Decomposing roots under paver patio and retaining wall
#1
06-08-15, 07:44 PM
Decomposing roots under paver patio and retaining wall
We are building a 3 1/2 foot retaining wall and a paver patio, and found that at one portion of the area we are building there are decomposing roots deep underground that cause the ground to be bouncy. Digging some of it up, it digs up easy and just falls apart, it is obvious this tree was cut down probably 10 years ago or more. I'm sure this means the ground will sink even more once they fully decompose.
Am I right that our only course of action is to dig out as much of it as possible and fill back in with our native sandy soil before building our patio?
Am I right that our only course of action is to dig out as much of it as possible and fill back in with our native sandy soil before building our patio?
#2
06-09-15, 08:49 AM
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It's not likely that a single, decomposing root or two is causing "bouncy" soil conditions--more likely to be a larger mass of organics that are rotting. And, yes, it all should be removed. I'd consider replacing with a uniformly-graded gravel instead of sandy soil, since the latter doesn't compact very well.
#3
06-09-15, 10:45 AM
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To add to what Bidgeman said, Remove all the organic material found and cover the bottom of the excavation with fabric. Backfill with -1" crusher run gravel and compact in 6" layers.
#5
06-11-15, 07:45 PM
Thank you for the advice on refilling the hole! we dug it all out and there was a LOT of decaying cedar pieces in there, I have a feeling that a surface stump was ground very close to where we are working which is why we didn't know it was there - and there was just a lot of the main root system in this particular spot. I'm confident we got enough of it out of there, now to backfill!
