Concrete slab question

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Concrete slab question

sometimes its easier to ask forgiveness later, rather than ask permission first.....

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

I hope the couch isn't too lumpy...

It's not....I've been there....

[Archena]

Re: Concrete slab question

I hope the couch isn't too lumpy...

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

As expected, my wife had a fit this morning when she discovered there was no palm tree blocking the nice view when she looked out the window...

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

As Archena mentioned earlier these roots are not invasive at all. These palm trees line city streets and do no damage to sidewalks. So I'm not worried about the roots, although I will try to kill it.
What I'm most worried about is that a lot roots are exposed on the foundation side and I worry about the structural strength of this tree to remain standing upright as it continues to grow taller and starts to lean. It will grow another 30 feet easily.
I should bring it down.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Concrete slab question

hey f,
here's a few pics of what i had to do when some roots lifted a section of my patio... had to cut out the one section... cut out the roots.. re lay the section I cut out.... it was a giant pain in the a$$ but it came out ok... so take the tree down now so you dont have to do this later... I also had to cut down 2 mulberry tree's that were growing on a wall in my yard very similar to the way yours is,, and you could see how the wall was bowing out... i didnt finish up before the winter, so I use the hole to throw hot coals in when i clean out the overn for baking.. you can see where its burning the root off,,, I want to make sure they are dead as these things grow like weeds around here... after all this, my point,,,CUT IT DOWN,,,,

Cheers Mark

[Archena]

Re: Concrete slab question

Eh, I'd be more worried about the trunk than the roots - look at how tiny that root system is. A sheet of tin foil would stop it (okay, maybe tin instead). Seriously, those roots aren't going to do anything.

The trunk, on the other hand, might. If it's still growing it will put pressure on anything nearby.

I don't have a recommendation other than do whatever will let you sleep best at night.

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

You're right Mark. It's way too close and I'm bringing it down (while my wife is at work..).
Speaking of shifting, my oven will shift next time we experience an earthquake like we did back in 1994. Anything and everything that were not bolted or anchored shifted that morning. My neighbor down the street lost his entire front porch.

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

Re: Concrete slab question

Im with you F,,,,,

Its too close to too many things.. Take it down and plant another...
make sure you kill the roots...


mark

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

On second thought I might just chop down this palm tree. I've been thinking about it all week long. I just don't want to take the chance of my oven foundation shifting over time as this palm tree is only 20 years old.

Foundation slab for the stand will sit on top of block walls (brought up to patio level) building up the corner of this old existing foundation. I can completely fill this corner void or turn it into a nice little storage area directly beneath the oven stand.

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

Thanks folks! I'll start digging that area in the next coming days.

[Archena]

Re: Concrete slab question

From what I can tell palms are not considered invasive, rootwise. An established, stable tree shouldn't be a problem since it's not in a fast growth phase (assuming palms even have fast growth phases) and the roots tend not to go where they aren't wanted.

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

Would placing the block wall footings for the oven foundation so close to the palm tree (pictured in post #135) create any problems down the road? In general, these palm trees don't uproot and are pretty solid & stable. Part of the old existing block wall there has been rock solid and has never been affected by this tree which has grown to maturity over the last 20 years with that wall right beside it.

As I mentioned before, I don't mind chopping it down as it is standing right smack in the middle of the adjacent lot and somewhat blocks the view of the city from our living room.
But on the other hand, I like the tree there for stringing Xmas lights high above.

[JMT]

Re: Concrete slab question

5 ft is pretty high. My base was about 2ft at the highest. Once we layed the 3 courses of bricks we infilled 4 inches at a time and compacted each layer. The clay soil we excavated from the footings was also used to fill the centre.

[fxpose]

Re: Concrete slab question

Yeah, I need to pour my base slab about 5 feet high at the highest point to reach the concrete patio level. The base slab will be about 7' x 7'.
I am already thinking about stand and hearth design and am constantly making drawings. I scrapped the tri-leg (sonotubes) idea and leaning towards a 6' round stand now. The oven will be an igloo.

George