A Foundation Gutter and Walk
Foundation gutters catch the water from off the rain-beaten side of the building, quickly carry it away, and, by preventing “seepage,” keep the cellar, basement, or ground-floor dry. In sloppy, muddy weather, they also serve as convenient walks around the out-buildings.
Determine the grading or sloping of the gutter bottom from observation of direction of the flow of surface water during rain storms, or from local conditions, such as location of outlet into underground drain. Excavate a trench 1 foot 6 inches in width, 10 inches deep on each side, and hollowed out to 13 inches deep in the middle. Use a straight edge or a grade cord, together with a spirit level, to give the bottom of the trench the desired slope or “fall.” For each foot of length a slope of one-eighth inch will be sufficient.
Clean the dirt off the foundation wall with a stiff broom or brush.
In the bottom of the trench place a 6-inch foundation of well-“tamped” gravel, brickbats or crushed stone.
Make a one-bag batch of concrete in proportions, 1: 2½: 5. Have the mixture just wet enough to tamp well.
Place a 4-inch thickness of concrete to form a dish-shaped gutter 3 inches deep in the middle. Every five feet, make an expansion joint ⅛ of an inch wide by inserting a metal strip not less than 7 inches wide and 18 inches long, or by cutting a joint entirely through the concrete with a straight spade. Smooth the surface with a wooden float.
| Materials Required |
|---|
| One cubic yard crushed rock or screened gravel; |
| ½ cubic yard sand; |
| 6 bags of Portland cement, for a 50-foot section. |