Need help- concrete

[chakup]

anyone here any good at doing concrete work? I have a decent sized area that I need to pour and would like to try to "do it myself" but would definitely need some help here. Anyone in the Eugene area?

[Xusia]

You might check with Nick ("Snot-Rocket"). Concrete is what he does for a living.

[Flyte Risk]

If you can form it up I'll come down for the pour with all the floats and stuff. Snot Rocket and I both drive mixers I'm sure we can get it done. Bobby knows how to get ahold of both of us offline if you have any questions.

[ZRX_PAUL]

In my opinion, when you do it, use rebar instead of Horse fencing for the reinforcement. Let the controversy start. I did a 650 square foot stamped concrete patio myself 3-1/2 years ago, and I used rebar. I have not had even 1 little crack appear. My neighbors, on the other hand, saved a few buck by using a wire mesh for reinforcement, and have had multiple cracks. The sites were allegedly prepared the same.

[YOMAMAR6]

what grade u use 60 or 40 i like 40 its not as brittle but gov like 60 for some reason

[Flyte Risk]

I swear by microfiber for reinforcement. Only real drawback to it is it makes for a furry finish if you hard trowel it.

[chakup]

will let you know once I'm there- still need to finish prepping the area- and well get my other house rented/done being remodeled and also find a job! Wayyy too many irons in the fire right now.

[Flyte Risk]

Didn't know you weren't working Chaz. Hit up United Finance and see if thay have anything for you. Right up your alley andthe benifits are sweet for those who are looking for retirement.

[roadrunner]

nice.. im trying to decide between concrete, asphalt and a stamped deal. i like the stamped the best as far as looks go.. was to do it myself as well... how was it?



[QUOTE=ZRX_PAUL] stamped concrete QUOTE]

[Flyte Risk]

Stamped is the prettiest by far until you see the price. There are other things that can be done for next to nothing that look pretty good as well.

[FJMam]

get my other house rented/done being remodeled
I have a friend that takes good care of houses looking for a place in the Eugene area. If you haven't rented your place yet plz PM the details to me. OK?

thnx

[YOMAMAR6]

i can vouch Keshtie her word is good as gold

[roadrunner]

i was wanting to try it myself... what are the other options?




Stamped is the prettiest by far until you see the price. There are other things that can be done for next to nothing that look pretty good as well.

[Flyte Risk]

I'll PM you so as not to jack this thread any more.

[ZRX_PAUL]

nice.. im trying to decide between concrete, asphalt and a stamped deal. i like the stamped the best as far as looks go.. was to do it myself as well... how was it?



[QUOTE=ZRX_PAUL] stamped concrete QUOTE]
The difference in prep for the stamped was basically the same. I used 3/8" pea gravel in the mix I ordered from Nation's Mini Mix, because I feel that that type of rock works better for stamped concrete. ( Since this is a forum, I'm sure someone will disagree with me). The main difference after the concrete has been screeded and floated was to wait 1 hour and then throw handfuls of color/release agent of the desired color, and stamp the design in the concrete in about 3 foot square sections. I'm not sure where, but maybe it is possible to rent the stamping patterns. I love the look myself, so it may be worth it to you to check around and see if the patterns are rentable. I know that they cost in the neighborhood of $700 each for the ones I used on my job.It is also possible to have the concrete mix colored before pouring.
Peace, Paul

[chakup]

Actually please elaborate, always up for hearing good ides.


I'll PM you so as not to jack this thread any more.

[ZRX_PAUL]

The price for mine when quoted originally 4 years ago was $10.50 a square foot, but I did not shop around very much. I am not sure if the price I was quoted is at all representative of market rates. At 650 square feet, that makes it $6825 if my math skills work at all. This was much more than I was willing to spend, so I did pretty much all the prep work myself, including all the compacted 3/4" crushed quarry rock base, the rebar reinforcement in a 2ft square grid, and the forms. I paid for all the concrete that was delivered, and supplied all the labor except for one guy.
I traded metal fabrication work on a quad trailer and supplied all the metal for the trailer project to be modified. In return, my friend brought over his power screed, power float, joint tolls and bull floats. He also supplied the release powder and the rubber stamps. I did half of the concrete finishing and stamping.
It cost me a total of $1900 for my half of the deal and 40 hours of work on the trailer. So I figured that I spent $1900 and 40 hours labor in addition to the 40 hours I spent compacting gravel, tying rebar, and working concrete.
For 80 hours of hard labor, I saved $5000. Still a great deal no matter how I look at it. And 4 years later, it still looks good and has not cracked at all.

