Build With Roman - How to Install a Foundation for Features and Fireplaces

[@tophinski]

Upload more often man, I know your workload may be high at the moment but your videos and projects are gold!

[@Romanstonehardscape]

Production on new videos starts in November! Thanks for the encouraging comments.

[@bowmaster24]

Did you mention that all landscape jobs start with a shovel? Lmao had me cracking up. Great video.

[@Romanstonehardscape]

Hey, I just want you to know what you are getting into. We're not planting daisies in this video. Thanks for the compliment.

[@aa6757]

Without a 4 inch concrete base, didn’t that sink into the ground over time?

[@THECORTINASFAMILY]

my husband loves ur content he have follow ur steps for two projects at are house ur amazing

[@Romanstonehardscape]

I am glad I could help. It sounds like your husband is the amazing one! Keep up the good work.

[@harvardmurrayinc]

Um. I hope you keep making videos. The natural humor is going to get better and better with each one. This was hilarious. 😂

[@00justincredible00]

what type of rock and sand did you use?

[@vincentking8267]

So you DON'T need a concrete pad for heavy features?

[@cryptobreakdownpr4421]

Does anyone know what tool I'll need to get started

[@VASteelersGuy]

We completed our hardscape fireplace a few weeks ago but it's clear that we should seal it? Any recommendations?

[@jimabraham6382]

Can I build the fireplace on top of concrete pavers? The base will be 12" gravel/1" sand.

[@robertframpton5899]

I like the look of your products. It's just that there's no indication on your website where you can get it from. Do you have any dealers in NY?

[@Romanstonehardscape]

Thank you for your comment. You can find our dealers here: romanstone.com/products/ We are located inn the Midwest. Most orders come from ordering directly from our website. We ship to NY regularly.

[@satchelpaige7228]

Definitely gonna be watching for more videos... the wife wants me to build an outdoor fireplace and wall on the current site of our flagstone patio this spring. I know the foundation is the most important part, because I don't want anything to fall down or be out-of-square. Gonna need more help/detail with getting the foundation correct. Is the implication in this video that by using that crushed rock/gravel and creating a level, compacted bed with it (and a little screeded sand on top), I can actually build my wall and fireplace on top of that..? I don't have to pour concrete..?

[@satchelpaige7228]

Incidentally, I'm grateful for your efforts and instructional videos. I have learned a TON of things that can be done around my house without paying a contractor by watching videos like yours. Cheers from Seattle..!

[@Romanstonehardscape]

Truly every site can have different needs, but you can build on a properly built and compacted crushed aggregate base. You can choose concrete as well. Many people build on concrete and there is nothing extraordinary to do outside of using standard best practices. There are only a few things to consider. Concrete still needs a 4"-8" crushed aggregate base to rest on. Don't pour it directly on soil. The concrete also needs steel reinforcement. Be sure to build it properly according to local codes. You will want a minimum 4" thick -up to 8" thick - reinforced concrete pad. If you are building on a pre-existing concrete pad, or one much larger than your fireplace footprint, be sure to form or cut expansion joints around the fireplace. This will ensure that the weight of your structure does not crack your concrete pad. You can practically hide the expansion joints if you choose. Simply lay out the first course of blocks. Tightly mark around them with a permanent marker. Remove the blocks. Use a concrete saw to cut along the lines outlining where the blocks will go. When you reposition the first course, the blocks should hide the expansion joints. This will give your fireplace its own pad to rest on. When movement or settling occurs, this pad will move independently of your main slab. This will minimize or eliminate cracking of your main pad due to the constant weight of the fireplace.

[@satchelpaige7228]

@@Romanstonehardscape Aye... I have no real desire to build a new wall/fireplace on concrete if it isn't necessary. I like the idea of building on a good, solid, compacted/crushed aggregate base. I *do* live in Seattle (lots of rain), but I suspect the aggregate base is good for draining standing water away from the wall/fireplace I build. I just wasn't sure if the constant weight of the wall/fireplace might cause the entire structure to sink. But if I build-up a thick-enough base of crushed aggregate and compact it properly, it sounds like I won't have too much to worry about. Thanks again for all the help and being so responsive. I greatly-appreciate it. We folks out here in youtube-land are very fortunate to have knowledgeable people (such as yourself) to lean-on and ask questions. You RULE. Cheers from Seattle. I'll continue watching your vids for ideas.

[@emanueldiaz1752]

How did the foundation did after a few years with all weight on it? Is it moving yet?

[@Ura_pnes]

What is a shovel?

[@VioletPurplePink]

Inspiring!

[@stewmeat9261]

What is this shovel thing you speak of?

[@Romanstonehardscape]

A shovel is a unique item in a class of its own. It's the only thing you pay money to own, but can freely leave outside with no fear of anyone ever stealing it.

[@gregbrady8454]

Is your name Roman Stone and you work in the stone business?

[@jrdelamancha9360]

Your pop-up becomes annoying after 2nd time. Video is more about how you vaguely did it than to inform a DIY person. Waste of time.

[@ryanhicks942]

Cool video...worthless info though. You glossed over EVERYTHING. Not much help at all really

[@martymcfly5842]

All landscape jobs start with Diggers Hotline, not a shovel. Keep that in mind.

[@matthewhorn5894]

I think we just became best friends

[@drumandbassonvinyl]

This was the construction equivalent to “How to draw an owl: step one, draw a circle. Step 2: Draw the rest of the owl.” Humor was good, though. Get more in-depth and you have something really solid on your hands. I’m off to find a useful tutorial.

[@justinlovestrashtrucks2154]

That shovel thing is so annoying

[@eswing2153]

JustinLovesTrashTrucks yes. It was funny the first two times. After that it was like a skipping record player.

[@FINAL323]

That shovel thing is so annoying....