Help! I’m intending to build a car port with a concrete floor slab. Since this is up-state NY with severe winters could anyone tell me the concrete mix (ratios) that I should use to avoid the concrete breaking up after the thaw. Also, does this need to be reinforced concrete (it will house a pick-up and a car)? Thanks in advance for your advice.
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wow! That was loud.
no clue on the slab, but you might a better response with blinking text...
Post a warnig about putting on sun glasses and turning down the contrast and brightness on the moniters before opening this post.
Without my glasses I see this one from across the room.
Yes, you need steel in the slab. 6" by 6" #10 welded wire fabric (6x6 WWF) in the field as a minimum. one or two #4 or #5 rebar going around the perimeter footing would be good too.
Freezing climate? To avoid frost heave, you must remove 1) the possibility of freezeing temps, or 2) eliminate all water or 3) remove all fine grained soils (clay and silt), leaving only sand and gravel in its place ("NFS" = non-frost suseptable soils).
As a partical matter, everyone (should) remove the fine grained soil to the design frost depth (3 or 4 feet for you?) and replace with NFS. Because you can't count on keep it warm or dry.
5 sack or 6 sack would be fine for a 4-inch slab for cars and light trucks. Or specific 2500 pound strength. Or just take what they send you, because that should be the minimum. Specific entrained air to minimize damage from surface moisture getting into the slab and freezing. After the pour and the surface has set up, KEEP IT WET. The longer you keep it wet/moist, the stronger it will get. Don't add water to the mix truck to make it easier to pour - that weakens the concrete. Instead, learn how to handle concrete with proper, low slump (3 or 4").
Good Luck and you DON'T have severe winters, IMO.