Ordering the Concrete

      

ORDERING THE CONCRETE:
For large concrete projects-as a "slab" would suggest-we recommend that you order the concrete from an already-mixed concrete company rather than attempting to mix it yourself. You can, of course, mix it yourself but be prepared for lots of heavy, hot work. There are some limitations in getting concrete from a truck to the forms, and you should consider this before you order the mix to your project. Some examples:

Will the truck be able to get to the forms?-
Most trucks have chutes that can let the driver move the mix by as much as 20 feet. If the truck can not get close enough, you will have to move the material in wheelbarrows to the final location.

If you are dealing with a fair amount of concrete, it would be smart to have the concrete dealer come to the location and give his opinion.

Be aware that concrete trucks are very heavy. Fill areas around new house construction, or even around older homes, may be too soft to support the weight. The result is a stuck truck, or, worse, a tipped over truck. Plan a route that will cause the least amount of damage to your property. If you have to move concrete some distance by hand, explain this to the dealer, since the truck may be at the site longer than normal. Some dealers may charge for this extra time

Ordering and Scheduling-
You need only the dimensions of the project for the dealer to figure how much concrete you need. Give him the length, width, and depth. If you can, schedule the delivery in the morning. This will give you plenty of daylight time to work the concrete properly.

In most cases, the truck will bring a bit more concrete than is needed. Since the truck may have to be rinsed and dumped, you should have an area available in which to dump the excess. If just a little mix is left over , you can put it in a wheelbarrow and keep it until the mixture has been placed. You may need a shovelful or two in places that looked full during placement.

Concrete reinforcement-
There are two types: wire mesh that looks like hog fencing, and rods. Sometimes rods are used throughout the slab, although this type reinforcing usually is confined along the edges of a slab to reinforce the edge and wire mesh is used inside the rods. Or, rods are used where there will be heavy stress on the concrete surface. Wire mesh probably will be plenty of reinforcement for any concrete slab that you will place. Check with codes on this, which may dictate mesh (or rod) size.

When placing a large slab, such as a patio, you can put the project into section with temporary form stops. Use reinforcing rods at the joint to tie the two section when the second unit slab is placed.

Once the slab has been final finished, cover the surface with plastic sheeting and keep the concrete wet for a week or so. Or, cover the concrete with straw or burlap. Purpose of the covering is to keep the green concrete damp so it cures properly. Remove forms in about 2 weeks.

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