concrete job got to be taken up and relaid - mesh query

[julianf]

Ive started a new thread on this one. The old thread outlined the errors, but its clear now that the job needs re-doing.

The original job was min of 4" on top of compacted hardcore, with mesh 2" up from the hardcore (ie a min of 2" from the surface)

Whats there is kind of solid. What i was initially hoping to do was take 2" off the surface, and re-lay that, with another layer of mesh.

But -

mild steel mesh has to be at least 2" from the surface (?)

Im thinking the taking up job becomes a load more difficult if i take out the existing mesh also, but, if it has to be done...

Here is a video of the surface -

http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/j...rete/VID_20150906_184005_zpsa7vawkct.mp4.html

Also, i emptied a barrel of rain water on it the other day... and it hissed / bubbled!


This is for hard standing. Its not going to take traffic of any degree, but i want a good finish for wheeling stuff across it with small castors (engine crane etc).


Would stainless mesh, laid 1" down, in 2" of concrete do the job? Again, what's there is kind of structual.... ish...


The area is 6m x 2.3m and there is no access for ready mix : (

 

[mike os]

that looks like either
too wet a mix
insufficient cement
over compacted
overtrowled

or a combination

laying thin is no good, it usually breaks up mesh in that kind of thickness does nothing

yo could try a self leveler like deepbase over it, only used it indoors myself, but i think it would be ok once cured

 

[julianf]

The surface cant come higher - if i have to dig more out, so be it.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

I wouldn't recommend trying an indoor slc I can recommend a supplier called international flooring supplies
If they are still trading but was expensive

 

[julianf]

indoor slc?

 

[the snooper]

I would remove the 4 inch and re-concrete with a 5 to 1 mix no mesh

 

[the snooper]

indoor slc?

self leveling concrete / compound

 

[God mode restorations]

To me that looks like a really dry screed mix....it does exactly what's happening in the video clip when it's to dry...to be honest may experience with this sort of thing is to bust out and do it again..

 

[Parm]

I agree with above, looks like insufficient water in the mix thus preventing the necessary chemical reaction to take place to set off the curing process. Unfortunately the only cure is to dig out and start again.

This time research on the net something called a " Concrete Slump Test" should give you usefull info on checking concrete before pouring

 

[addjunkie]

Hydraulic breaker and youll have that up in no time. 3 of us with one breaker, took up 150 m2 of concrete floor from my house in 2 days. Mind we did have a mini digger and powered barrow to.

Id not bother with steel in that, espescially if no traffic. You could order ready mix and barrow it in. You could ask for a product called rc 35 or farmcrete, has fibers in it to make it stronger.

As you only need a small quantity probably better to mix it your self, two people two mixers youll do it in no time. Did you hand mix the last lot with a shovel?

I find it way easier to order the ballast ready mixed rather than sand cement and gravel. Nice strong mix Also add that chemical additive stuff, forget what its called now.

 

[God mode restorations]

As a substitute for the proper mesh..you could always chuck in a panel of heras fencing. Done that a few times...and does the trick..easy to get hold of ...

 

[julianf]

The issues were outlined in the last thread, but it was probably too little cement.
I ordered enough for the job... but it wasnt used : (

If you look at the color, its hardly grey (there are some harder areas where its more grey)


But anyhow -

Cant even barrow in ready mix really. I worked it out prior - how much can go in a barrow, vs total needed, vs number of friends, vs distance, vs wait time etc... it did not work out. For a bigger job, it would be pumped, but cost for the job puts that out of range.



So, you reckon ive got to take up the whole 4" and relay from scratch? That's a pain, as -

a) ill have to dispose of several tonnes of spoil (expensive and awkward)
b) ill have to hire a whacker again to compact the hardcore again
c) ill have to buy in the same amount of aggregate / cement as i did before

I dont care about the effort taking it up - that's the easiest bit of the whole lot!


Obviously there's no point in doing the job badly again though.

 

[gaz1]

may i ask if most of the concrete is like that if it is you can shatter it and reuse the shattered pieces within a new batch


as that mix is way too sandy you could be lucky and it fine breaks easily just by hammer and chisel

 

[the snooper]

unfortunately the above hassle is the result of not using all the cement that should have gone in the mix, if you have already compacted it with a wacker as long as you don't dig it back up again you should be fine

 

[God mode restorations]

The issues were outlined in the last thread, but it was probably too little cement.
I ordered enough for the job... but it wasnt used : (

If you look at the color, its hardly grey (there are some harder areas where its more grey)


But anyhow -

Cant even barrow in ready mix really. I worked it out prior - how much can go in a barrow, vs total needed, vs number of friends, vs distance, vs wait time etc... it did not work out. For a bigger job, it would be pumped, but cost for the job puts that out of range.



So, you reckon ive got to take up the whole 4" and relay from scratch? That's a pain, as -

a) ill have to dispose of several tonnes of spoil (expensive and awkward)
b) ill have to hire a whacker again to compact the hardcore again
c) ill have to buy in the same amount of aggregate / cement as i did before

I dont care about the effort taking it up - that's the easiest bit of the whole lot!


Obviously there's no point in doing the job badly again though.

It's would most probably brake up quite easily. Getting rid of can be awkward. You don't need a walker plate.i did a shed/garage base years ago by walking it with a tarmac punner. Takes a long time but compacted better than than a plate.and if it brakes up small you could just pun that streight down and not have to get rid of..

 

[julianf]

There was no sand blind on the job, so the concrete would have seeped into / bonded with the hardcore.

Its hardcore, rather than sub-base out of a bag - nothing too big, but its not like it will just lift off cleanly - taking it up will take up a significant amount of the hardcore / disturb the rest (or at least i would think this would be the case?)

 

[julianf]

To be sure - i want to do the job properly (as in id rather put in effort, than have a duff job) but i know there will be issues, so im seeing if i cant find a way around them!

 

[the snooper]

There was no sand blind on the job, so the concrete would have seeped into / bonded with the hardcore.

Its hardcore, rather than sub-base out of a bag - nothing too big, but its not like it will just lift off cleanly - taking it up will take up a significant amount of the hardcore / disturb the rest (or at least i would think this would be the case?)

its one of those things where your damned if you do damned if you don't, but you don't want to be doing it a 3rd time

 

[julianf]

I keep remembering the chap saying how much id save on the job when i took back the unused cement... : /

 

[the snooper]

I keep remembering the chap saying how much id save on the job when i took back the unused cement... : /

so you put less in