Like a lot of projects, well, my projects at least, there are changes to the scope of the project that were not anticipated at the start of the project. Sometimes I'm suprised by what I find when I reveal some suspected but hidden fault, a leak, a crack, etc. This project had a lot of surprises.
Here we can see the extent of the first big surprise.
Now that the deck is gone and the patio is swept clean it's clear that the surface is uneven.
I want the finished deck to be level. Drainage should happen under the deck, so I don't need a big slope on the deck boards. But I want it to be solid, strong, level underneath. This "foundation" is not a good place to start. I decided to think on it while I undertook my first big scope change.