Concrete Question

[RicB]

Any concreters out there? I am putting an extra parking space at the side of my house. I have dug out the soil/clay down to allow for the road base and height of concrete etc. What I am not sure about is ....do I need to try and tie into the house pad somehow? At the side of the proposed pad it will slope down but obviously the pad itself will be sitting on a level sub base.

Any advice welcome.

[Dave50]

I have done a fair bit in my time, but no expert, #1 keep your pad below the "moisture barrier" for the house, #2 dont tie into the house foundation in fact put an expansion jointing compound between the two, #3 make sure to use forticon moisture barrier underneath, #4 reinforcing mesh is necessary, dont let your mates talk you out of it even if you pour a 4" slab, #5 possibly need to spray a white ant barrier if it is that close to your house, not sure on that one?

anyway hope this helps a little, more info will flow!

[RETIRED]

If it doesn't have to be exactly level slope it away from the house a bit to stop water sitting at the join.

[Gaza]

you need expasion gap between the two or even sit slab back 200mm and fill gap with rocks so that you are not effecting the termite protection.

if its a newish house you may effect your builders warranty, so make sure you have your work enignered so it done correclty.

[johnc]

Only use expansion joint if the opposite side buts up to something hard. If the outer edge is just into soil expansion joint should not be used.

[RicB]

Some good tips fellas, thanks.

This small job is a test case, if I don't stuff it up too much I will tackle the pad for the shed and the entertaining area. Hopefully I can pull it off because I can't really afford to do all the concreting if I haveto pay somepone to do it.

[Dave50]

are you hand mixing or bringing in premix! I hand mixed all mine! including two 30x20 shed floors, and the 20x15 entertainment area and a 45x12 carport, I was fit in those days!................. sighhhh!!!!!!

[RicB]

Mixing by hand? Nah, when you do the sums and the logistics it's just not worth the hard work, especially when you have a dicky back....thats another DIY story involving a ladder, hard ground and gravity.