how do I support the weight of a 4-ton concrete patio and a deck? Let me show you.
First, I poured 4 concrete piers on top of footings that rest on solid ground.
Next, I filled in the area between the house and the piers with 3” crusher run and compacted it in 12” lifts.
I stretched a string along the piers to see how straight they were- not bad.
I used ¾” plywood to form up the patio.
Once I got the form boards to the right height using a laser level, I fastened them to the piers with a hammer drill and an masonree screw.
When I stretched the string earlier, I saw that two of the piers needed shims for the edge of the patio to be straight.
I used my framing square to make sure the sides of the forms were square with the front.
I reinforced all the plywood with 2x4s, so it’s super strong, and then pushed dirt against the forms so they won’t push out with the weight of the concrete.
The concrete in this patio gets poured 5” thick, but the area over the front above the piers will be 12” thick with extra rebar.
This will create a grade beam to support the weight of the patio, and the deck posts will line up with the piers below.
Up next, I’ll be installing the rebar. @hausplans
#build #howto #construction #concrete #patio #deck #diy #contractor
