Hey Gabe — Another concrete question
I’ve got a lightweight concrete job coming up. It involves two 4″ thick slabs and an 8″ thick slab over radiant tubing over an existing floor.
Ceramic tile is going over that.
I’m the excavation, demolition, and concrete sub on the remodel from . . . well, if Hugh Hefner built a house for the Brady Bunch and only used drug addicts and drunks as employees, this would be the house.
So my question is this; is there any advantage or disadvantage in breaking the placement up into sections with keyed steel construction joints?
Seems like I could get a real accurate screed off of a metal construction joint and positive crack control.
Am I missing anything?
Replies
Curling.
But for your application, it doesn't have any effect on the final project's outcome. Your thinset for the ceramic tiles will negate any minor imperfections in the concrete's flat surface.
Now, don't try this in your pajamas a la Hugh Hefner unless you have babes for your crew.
If using the metal construction joints raises your comfort level and makes it easier for you then by all means use it.
Why the 8" slab?
Gabe
<<Curling.>>Could I minimize that with a water reducer?<<But for your application, it doesn't have any effect on the final project's outcome. Your thinset for the ceramic tiles will negate any minor imperfections in the concrete's flat surface.>>That's what I'm thinking. And if it's really bad anywhere I suppose I could plane it.<<Now, don't try this in your pajamas a la Hugh Hefner unless you have babes for your crew.>>Now there is a business model for success. <G> Hey, if a guy could edit a magazine that way . . . nah, never mind, bad idea. <G>Actually, a few years ago I had 6 guys and 3 gals working on one crew. The women seriously outworked the guys any day. Especially after I taught one of the women to run a backhoe.<<If using the metal construction joints raises your comfort level and makes it easier for you then by all means use it.>>Thanks, that is what I was asking. This job is high-end to say the least and I anticipate the clients are going to be, ah, particular. I don't think any mistakes are going to be tolerated.You read between the lines correctly.My biggest concern is cracking that is translated to the tile. While I will certainly suggest crack isolation membrane, I have no control over the tile installation. My best defense if there is a problem of any sort with the tile would be to uncover perfect concrete.<<Why the 8" slab?>>I don't know if this is the Hugh Hefner part or the Brady Bunch part, but all of the rooms were built a little low, and one of the rooms was built a lot low -- kinda like a sunken living room if the builder had never seen one before, or wasn't totally sold on the concept. <G>I've been thinking about some way to reduce the slab thickness there, and was toying with the idea of XPS since there is radiant going in, but I don't know yet.Thanks for the help.Got any good projects coming up?
Not too much in the way of interesting, half way through one with a footprint of about 5 1/3 acres and we'll be pouring about 3000 cubic meters of concrete next month.
A buddy in Long Beach wants me to join him on some projects down there but I'm not tempted for the foreseeable future. Some people want to talk about one in Calgary taking in a couple of city blocks and a budget of 600 million but that would be a killer. No real workforce available on demand. There's a severe shortage of skilled workers everywhere.
We'll see..............
Gabe