I am getting ready to install a new concrete patio. I will be starting from scratch. It will be about 18'x9'. I need to move a fence back before I install the patio. There is a slight slope right now and I will need to bring in some dirt or something to fill in the area, also I just had 3 trees removed and the stomps were ground down, one of the tree stumps will be directly under the patio.

I have three main questions, first is there any real problem with the patio being over the old tree stump? It was ground down 2-3" and with the fill dirt I will be bringing in there will be another 3-5" for a total of 5-8" of dirt over the stump.

Next, what type of dirt or filler should I bring in? Just regular old dirt?

And lastly, how thick should the patio be? This will be simply a back yard patio for bar-B-Qing and sitting on. Nothing heavy will ever be driven on it.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. This will be the first concrete project I have personally installed.

Thanks in advance for all your help and suggestions.

Rob