Question
We have had an animal (who has now moved away) burrow under our outdoor concrete stairs which are attached to our foundation.  How can we fix this problem and avoid having another animal move in?  Can we just buy fill dirt and fill the cavity under the steps and top it off with topsoil??  Or do we need to put something else in there under the steps?  We live in Northern Virginia.


Thanks!

Answer
Well hello Northern Virginians!  I like in Montgomery County.  

Get some topsoil, pile it up where the gap is and get a broom stick or shovel handle--poke and shove all that dirt into that hole; the gap between the concrete and the existing grade where the soil has been eroded or "excavated" out.  

Once the soil is nice and tight back under there again, I would dig down right at the base of where the gap was about 12" deep and the length of the stoop (or steps).  Lay 2" of gravel at the base where you dug and compact it.  Then lay 4" concrete blocks (cinder blocks) ontop of the gravel, making a little wall coming right up to the bottom of the concrete, so it's extending the foundation, so the little animals would have to dig real deep to come up, around, and in that area again.  Then bring the soil level back up to the concrete so you con't even see the block you installed.  This would be a major deturrent!  I did same principle for a dog who continually dug under a fence--it worked!  

Now what I really want to know is, where did the animal "move away" too??  Ha :)  I think that really means, "pest elliminated".  But I appreciate the sensorship.

Hope I helped.

Brandon Swisher
Owner/Operator:  landscapefreetv.com
[email protected]