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Refining the Gravel Base with Screed Poles and Compaction

7:45
26:32
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At 7:45 in

The Invisible Work: Prepping a Massive Patio Foundation - GLASS HOUSE EP 4

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What happens here

After establishing the rough gravel sub-base, the next step is to refine its surface for the screed layer. Begin by laying down geotextile fabric over the gravel to prevent the sub-base from mixing with the screed layer and to aid drainage. Use rakes (landscape rakes) to evenly spread additional crushed stone over the geotextile fabric. Install screed poles (metal or PVC pipes) as guides to maintain a consistent depth and pitch for the final layer. Utilize a plate compactor (Bartell SP-13H) to achieve a tightly compacted and stable base. Continue adding gravel and compacting until the desired elevation and uniform pitch of 3 inches is achieved across the entire circular area, ensuring proper drainage.

Goal: Create a smooth, compacted, and properly pitched gravel base ready for pavers.

Tools and materials

  • Geotextile Fabric — Separating sub-base layers and improving drainage
  • Landscape Rakes — Spreading gravel evenly
  • Level — Checking the slope and evenness of the base
  • Plate Compactor Bartell SP-13H — Compacting the gravel base for stability
  • Screed Poles — Creating guides for a consistent base depth
  • Crushed Stone — Final layer of the base

What they say

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going to be extra special. Time to [music] start moving some stone. All right, got our stone here. [music] I'll show you what's going on back there. [music] >> All right. So, we want some pitch running this way. So, we're uh we're probably actually pretty close. I think Jose's going to come in with the machine and uh yeah, move this around. We got to go a tiny bit higher over here. And then uh and then we're probably pretty close on this side here. So, we'll want to pitch like 3 in here. What I think we should do is set up the screed poles and we'll um we'll set those up for our base as well. And it'll just make it a whole lot easier to um you know, get this right where we want it. We'll have this all be uh flat this way and pitch that way like 3 in. And then based on where we're at, I think this is going to be mostly flat behind us. And then this is going to um we're going to work our way up cuz I think we're like 8 in higher [music] right over there. >> [music] >> Yeah, it's going to from here up it's going to slope up there, but here it's going to be flat across here. And then um I think it's [music] going to be relatively flat this way. Good. All right. We check the middle, too. Okay. How much How off is it? Is that level? That's like a whole inch or so. Yeah. Let's hit that. Let's hit that. That good. >> All right. Yeah. There you go. That's good. That's good. That's good. That's good. All right. Now, we can just uh bring in uh bring in a couple buckets and scrape, you know, screed this kind out. >> Make it nice. >> Make it very nice. >> [music]

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