Concrete guys are doing front walk, driveway etc, tomorrow on a house I’m building. I have a which is 4′ x 8′ wide 1/2 circle concrete step between the brick steps and the front walkway. Please see that attached sketch. I’d like the concrete guys to finish the sunburst pattern into the step using control joints to repeat an architectural element that is in the gable directly above the steps. My question is how can they finish the small diameter semicircle in the center? Their control joint tool obviously won’t go around that tight of an arch. I have a 6″ PVC coupling that I can cut in half to use to form the small 1/2 circle (although I wish it were larger), but really they need to be able to put a grove in there similar to their control joint tool. Ideas? Make a quick tool out of sheet metal? What?
They have already formed up everything and will pretty much do what I ask them. Your thoughts are appreciated.
BTW – this Q will be water under the bridge as of about 7:30 AM (eastern) tomorrow when I go to work.
Edited 11/18/2008 7:53 pm ET by Matt
Replies
Matt,
You are on the right track. Either use a larger piece of pipe for the semi-circle or use a piece of sheet metal to make the pattern. Then they should be able to use an edge or a jointer tipped up on edge for the round-overs on the joint. My only concern is that it may crack through the semi circle.....unless you can leave the sheet metal or pipe piece in the pour for a true isolation joint that goes all the way through the slab.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Yea - I thought about the possibility of it cracking too. I'm having them make it 6" thick to help with that, but leaving the piece of pipe in there seems like a sure bet...
http://www.marshalltown.com/Products.aspx?D=200&S=211&C=C2102
That would be the ticket...
Cautions given about preventing the score lines from running through the semi-circle should be noted. I would bury a 1/2 a cylinder of sheet metal or plastic 1 1/2" or so below finish grade and then score that diameter on the surface.
Good subsurface would be vital. BTW someone makes what I was taught to call "stair tools". Concrete finishing trowels for stairs that are about 12" long and have off set handles like a gouge. Shapes remind one of a masons set of joint raking tools
Bunch of different shapes that allow finishing into corners and tight spots. Tried to find a link for those but couldn't, bet I don't have the correct name for them.
They have saved me many a time.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Found one! This is the tool , comes in different blade shapes. http://www.dhcsupplies.com/store/p/588-12-x-1-2-Wide-x-1-Deep-Vertical-Groover.html
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Looks similar to a margin trowel... The advantage there being that I have a few of those.
Edited 11/18/2008 11:17 pm ET by Matt
This is how it came out... See attached pics.
I had a piece of 8" PVC sewer pipe on site so I used that and we did end up embedding a 1/2 circle piece of the pipe in the concrete.
Looks kinda whimsical but that kind of thing kinda fits the neighborhood.
As a bonus I don't think the concrete guy is gonna charge me anything extra for it...
Looks very nice. If my concrete guys would have shown up for that pour they would have walked away.... with the stakes being higher then the form.
Note to self.....I gotta find new finishers.
Here, concrete guys form their own stuff. They don't screed that much so the stakes aren't a prob. Mostly just place, float, etc.
Are you in a union environment?
Nice! So what did you use to make the groove at the semi circle?
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Are you sure you got the 6" you wanted? Front looks good but if in pic 1 the gravel is finish graded it looks like 4" expansion joint in there.
Don't get me wrong it's a nice finish design for practically zero cost and the stagered control joints on the walk are a nice touch I'll keep in mind. So use to just running symmetrical squared joints never thought out of the box as joints being used decoratively just purely functional.
It appears you're in a warmer climate so you're probably all-right. I just know here in mid-Michigan with all our clay and frost thaw cycles I wouldn't have any faith in the center sun burst lasting more than a season against the brick steps without 6" of highly compacted sand, 6" of a 6 sack and road mesh. Not sure if I'd isolate the 1/2 circle or not.
Regular bronze control joint tool turned up at a ~45 degree angle. I offered the tuck point tool but he didn't want it. No extra charge either.
Edited 11/20/2008 6:52 pm ET by Matt
Hey,
That's well done.
I like the 'golden rectangle' joint pattern in the walk below. Very simple, yet so much better than typical joints.
Nice.
Thanks - I saw that on city street sidewalks while on vacation. Not sure if it woulda looked better without the picture frame tooling.