I am about to have a slab (~35' front to back) poured covering pretty much all of my side yard. While looking at things, I am trying to decide what I should do to make things more future-proof.

Right now, I have sprinklers on that side, the back half of them are being removed as they will be covered by the slab. I have yet to determine if the water comes from the front or back of the house. If from the back, the pipes will need to remain, with the sprinkler heads capped. If not, the pipes can be removed.

Also, my sprinkler controller wires come out on that side of the house. I am not sure if they go through the side yard, or under the driveway and around the other side.

So, without having determined the 2 above things, I have been trying to think of what happens if something has to run under the slab, then in the future needs work. What would be the smart things to do to future plan running things underground from the front to back?

After thinking about it, I was thinking I could put something like a 4" PVC pipe underground before they pour the slab extending like a foot out each side. With that I could reroute anything that needs to go front to back, or just cap it for now and in the future if something needs work, run the new work through it.

Am I overthinking things? Is this a good idea? Any other ideas or things I haven't though about?

Thanks!

Just run sleeves from one side to the other

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I am about to have a slab (~35' front to back) poured covering pretty much all of my side yard. While looking at things, I am trying to decide what I should do to make things more future-proof.

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*Make sure you aren't going to go over any impervious cover limits
*What will all this concrete due to runoff? Will you flood your neighbor or redirect drainage? What about the gutter downspouts current or future?
*You may want to leave 4" gap between the house & new slab to run wiring into the house in the future. Fill the gap with gravel.
*Same at the fenceline, leave a foot gap. You'll have to replace the fence (assuming you have one) and they'll need to wreck the old posts and install new. You need room for that.
*I would install 3 - 2" schedule 40 pipes from one end to the other and a 4" schedule 40 pipe as well, plus direct any gutter downspouts to the proper direction according to slope.
Finally, my main thought:
*Why not just do road base & concrete pavers, or a packed gravel? Easier to remove and replace if there is an issue.

Make sure they put your yard back the way it was. Meaning, if they drive a georgia buggy along the side of the house 60 times, it will mess up the drainage slope. Make sure they make it right. Other things like that. Make sure they plastic up your house well before splashing concrete all over the place. Make sure they take all their trash when they leave. There is a lot more than just placing the concrete to make a job successful.

Who?mikejones! said:

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Just run sleeves from one side to the other

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Thanks, I will ask about this.

Apache said:

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Quote:

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I am about to have a slab (~35' front to back) poured covering pretty much all of my side yard. While looking at things, I am trying to decide what I should do to make things more future-proof.

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*Make sure you aren't going to go over any impervious cover limits
Not sure on the cover limits, but will ask.

*What will all this concrete due to runoff? Will you flood your neighbor or redirect drainage? What about the gutter downspouts current or future?
Runoff is the issue now, the house beside me (higher elevation) is causing a mud hole here, and heavy rains cause water to go through the weep holes into my garage.Front yard slopes to the street, back yard slopes back away from the house, so water will go the same place it has, it just won't pool along-side the house. Gutter downspouts already go forward and back, not to the side.

*You may want to leave 4" gap between the house & new slab to run wiring into the house in the future. Fill the gap with gravel.
Interesting idea, but during COVID I had a new back patio created and kind of wanted to tie them all together in an L shape. this new concrete area will be for an outdoor kitchen or similar in the future, and a place for my smoker, grill and a few other things to go at the present. So I am not sure how rock between the 2 will work.

*Same at the fenceline, leave a foot gap. You'll have to replace the fence (assuming you have one) and they'll need to wreck the old posts and install new. You need room for that.
I will look into leaving a gap along the fenceline. I am getting a new fence as part of this project.

*I would install 3 - 2" schedule 40 pipes from one end to the other and a 4" schedule 40 pipe as well, plus direct any gutter downspouts to the proper direction according to slope.
Thanks, this is the kind of information I was looking for.

Finally, my main thought:
*Why not just do road base & concrete pavers, or a packed gravel? Easier to remove and replace if there is an issue.
Mostly its because the new pad will tie into my existing patio, and would allow my kids more scooter/chalk drawing/etc area.

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Make sure they put your yard back the way it was. Meaning, if they drive a georgia buggy along the side of the house 60 times, it will mess up the drainage slope. Make sure they make it right. Other things like that. Make sure they plastic up your house well before splashing concrete all over the place. Make sure they take all their trash when they leave. There is a lot more than just placing the concrete to make a job successful.

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Thanks. Yea, I had my back patio extended in 2020 and they did a great job with prep and cleanup, especially since they had to use a buggy to get back there. This side yard is just off the driveway so hopefully they can just pour from there. I would hope this crew does similar work but will keep my eye on it.