[SteveB87]

Today I began replacing the landscape timber surrounding an old dumpy looking flower bed in the backyard that is near the house. While digging the timber out and trying to rake the rocks and other garbage out of the dirt I began racking up slabs of fairly thin brittle concrete.

I began digging a bit more and ran into lots more of it. I figured it was just more buried garbage as I've already dug up several dozen bricks and other large stones in the yard so it didnt seem strange....

But it seems like there is at least a 6' x 6' area that has very thin (about 1" thick) and very brittle (can break it easily with a shovel) concrete layer. I've already broken much of it up before I realized it may be serving some kind of purpose.

The dirt around it is almost just gravel with lots of dirt mixed in and is right up against the house so maybe it has something to do with drainage? The house is a built on a slab and was built in 1960 if that helps...

Any ideas what this is or if its necessary?

 

[WirelessG]

It's probably just wash out concrete that was left over when the poured the slab. Usually the operator will hose down the wash out to keep if from forming concrete (it just leaves a pile of gravel).

 

[Ron6519]

I think it was a patio project that went very, very wrong.
Who says you can't bury your mistakes?
Ron

 

[HomeInsulation]

Hey SteveB87,

I just tore up a bunch of landscaping timbers and brick patio near my house and have the same thing. 1" thick brittle concrete type stuff all over the place.

I've dug down about 12" and there's nothing of consequence below it. It must have been a technique to build up the base under a brick patio.

I'm just smashing it up with a sledgehammer and getting rid of it.

Good luck with your landscaping.