[mabel]

Hi,

I'm new here, I just found this site and it's awesome!

I have a question. I am in the process of having a pool and patio installed, the patio is tumbled interlock pavers which goes from the house and connects to and around the pool. The patio is approx. 20 feet wide and 27 feet deep to the closest edge of the pool. The ground naturally grades down towards the pool, the contractor said it will have a 4 inch decline from the house to the pool, he said he would prefer only 2-3 inches however, 4 inches will also work. The other option is to install a step closer to the pool, I decided to go with the 4 inch slope as I didn't want the step.

It is currently being installed and I notice the slope, however, it's not too severe, but it does bother me slightly. Is 4 inches to much of a slope for a 27 foot deep patio? Or am I a being too picky? Perhaps when the grass goes back in around the patio and gardens are put in the slope will not be as noticable. I wanted to also mention that he also sloped it away from the pool for proper drainage. The patio is about half complete at this point.

Thanks!

[Stonehenge]

So there's a 27 foot run that's changing in elevation 4 inches? Industry standard is 1/4" per foot (which would be almost 7" in your case), and my preference is closer to 1/8" per foot (which would be about 3 1/2"), which puts 4" as a totally reasonable slope. Less than that and you're risking having the patio not drain the water that lands on it. So as long as I understand your situation correctly, then my answer is: Yes, you are being too picky. And incorrectly picky.

Hope that helps.

[natural12]

I agree. 4" is fine. My concern would be that the water will drain into the pool. Not ideal. The patio should slope away from the house and away from the pool. Perhaps the water can drain away from both by sloping to the sides. If not create a low spot between the house and the pool and install some channel drains.

[mabel]

Thanks for your replies. The contractor is grading down towards the pool and off to the side so the water doesn't run into the pool. My concern is that I seem to notice a significant slope when I stand at the back of the property behind the pool, when I'm looking from my house it's not too noticable. I thought 4 inches was going to be unnoticable? When I look at other patios in our neighbourhood, I don't really notice any slope at all.

The contractor told me it's a 4 inch slope, how do I verify this, I want to make sure it's not more and he's not telling me.

Thanks again for your replies.

[Pelican]

Get a heavy block and trap a string under it at the foundation. Pull it taught toward the pool, then either with a string level or 4' level get the string at level, measure the height at the pool end. 4" over that span shouldn't be noticable to most people.

[Stonehenge]

If you're looking at it from far away angles, your eye is going to be less reliable than a level. If you do as Pelican says and it comes in at 4", stop fretting over it. It can't be less and still shed water.

[Stonehenge]

An even better idea - if the pitch is consistent throughout, place a 2' level on an 8' 2x4 and lay it parallel to the slope. Raise the low end of the board until it's level. If the gap between the pavers and the board is 1.5 inches or less, then you should start trusting your contractor a bit more.

[NCSULandscaper]

first of all, have you had your contractor show you himself what the actual slope is? Sounds like you need to be talking to your contractor instead of going on an internet forum trying to find something wrong with the guy.

[mabel]

Yes, I did speak to my contractor, however, I did not have him measure the slope in front of me, I just trusted what he told me. I am not looking to find fault in him at all, but I am a bit concerned with the fact that I can notice the slope from the back of the property. Maybe I am being too picky, I am not sure, but before he finishes, I want to make sure I'm going to be happy with the outcome, at this point, the slope concerns me a bit. I will try to post a picture.

[mabel]

Here are some photos....The slope is much less noticable in the photos than in person.

View from the house


View from the side


View from behind the pool

[mabel]

I'm having trouble uploading photos.

[natural12]

Your better off having a noticeable slope than drainage problems.

[Stonehenge]

Originally Posted by natural12

Your better off having a noticeable slope than drainage problems.

THAT'S what I was trying to say.

[dan deutekom]

It is hard to judge slopes by eye. Even perfectly level things can look off kilter because of the terrain and other objects around it. It sounds to me that your contractor has it right. If the slope is between 4 and 7 inches that will give the required 1-2% grade required for drainage. It appears from your posts that he also has graded the project so that the water is not draining into the pool. Things will look much different when the job is done, the lawn is graded to the edge of the pavers and the gardens go in. It sounds to me that your contractor has it right.