New walk way

[Wade Joseph]

I need to tear up my old side walk that leads to the house from my driveway and pour a new one. I am not afraid to tackle it just not sure how to figure how thick to make it and how much concrete I need. I would say its 12' long by 30 inches wide. Can I mix it in wheelbarrow or buckets, or do I need to rent a small mixer?

[Northlander]

Wade rent a mixer it will be much easier and more consistant.

[jltimm]

Go 4 " thick, and put a couple of cuts in it. It will come to about 1/2 yard.

[Roofer]

Rent a mixer or get it from the redimix near you. It will turn out much better.

I would wait for the frost to come out though.

[Shack]

Wade,

Can you get a truck and shoot into the area of the walk way?

I know you are going to get a "short" load charge, but having the mix delivered is so much easier.

The form boards will be 3.5" though. I always add 5-10% extra just in case. I would rather send the truck away rattling, verses being short. Same goes when you mix your self. I know left over bags are a pain, but it beet's running to the store during a pour.

I would tear out old concrete, clean area and form project. Make sure you allow for any grade/water draining issues. Form project with 2x4 and stake about every 4-6’ (make sure top of stake is 1/2 inch below top of form baord for screading purpose). Check form boards with level when done. Pour mix, screed with straight board, hand finish with mag, finish edges, put cuts around 4’ apart (even it out for the best eye appeal. I would mark cut points on top of form board before pour with perm marker, on both side. All you have to do then when the time is right is lay a straight 2x4 accross (allowing for cut tool clearence) and line up tool and push ir pull), wait for mix to set up a little and broom finish from the side. Extra side note, right after or during the initial pour, tap side of form boards with hammer every 3-4’. This will let air bubbles out. This will ensure a nice/strong side of concrete. If you have any side that will be exposes, this is a must.

The formula I would use for this project would:

L X W X .33= ?, Divided by 27=Equals your total yards needed. Then figure a little extra (5% to 10%), then add these two numbers together, to figure out what you need.

Good luck.

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: Wade Joseph

I need to tear up my old side walk that leads to the house from my driveway and pour a new one. I am not afraid to tackle it just not sure how to figure how thick to make it and how much concrete I need. I would say its 12' long by 30 inches wide. Can I mix it in wheelbarrow or buckets, or do I need to rent a small mixer?

I'd call around and see who in your area has premix in cart rentable.They mix the concrete,put it in a 1 yd cart thats towable,you haul it home dump,spread clean out cart return.Its lots cheaper than a readymix 10 yd. truck carrying a 1/2 yd.Like shack said 2x4 forms edger tool,float,trowl,and creasing?? tool

[Shack]

Sparce,

Great idea. I have never used them before, but I have heard of this.

[chasineyes]

It may not hurt to get a quick estimate...I have a 5x15 slab poured for a dog kennel and it was about $700-800 about 4 years ago. This way to can evaluate what your time and labor and material cost is.

[Bigeye30"]

I'd say shack pretty much gave you a great step by step formula, the only thing I'd add is that if your walk has any radius or curves in it, you might want to switch from 2x4 to 1x4 for the forms, that way you can bend the board for the curve, this won't take care of tight radius, just nice curves, tight radius usually take plastic forms, sometimes masonite, but that doesnt hold up to well. Remember to take a level and raise the one form up just a bit, that will allow for water to runoff to run off the slab. Have fun

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: shackbash

Sparce,

Great idea. I have never used them before, but I have heard of this.

works great as long as you dont have a long drive,setting time is one minor problem,but the drive consentrates the rock to the bottom of cart,that can be a hassle.

[Shack]

I have used masonite for any and all curves. Stake it about every 1' 1/2 and make sure it looks good to the eye. I have done some very nice stuff with masonite. It is also very cheap.

Plastics like Tyvar get expensive and in the cold get tough to work with.

Masonite man 100%.

[Shack]

 Originally Posted By: sparcebag

 Originally Posted By: shackbash

Sparce,

Great idea. I have never used them before, but I have heard of this.

works great as long as you dont have a long drive,setting time is one minor problem,but the drive consentrates the rock to the bottom of cart,that can be a hassle.

Like I said Sparce, I have heard of this.

Do you know how it transfers from the unit to the pour area? Is it pumped or is it gravity? This would be the question I would have.

I have not seen any of the outfits up this way offer this, but I have heard in the cities you can find this.

I still would like to know what happens to a hard and hot load, when returned

[rattlereel]

i don't think you want to know what that would be like (Hard hot load in cart) You might learn some new words when you bring it back

[boatfixer]

They do make pull behind 2-3 yard mixers if that is what you are talking about. A local rental store up here in Grand Rapids has one. They add everything at the store and you haul it away. I've never used one though, because I drive for a redimix company, but heard they work ok. It would be similar to this. check this link

http://www.cart-away.com/

maybe someone in your area has one.

[Shack]

boatfixer,

That does look pretty cool!

Unfortunately, the locator option is not going as of yet.

I personally think, they could never replace the driver. I have had some pours where some guys do not show up (Sat.)! A good driver will always step in and I repay them for it.

Plus the B.S. is always thick and good, when talking to a good driver .

[boatfixer]

I always keep boots and a mag in my truck. I've jumped in many many times. If you don't, they lose it or you're there a long time. Besides, I dont mind honing my skills.

[sparcebag]

They also have them that dont mix just a tub with manual hydrolic lift,and a 12x12 short shoot on rear.

Boatfixer last concrete I did was in the city by myself with a nephew 16yrs.Wish you would have been the driver,the real young guy only shouted orders till I told him shut up or help he just shutup.

[maros91]

Also before pouring clear the dirt that is against the forms. If you pour against the form when the dirt is there it is hollow on the edge and can break off easily. On our cuts we usually go how ever wide the walk is. We pour our walks at least 3 ft. wide. Any smaller looks a little small. 4 ft. is about perfect. So if your walk is 3 ft. wide we put cuts every 3ft.

[Shack]

 Originally Posted By: boatfixer

I always keep boots and a mag in my truck. I've jumped in many many times. If you don't, they lose it or you're there a long time. Besides, I dont mind honing my skills.

My pours are mostly late afternoon/evenings or Saturdays!

I had one pour last spring where it should have been 4 guys, but only 2 showed up. Everything was set and we had to Bobcat the majority to the lower half. The driver showed up and we waited about 15-20 minutes. We had to pour!

That driver worked for an aggregate local company, but ended up working the bull float for the back slab. It got done and everything was ok (as all ways). It seemed personal life came up in the two who where missing, but they never realize the personal life issues of the people we pour for.

The driver is one of the best dudes I know. I tip them very well each time, even if they do not help (more so if they do help).

I am sure you are one of them and i give thanks for your kind

[Shoogs32]

Hey Wade,

if your measurements are correct, it calls for .37 yards at a 4" depth. If you have a local redimix place near you, they might have a half yard left over occasionaly. Ordering a fresh batch will lead to a small load charge and you typically have to order atleast a yard for them to even mix it. If that is the case, I would make the walk bigger and order a yard of mud.