Foothills patio provides rodent protection
Moles were a big deal here. So the concrete border you see here goes down approximately 30" into the earth, with a blanket of hardware cloth beneath the sand substrate, offering an effective barrier to the vermin. And it's working just fine!
For more information and additional photos of this project, go to http://a1builders.ws/2012/02/a-sunroom-addition-makes-use-of-passive-solar-and-reclaimed-wood/