OT: Concrete drive

[doggystyle]

Need a concrete driveway poured in Madison. Recommendations please.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Hope you find better options than in Memphis. Also, whatever psi concrete you agree to buy, look at the paperwork when the truck shows up. Concrete guys will tell you 3000psi, and then order 1500psi. Much cheaper and it’s a common scam.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Bulldog Construction. They’re good bulldogs.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Ask dispatch to send batch ticket. Check tolerances.

Put down sand and compact.

Get the regular 3000 psi mix. 4k and above is overkill.

Fiber is good, steel is much better.

If using steel, make sure they use chairs or bricks to ensure steel is embedded in the middle of the slab. Do not allow them to tell you they can "raise it as they go". While in theory this method can be done, it's very difficult and few actually pull it off.

Do not let the finishers wet the mix beyond a 4 inch slump unless it has water reducer additives.

If pouring in temps over 80 or on windy days, request retarder and wet cure with plastic. If you don't you could get plastic shrinkage cracks in the first few days.

Hire a good finisher. Good luck.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

#3 rebar 18" on center. Control joints 1.5 x width max, expansion joint in lieu of control every third joint. I would have no sections larger than 1 2 x 15 without control joints. Tell them to follow ACI standards... If they don't know what that is, look it up and print it off for them.

I'm in the concrete biz myself. It's not hard to do a decent driveway. If your on clay avoid install during drought or abundant rain. Late spring early summer should be just right in your part of the world. Rebar is the key... Wire mesh (chicken wire) and fiber suck. #3 rebar is a cheap date that will love you long time.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

Take your thickness in inches and double it, and that’s the number of feet apart you need to saw your joints. 6” thickness = 12’ joint spacing. Make sure this happens.

If you plan on heavy traffic at all, put the steel in it as JoeLee said above.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Take your thickness in inches and double it, and that’s the number of feet apart you need to saw your joints. 6” thickness = 12’ joint spacing. Make sure this happens.

If you plan on heavy traffic at all, put the steel in it as JoeLee said above.

Thickness x 2 is a good rule for commercial. 6" driveways are overkill unless you have 30k lbs or more, but hey... Why not. You won't add but 25% to the cost and you can drive a concrete truck up to the garage in a year or two if you choose.