How To Lay Concrete Floors?

How deep does a concrete floor need to be?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.

Can you lay concrete on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

How do you prepare ground for concrete?

Preparation is the most important aspect of pouring a concrete slab.

  1. Dig the ground down to the proper depth.
  2. Smooth out the ground with the flat side of a rake so that you have a level surface.
  3. Tamp the ground with a hand tamper or mechanical tamper.
  4. Pour 2 inches of small, rounded gravel for additional drainage needs.

Should you put plastic under concrete?

Recently, though, research has shown that the old traditional layer of 6-mil Visqueen (polyethylene plastic) under the slab is seldom effective for two main reasons: Although it may seem water-tight, this grade of material allows a lot of water vapor to pass through.

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Is gravel needed under concrete?

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.

Does concrete flooring crack?

Cracking: Like it or not, even expertly installed concrete may develop cracks over time. That’s because the large expanse of a slab has to endure changes in temperature, moisture and settling.

Do concrete floors get cold?

Are concrete floors cold and damp? Concrete can be cold, but no more so than ceramic tile or natural stone flooring.

Is concrete floor cheaper than tile?

Tile will usually cost under $5 per square foot which means in many cases, tile will either be cheaper than concrete or hover right around the same price. Of course, with higher quality materials comes a higher price tag but people expect that. In general, concrete and tile should cost you about the same.

Is sand a good base for concrete?

Pour concrete over a solid, well-drained base



of sand or gravel over clay and other poorly draining soils to provide even support.

Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab?

No, you do not need rebar for a 4inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4inch-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.

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Why do they put sand under concrete?

One reason it is used as a backfill or sub-grade material. As with all material, it has to be placed correctly and compacted properly. Sand needs to remain damp as well as other material before placement of the concrete.

What is the best base for concrete?

Most concrete contractors want a mix of coarse and fine aggregate to create a compactable base that is going to be safe for settlement and drainage. Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) is one of the best base materials for concrete flatwork.

What kind of gravel do you use 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.

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