[roadrunner]

For 80 hours of hard labor, I saved $5000. Still a great deal no matter how I look at it. And 4 years later, it still looks good and has not cracked at all.
how about i hire you and trade the rest??? i quilt pretty good and im sure thats worth a few square feet.. lol... ive got access to labor. maybe you could supervise or consult???

[YOMAMAR6]

can i put a hand print in it when its done??????????

[roadrunner]

only id you draw a pic to go with it



can i put a hand print in it when its done??????????

[YOMAMAR6]

laa laa laaaaaa getting all my post back

[ZRX_PAUL]

When are you planning on starting this project and what timeline do you have in mind for completion? The site preparation is going to be at least half of the labor you will have to expend. Ideally you need the site dug out so you can have a 4" deep compacted gravel base(start with 5" and compact 1") and 3-1/2 thick concrete pad. It should slope away from your house/building at 1/4" per 4 feet of run so the water will run away from the foundation. Once this is dug out, you can start bringing in gravel and compacting it. Then you make the forms.how about i hire you and trade the rest??? i quilt pretty good and im sure thats worth a few square feet.. lol... ive got access to labor. maybe you could supervise or consult???

[snot rocket]

In my opinion, when you do it, use rebar instead of Horse fencing for the reinforcement. Let the controversy start. I did a 650 square foot stamped concrete patio myself 3-1/2 years ago, and I used rebar. I have not had even 1 little crack appear. My neighbors, on the other hand, saved a few buck by using a wire mesh for reinforcement, and have had multiple cracks. The sites were allegedly prepared the same. fiber mesh is the way to go, It's easy and cheap... As for the cracking there are alot of factors that could have caused that, maybe it was poured at like an 8" slump, or maybe their sub-grade was high, where were their control joints? wre there enough joints? did they order their concrete from eugene sand or knife river? Eugene sand rocks lane county!!! just to name a few.

[snot rocket]

I swear by microfiber for reinforcement. Only real drawback to it is it makes for a furry finish if you hard trowel it.not if you use stealth fiber.... you cant even tell it's in there

[snot rocket]

Stamped is the prettiest by far until you see the price. There are other things that can be done for next to nothing that look pretty good as well.I would charge 8 bucks a square foot for stamp and that is low...some contractors charge as much as 12 a foot.

[snot rocket]

i was wanting to try it myself... what are the other options?can I say if you have no experience in finishing concrete, you are going to have a hard enough time doing a broom finish... If you have someone with you that has experience and a couple of laborers go for it it looks nice especially if you use a liquid stain release......VERY NICE!!

[snot rocket]

The difference in prep for the stamped was basically the same. I used 3/8" pea gravel in the mix I ordered from Nation's Mini Mix, because I feel that that type of rock works better for stamped concrete. ( Since this is a forum, I'm sure someone will disagree with me). The main difference after the concrete has been screeded and floated was to wait 1 hour and then throw handfuls of color/release agent of the desired color, and stamp the design in the concrete in about 3 foot square sections. I'm not sure where, but maybe it is possible to rent the stamping patterns. I love the look myself, so it may be worth it to you to check around and see if the patterns are rentable. I know that they cost in the neighborhood of $700 each for the ones I used on my job.It is also possible to have the concrete mix colored before pouring.
Peace, Paul3/8" rock is more expensive and unless you are doing an exposed finish, or block fill or CDF, it's completely unnessessary. also there is no way you can put an exact time frame on how long to wait from one step to another, it vary's according to weather, mix design, slump, etc. again that is where experience comes in. Liquid release is alot better in my opinion, it doesnt make a mess like powder, you just put it in a sprayer and off you go.

You can rent stamps from Eugene sand & Gravel.

[roadrunner]

excellemt info here!! ty