Directional Driller Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 I am going to be pouring a pad for my new hot tub in the next few weeks. The pad size will be 8' wide and a length of 7'. In between the 7' length span, the ground has a swale in it that goes down about 5". Should I put some gravel in the swale to make it even with the rest of the ground or should I just fill in the void with concrete? I am planning to make the pad 5 1/2" thick with rebar tied together and grounded. If anyone has any thoughts about this let me know. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Clown Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Should I put some gravel in the swale to make it even with the rest of the ground or should I just fill in the void with concrete? It don't matter. What would you rather buy? More gravel? Or more concrete? 5 1/2 inches is enough concrete. I would say throw some gravel at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart6453 Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 I am going to be pouring a pad for my new hot tub in the next few weeks. The pad size will be 8' wide and a length of 7'. In between the 7' length span, the ground has a swale in it that goes down about 5". Should I put some gravel in the swale to make it even with the rest of the ground or should I just fill in the void with concrete? I am planning to make the pad 5 1/2" thick with rebar tied together and grounded. If anyone has any thoughts about this let me know. Thanks. Either way would be fine I am sure.....if your depression is 4'x4'x5" you will need an additional .18 yards of concrete....at $120 per yard..you are talking $21.60 additional for the concrete. for a pad that small (8'x7'x5") you are only talking about .64 yards to begin with at 5" thickness. Your delivery charges will be far more than your concrete. I would fill it with concrete and be done....but thats just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cr4fty.p5ych0 Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 "Swales" are typically installed to facilitate drainage. I would make sure this is NOT the case and if it is I would recomend putting in a pipe to insure you are not diverting rain (snow melt, ETC.) into and therfore against/around your new pad/spa. Just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 I would dig down 5-6 inches or more on both sides of the depression and throw some gravel in to create a better base for the slab instead of grass or bare ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart6453 Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 "Swales" are typically installed to facilitate drainage. I would make sure this is NOT the case and if it is I would recomend putting in a pipe to insure you are not diverting rain (snow melt, ETC.) into and therfore against/around your new pad/spa. Just my .02 very, very good call...I forgot about that!!! a pipe is good idea for major drainage. If it is just a water runoff thing, I would drop one side of my slab by about 1/4-1/2 inch to facilitate water runoff in the direction I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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