could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

[TylerDavis]

I'm moving into a new old home with a large patio in the backyard. It is made of regular clay bricks laid on the flat side. I believe they are loose-laid directly on top of the dirt, which here in the desert is very hard, really more like sand. No mortar that I can see. I haven't checked the grade to see how it slopes, but the few times a year when it does rain, the water should quickly soak through the gaps between bricks and into the sand. No seismic activity out here, nor any other severe environmental effects, other than extreme heat, which isn't harmful to masonry.

So could I skip the concrete slab and just start laying slump blocks right on top of the patio bricks? The patio is raised about 12" above the "floor" area where I would be working, which would mean my slump block stand could be 12" less tall than the Pompeii plans call for

[BOOMERS WFO]

Re: could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

Hello Tyler,

The issue I see is the weight of the oven. By the time you finish building there is a significant weight on the base. The slab gives stability and strength.

The last thing you want is to finish building the oven and find that one side subsides. You may not be aware of what is underneath the pavers.

Good Luck

Craig

[Les]

Re: could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

Tyler,
I assume you are talking about paver's. In a perfect world they would have laid some base, compacted it, and then set them on 1 inch of sand. The block will span 2-3 brick and you would be golden. But... If you don't know that this is the case, I would lift the brick and pour a shallow pad w/ some steel. It doesn't add that much cost and you will have piece of mind. You are blessed with your environment - sand and a 1/16 inch frost line

[TylerDavis]

Re: could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

Tyler,
I assume you are talking about paver's. In a perfect world they would have laid some base, compacted it, and then set them on 1 inch of sand. The block will span 2-3 brick and you would be golden. But... If you don't know that this is the case, I would lift the brick and pour a shallow pad w/ some steel. It doesn't add that much cost and you will have piece of mind. You are blessed with your environment - sand and a 1/16 inch frost line

not pavers. red clay brick like you would use to build a house. the stuff Chicago is built of. whadyya think?

[Les]

Re: could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

not pavers. red clay brick like you would use to build a house. the stuff Chicago is built of. whadyya think?

Usually houses are built with cores. You mentioned they were flat so they are obviously solids. Again, if someone is putting them down for traffic, they may have done it correctly. Here is a test. Pull ONE brick - see what is underneath. If you go down a little and hit crushed rock, you are probably good to build.

[TylerDavis]

Re: could I build directly on top of brick patio and forgo the slab?

Usually houses are built with cores. You mentioned they were flat so they are obviously solids. Again, if someone is putting them down for traffic, they may have done it correctly. Here is a test. Pull ONE brick - see what is underneath. If you go down a little and hit crushed rock, you are probably good to build.

yes, they're solids. I'll pull one and report back