The Citizen, 2001-05-09, Page 27Wczt6ingR farm
flowRr6
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001. PAGE 27.
Home & Garden 2001
Handy tips or constructing a great patio
Outdoor living
Patios add extra living space to any home.
By Jean-Francois Gagnon, RONA
Specialist
It's time to plan the outdoor proj-
ects that you would like to carry out
around your house, in order to make
the most of the summer season. If
building a patio is one of your proj-
ects for this coming summer, here
are some RONA tips that may prove
very handy.
What is a good time to start the
work?
It is advisable to wait until the
ground has, completely thawed out—
around May—in order to make sure
that the soil has sufficiently drained,
is less muddy and has better load-
bearing capacity, which will make it
easier to efficiently install the foun-
dation of the structure on stable soil.
Tips to remember: Installation of
foundation
When planning a patio. the first
step is to choose the type of structure
that you want for your patio:
I) a foundation that is protected
from frost with the foundation bed
planted 4 feet deep into the soil, or
2) a surface foundation that is not
protected from frost. If you opt for
a foundation that is protected from
frost, there is a new product that
makes it easier to put it in place
with maximum efficiency and
minimum effort, time or risk of
damaging the landscaping of the
house. It's called a "spud pile".
Available on the market for the
past few years, it is very simple to
install, as it works on the same prin-
ciple as a screw. In fact, the spud pile
is- installed very easily as it can be
inserted into the soil using just an
ordinary 2 x 4. You'll therefore be
able to save time and money!
Building the patio floor
Building the patio floor requires
particular attention. In fact, securing
the planks must be thought out with
efficient draining and aeration in
mind in order to keep the patio in
perfect condition. To do so, it is
advisable that you allow for space
between the planks so as to ensure
efficient evacuation of water, good
air circulation and expulsion of
debris—like suckers and little plant
buds—that can become lodged in the
floor and promote the emergence of
mould over the long term.
Don't forget that wooden planks
will shrink slightly during the first
year. So you have to count on spac-
ing of approximately 3/16 in. - 1/4
in. between each one.
Dry framework!
Remember how important it is to
keep the structure protected from
water seepage at certain critical loca-
tions as, for example. at the intersec-
tion of the floor planks and the joists
of the structure. To prevent such a
situation and keep the structure dry,
you must apply strips of black tarred
paper, three inches wide, on the joists
of the framework before securing the
floor planks, therefore creating an
"umbrella" effect, which will pre-
vent the water from touching the
structure and will reinforce the pro-
tection of your structure against
mould.
Additional protection for wood
It is desirable for all cuts made on
a piece of treated wood to be brushed
with a copper-based preservative in
order to apply new protection on the
freshly cut sides.
Tips for a nicer-looking finish
Before securing the planks, it is
preferable that you countersink the
hole for the screw using an automat-
ic countersink bit, thereby eliminat-
ing broken pieces of wood, while
reducing water seepage at that loca-
tion. To do so, take note that there is
a swivel adapter with both a drill and
a screwdriver bit that makes it possi-
ble to countersink and screw using
the same drill.
- News Canada
Runoff from eavestroughs
can damage foundations
Checking eaves
Proper location of runoff spouts
critical to home health.
Continued from page 26
• connection to the storm sewer is
too complex and costly,minimal,
localized digging to install a rain-
water basin is an excellent alternate-
solution. To do so, you will have to
allow for a distance of over 10 feet
from a wall of the house, then dig a
hole that is four feet in diameter by
five feet deep, and place a barrel
inside it. Next, pierce & hole in it.
cover it with. geotextile so that the
earth doesn't go inside it and fill it
with. big rocks or crushed stones
over 3/4 inches net. After that, place
five to six inches of crushed stone
all around in order to stabilize the
barrel in the hole and allow the
water to run off.
And lastly, prepare your connec-
tion from the barrel in order to link
up the eaves trough downspout using
a French drain pipe, which will allow
you to connect the downspout of the
eaves trough to the barrel. Take note
that you can get an adapter that
adjusts onto the eaves trough in order
to connect up to the French drain.
And last but not least, it is advisable
that you make sure the upper part of
the barrel is located at a depth of at
least 18 inches underground, thereby
providing the slope required to
ensure water runoff from the eaves
trough toward the barrel,
- News Canada
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