Concrete-pouring experience?

[dmention7]

Does anyone here have any experience with pouring concrete? I've got a slab of asphalt between my garage door and the alley, maybe 25 feet wide by 8 feet deep, and right now it's in pretty bad shape. It's sunken enough that when it rains water pools there, so I'm constantly tracking in craploads of sand and dirt into the garage. It's also where I like to wash my car, but all the puddling and dirt and crap make it less than ideal.

So anyways, I can't imagine that tearing up the asphalt and pouring down a nice slab of concrete is all that difficult, but I've never worked with concrete except for helping my dad put up a basketball hoop.

Suggestions, advice? Offers to do the work in exchange for beer? lol

 

[WhiteSpy9]

I don't have any experience, but actually just had a conversation with someone at work yesterday about pouring concrete. Behind his house and under his deck he wanted to concrete an area. It would have been impossible for a truck to get back there. Said him, his dad, and brother rented a mixer and mixed it up in buckets right there.

If you need any peons for some grunt work.... let me know!

Does anyone here have any experience with pouring concrete? I've got a slab of asphalt between my garage door and the alley, maybe 25 feet wide by 8 feet deep, and right now it's in pretty bad shape. It's sunken enough that when it rains water pools there, so I'm constantly tracking in craploads of sand and dirt into the garage. It's also where I like to wash my car, but all the puddling and dirt and crap make it less than ideal.

So anyways, I can't imagine that tearing up the asphalt and pouring down a nice slab of concrete is all that difficult, but I've never worked with concrete except for helping my dad put up a basketball hoop.

Suggestions, advice? Offers to do the work in exchange for beer? lol

 

[Big Nate]

Well I am willing to help. I know there is a lot of stuff you need to do to make it slope away from the building. Also don't under estamate how difficult it is to make concrete look nice. there is a reason that those guys make ass loads of cash.

Nate

 

[dmention7]

there is a reason that those guys make ass loads of cash.

Cuz they're damn pirates???

No, I know it's not going to be as easy as "mix concrete, pour concrete, crack open beer". But I'm a pretty determined DIY-er unless I'm absolutely out of my league. As long as it comes out half-way decent and holds up until I sell the place, I'll be more than happy.

 

[AJ]

The process isn't hard, it's the time and touch to make it come out perfect. It's all about following the mixing instructions, getting some old clothes, and proper tools to flatten and smooth it.

Are you going to dig up an area and then section it with a wooden template or just fill various spots?

 

[DrWebster]

Jay, pick a weekend and we'll do it. I know enough about that kinda stuff to not do a half-assed job.

 

[mndsm]

I can supervise good.....

 

[dmention7]

AJ, I'm probably planning on digging up most or all of the current asphalt slab. That's probably going to be a project in and of itself.


I'm not sure when I'm going to get around to it... Gotta do some more research and figure out how thick to make the slab, how much this shit's gonna cost, how I'm gonna get the concrete to my yard.

I'm thinking for a job this size, renting a small mixer is probably the way to go, eh?



BTW, thanks for the replies, everyone. Best Forum EVAR. hehe...

 

[micahlarson]

I know how to do that stuff I even have some experiance laying block so let me know if you need help

 

[dragongirlie]

I have a friend that used to be an apprentice mason I should see to him this weekend. I'll pick his brain.

 

[mndsm]

You know, rather than slab, it'd look trick to block the whole thing. Probably easier to slant too.

 

[dmention7]

There's actually not much of a slope to it--just enough for drainage purposes. I don't think there would be anything fancy involved to get the right grade.

By "block" do you mean, like patio pavers? Cuz I'm honestly not too concerned with how that little chunk of ground ends up looking, as long as it's solid.

 

[mndsm]

Yeah, like patio pavers.

 

[DrWebster]

Pavers are a pain in the ass, and unless you grout them with cement instead of sand, they will get loose over time.

 

[dmention7]

Yeah, those are more work than I'm looking to put into this.

 

[mndsm]

Well fine. Shoot down my idea. Jerks.

 

[Slim]

It's ambitious of you to want to tackle this, but be sure of it. Like you said, tearing out what's currently there will be a huge job in itself (tools/labor/removal of pieces).

Then, you need to spend a good chunk of time making forms and leveling the ground underneath with the proper slope. After that, you have to plan out how many sections (i.e. where are the cracks going to be?) for a 25x8 foot slab. Cuz it can't be just one big section or it's far more likely to crack.

So, say you do three 8x8 foot slabs. You have to form up the "outside" two 8x8s first (pour, level, finish). Then, let it dry. Come back the next day, remove the wood forms and pour the last slab between the now finished and dry "outside" slabs.

Anyways, concrete of that size is a huge project to consider. It can be done, but I've been around projects before and it's an undertaking.

Another thing to consider. I know were all pretty young, so how long do you plan on staying in your home? It might not be worth it to fix it if you won't be there more than a couple of years.

Just another perspective to consider.

 

[Z-licious]

Another thing to consider. I know were all pretty young, so how long do you plan on staying in your home? It might not be worth it to fix it if you won't be there more than a couple of years.

Just another perspective to consider.

No kidding. I helped my brother build a gigantic deck 2 summers ago. And now he's planning on moving.