casey_wa

We have a raised deck off the back of our house that is 3 feet above the ground at the house and ground level 30 feet away from the house.

Between the top of the foundation and the bottom of the first floor is a 30 inch tall cripple wall. The wall extends from the corner of the house for 20 feet (under the 27 foot width of the deck).

We are thinking of replacing the decking with a hard surface patio. The problem is the cripple wall. Do we replace the cripple wall with a concrete extension upward of the foundation...or...would it be better to move 6 feet away from the house and put in a parallel retaining wall that is backfilled on the opposite from the house with a decking material spanning from the wall to the house?

If replacing the cripple wall, does it seem possible to do so in stages..say, four foot long segments so as not have to pull out the complete cripple wall? The thought being having not to provide a vast about of support to a bearing wall...and not to mention replacing a cripple wall all at once is definitely not a DIY project.

Here is a picture illustrating pretty close our cripple walls...the cripples are as shown, the joists are perpendicular to the cripple wall we want to replace.

Thanks for your thoughts...Casey

inspectorD

I would suggest a professional take a look. I don't know about your soil conditions, water issues or grade and seismic problems. You could have hidden issues and there is not enough info or pictures to give you a real good direction to follow.

Anyone?

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glennjanie

Welcome Casey Wa:

Do I hear you wanting to place concrete on top of the deck? That just won't work, no way jose. The best way to make a hard surface patio is to remove the deck completely right down to the foundation. Once the deck is gone you can fill the foundation with crushed limestone, sand or pea gravel. Build a concrete form around the foundation that will allow the patio to overlap the foundation by 1-1/2". Some suggestions for the patio; exposed aggreate, flagstone laid on top of it, some choice of nice tile or granite with grout lines. Let us know how it turns out.

Glenn