Advice needed-Trying to build a level base for bbq area

[BurnBern]

Hi I want lay a concrete base for a bbq area. It’s going to be 5.2m x 3.3m. I was just going to put shuttering up on the area I was going to use . Remove all the turf and just pour a 150mm concrete slab. But on checking today there is a fall of almost 190mm from one end to the other.

What would you do, dig footings and do brickwork to bring it all up to the same height and then pour concrete ?

If digging footings how deep should I go and what width and depth should the concrete be for the footings

[Big T]

Your other option would be to bring in some dirt and build up the low end so you could put your concrete slab at the proper elevation. Then you wouldn't have to worry about someone stepping off of the edge and twisting an ankle. I'm not sure about how deep the footings would need to be because we have building codes here which tell you how you have to build everything. If you don't have any codes then you could probably get by with a 6'' deep by 12'' wide footing seeing as you're only trying to raise the elevation by 8'' on one end.

[Dirtytires]

The common practice here in AZ is to simply down the edge forms and pour the slab. With that said, we don’t have frost to worry about so your local weather might dictate a certain procedure. As far as the elevation change, I probably wouldn’t put a footer down but would use some set-back retaining wall blocks.

Also keep in mind it’s pretty common to have a slight slope to a slab to keep water from laying on it. You may be able to use that to your advantage.

[towtruck]

I would cut half of 190mm off the high side and fill the low side with the dirt. The slab will be near ground level on one end and raised on the other.
I want my slabs level with no low spots to trap water.

[ajfoxy]

Yep, what towtruck said. Half and half. You also could dig out the whole area and on the high side brick up and make seating.