Contents
- 1 How thick does a concrete sidewalk need to be?
- 2 Do you need gravel under concrete sidewalk?
- 3 How do you prepare a concrete ground for a sidewalk?
- 4 Do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk?
- 5 Is it OK to pour concrete on dirt?
- 6 Can I use quikrete for a sidewalk?
- 7 Do you need stone under concrete?
- 8 What gravel do you put under concrete?
- 9 Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?
- 10 How do you calculate concrete?
- 11 How many bags of concrete makes a yard?
- 12 What is the best base for a concrete sidewalk?
- 13 Is wire mesh better than rebar?
- 14 Can I use chicken wire to reinforce concrete?
How thick does a concrete sidewalk need to be?
Sidewalks should be at least 4″ (100mm) in thickness. Simple slabs for small foundations, bases, etc., normally 4″ to 6″ (100mm to150mm) thick, depending on the load they must bear. Slope the walk away from buildings to provide proper drainage.
Do you need gravel under concrete sidewalk?
Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.
How do you prepare a concrete ground for a sidewalk?
- use a rake to smooth the surface of gravel. Determine Path Placement and Begin Excavation. Plot out the course of the path using stakes and strings.
- match and attach ends of boards to stakes. Build the Formwork.
- prev. screed the concrete before it gets too hard.
- prev. control joint scribing tool creates joints.
Do you need wire mesh in concrete sidewalk?
It’s a heavy, heavy wire. But if you have reinforcing steel bars that go through it or the wire mesh, that makes it a lot stronger. Now in a sidewalk, typically they don’t put metal mesh in; they don’t put the mesh in there. But if it was like a driveway or a patio, they would.
Is it OK to pour concrete on dirt?
If the weight of the concrete deforms the dirt base in any way, the entire concrete structure will be flawed. All of that is not to say that it is impossible to pour concrete over dirt. You can absolutely do it successfully, but you need to follow a specific process.
Can I use quikrete for a sidewalk?
QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix is a good general-purpose mix for sidewalk and slab work. Sidewalks should be at least 4″ in thickness. Simple slabs for small foundations, bases, etc., normally 4″ to 6″ thick, depending on the load they must bear. Slope the walk away from buildings to provide proper drainage.
Do you need stone under concrete?
Because concrete is a very porous material, it will absorb any moisture that it contacts. This can cause pooling. Without crushed stone, pooling water will settle under it and erode your slab. Adding a layer of crushed stone will add proper drainage, as well as create a barrier between your slab and the ground.
What gravel do you put under concrete?
“Six inches of well-graded gravel or crushed stone material properly compacted will give good results,” said Mark Conrardy, a sales engineer manager for Wacker Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wis. When properly compacted, both native soils or imported granular materials can provide good support.
Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?
No, you do not need rebar for a 4–inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4–inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in permanent contact with it will float and rebar is not required. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 – 6 inches thick.
How do you calculate concrete?
How to calculate concrete:
- Determine how thick you want the concrete.
- Measure the length and width that you’d like to cover.
- Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage.
- Convert the thickness from inches to feet.
- Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.
How many bags of concrete makes a yard?
On average, it will take 90 40lb bags, 60 60lb bags, or 45 80lb bags to fill one cubic yard of concrete.
What is the best base for a concrete sidewalk?
A firm, well-drained base is the key to crack-free concrete. The best plan for a solid base usually includes compacted soil followed by several inches of a base material such as gravel. But the best base depends on climate and soil conditions.
Is wire mesh better than rebar?
In summary, rebar vs wire mesh can have costly differences. Rebar remains stronger and ensures consistent contact in the soil where as wire mesh is unpredictable and often results in a week concrete foundation.
Can I use chicken wire to reinforce concrete?
Concrete reinforced with chicken wire or hardware cloth yields ferrocement, a versatile construction material. It can also be used to make the armature for a papier-mâché sculpture, when relatively high strength is needed.