Vent: Lost a whole weekend because I didn't check the soil first

Was all set to lay down a little paver patio in my backyard last Saturday, dug out the space and everything. Turns out I have this thick clay layer about 6 inches down that turned the whole thing into a muddy mess after one rain, had to scrap it all and fill it back in. Found out from a guy at the local Ace Hardware in Springfield that I should've done a percolation test first before even buying the pavers. Has anyone else had to deal with unexpected clay or rock layers ruining their plans?

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henry_webb682mo ago

That Ace Hardware guy in Springfield saved me from a similar mess a few years back actually... I had this whole plan for a fire pit area and hit a solid clay seam about 4 inches down, turned everything into a swamp after one good storm. Had to call a buddy with a truck to haul in six loads of gravel just to get a base down, cost me double what I planned. Clay is the absolute worst for drainage, it's like trying to dig in wet concrete once it gets soaked. Your story really brings back that sinking feeling of watching your weekend project turn into a muddy hole in the ground.

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grantl942mo ago

Oh boy, that clay seam sounds like a real nightmare. Six loads of gravel is a lot, but honestly I think standard gravel can actually make drainage worse in some clay soils if you don't put in a proper French drain system underneath. The water just sits in the voids between the gravel and rots everything from below.

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