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I have a project in mind which requires pouring a concrete slab. In my old farmhouse, the rain runs off the roof and soaks into the ground around the foundation, which is fieldstone and so leaks terribly. There is no porch, so I want to add one. I am thinking I will pour a concrete slab on the three sides of the house affected, and then build railings, steps and roof on top of it. The concrete would form the floor of the porch, and the rainwater would be directed 6-10′ away from the foundation.
As I see it, the process I will follow is this:
1. Dig out earth around porch footprint. Add gravel and tamp. Top with sand and tamp.
2. Add forms (probably 2x8s), spray them with machine oil for easy separation. Give forms a slight slope away from house.
3. Place rebar and tie downs for porch columns, plus some additional features I want to add.
4. Have them come in and do the pour. Allow a week or more for the cure.
5. Carpentry from there to add railings, steps, and porch roof.
My uncertainties have to do with the following issues:
1. We live in West Wisc, a very cold climate. Do I need to be concerned about the ground heaving when it gets cold, moving the slab around? If so, how deep do I need to make the slab?
2. What type of concrete do I need to use?
3. Are there any inexpensive ways I can dress up the concrete after the pour, such as using a pattern to simulate grout seams and or maybe adding colored gravel or sand?
4. How big can the slab be before I need to add expansion seams? It will get full sun on it so the temperature swings will be really large.
5. Do I need to use rebar or is there a better/cheaper way to reinforce?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
-Mike D. ([email protected])
Replies
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I have a project in mind which requires pouring a concrete slab. In my old farmhouse, the rain runs off the roof and soaks into the ground around the foundation, which is fieldstone and so leaks terribly. There is no porch, so I want to add one. I am thinking I will pour a concrete slab on the three sides of the house affected, and then build railings, steps and roof on top of it. The concrete would form the floor of the porch, and the rainwater would be directed 6-10' away from the foundation.
As I see it, the process I will follow is this:
1. Dig out earth around porch footprint. Add gravel and tamp. Top with sand and tamp.
2. Add forms (probably 2x8s), spray them with machine oil for easy separation. Give forms a slight slope away from house.
3. Place rebar and tie downs for porch columns, plus some additional features I want to add.
4. Have them come in and do the pour. Allow a week or more for the cure.
5. Carpentry from there to add railings, steps, and porch roof.
My uncertainties have to do with the following issues:
1. We live in West Wisc, a very cold climate. Do I need to be concerned about the ground heaving when it gets cold, moving the slab around? If so, how deep do I need to make the slab?
2. What type of concrete do I need to use?
3. Are there any inexpensive ways I can dress up the concrete after the pour, such as using a pattern to simulate grout seams and or maybe adding colored gravel or sand?
4. How big can the slab be before I need to add expansion seams? It will get full sun on it so the temperature swings will be really large.
5. Do I need to use rebar or is there a better/cheaper way to reinforce?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
-Mike D. ([email protected])