I’m pouring tomorrow and am thinking over the pour, getting rods (2x4s) ready, etc.
At the intersection of two walkways coming together I have some elevation changes that I’ve never done before.
The main path from the car parking I wanted to keep level but the walkway going to the street slopes downhill.
In the center of the intersection I’m instaling a water feature so I set a water pipe and an electrical conduit inside a pvc pipe.
From the pictures you can see how the walkway drops off after the pvc pipe.
So I’m going to have to slope the pour on the street side of the conduit.
I had a concrete finisher lined up but he bailed out on me so it is just going to be a few carpenters and helpers.
Should I put another temp screed in where it breaks? Even with the temp screed I don’t want the break to be a straight line that is a obvious break.
I’d like to have a nice hump/curve but have never done one on flat work like this.
I’m afraid if I start doing it by hand I’ll get a wavy/lumpy slab.
Replies
I put another temp screed in perpendicular to the main temp screed.
I think it will act as a good guide but I still don't want it to break real straight.
I guess I will have to mound the concrete on both sides of the temp screed and use my float to create a mounded break.
I just don't know if I have the skills to pull it off tomorrow. We'll see I guess.
I sure would like to have that finisher around.
It seems like the guys that really know their stuff either charge to much or they take control of the job/schedule to much. Or both.
I asked him a week and a half ago to show up and he was fine until a couple of days ago. What am I supposed to do? Place it and finish it myself I guess.
Edited 7/11/2008 5:09 pm ET by popawheelie
Bump?
popa.... if you do this yourself with some carps, you're a better man than i, gunga-dini'd wait until you get a cement finisher and crew lined up.....
i've poured and finished just enough flat work to know my limitationsMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
To late! I just took my shoes off and am taking a break. We started at 8:15 and finished placing and rodding at 9:00.
The walkway came out great! A friend from church came over and really helped alot. He's been remodeling for years and working forever.
There was a bunch of other people that helped too. But he was the man!
I talked to him last night and this morning about the break and he helped with it and relieved my fears. It wasn't that hard.
You can tell if the slab is flat when you trowel it. If the trowel skips over areas or grabs onto high spots it is wavy. It finished up fine.
I think I get apprehensive from pours that went badly. They stick in my mind.
I sprayed a little sugar in a few areas, sprayed water on it, and covered it with plastic.
Waiting to cut the expansion joints. I can still dig my thumbnail into it.
good on ya !.....
i've done just enough to sub it out..
but looks like you had the right crew
View ImageMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
You got's five people plus a pitcher taker for a little sidewalk?
You ain't lived until your volunteer crew doesn't show for a garage floor and patio addition but the truck does.
And you learn who your friends are when they see you out there by yourself.
{Thanks, Art. I'll always appreciate that gesture 30 years ago!}
What I want to do is get a group of men that exchange work with each other.
It seems like either people are to busy, to broke, to lazy, or scared to tackle jobs.
I'd like to be able to help guys get over some of those hurdles.
It forms bonds that are pretty strong.
So having more men than was really needed spread it out further.
So I owe more guys a favor. Great!
One guy and his wife (not in the pic) I've helped out with their front yard.
Another guy I've helped with stuff. He's harder to help though. He thinks he knows stuff when he doesn't. I installed a door for him and he wanted me to cut the drywall with my Makita 18V Li-ion circular saw!
The husband and wife couple know they don't know and have nothing to prove so it's much easier to help them. It's funny that way.
I was talking to my neighbor a few days ago about it and he asked how many people were showing up. I told him 7 and he kind of puffed out his chest and said that job needs 3 guys at the most. Who cares? I'm not paying them. Does every task you do have to be bare bones?
Edited 7/12/2008 4:59 pm ET by popawheelie