I am going to build a 4' X 4' X 4" slab next to an existing walkway that leads to the front doorway.
It's in Texas, so frost isn't a concern.
Will I need rebar for that ?
It will only be walked on and possible have 2 chairs.
Andy
to the front doorway.
I would not bother for that small a pad.
leads to the front doorway.
Agree. Be sure to really compact the crushed rock you use for base under the concrete.
Paul
You wouldn't need rebar for such a small pad, but you CAN buy bagged cement with fiberglass or graphene fibers in it which hold the concrete together to prevent it from cracking, and that's what I would use.
You don't "need" it, but all you would need is 2 8' pieces cut in less than half. The mimimal cost is worth it and depending where you are in Texas, frost isn't a problem, but it drying out and shrinking is definitely a concern.
to the front doorway.
You seem to have gotten good answers. I'm never sure where the boundary is between hijacking a thread and posting a related question, so everyone can read them together. I apologize if I shouldn't post this. Here goes.
I was at a 14th floor apartment being remodeled. 18" square, ~1/2" thick, marble-like tile being put down in the living room. They ran out of tile so we could see the edge of what had been done. About 1" of cement beneath the tile.
AIUI, underneath everything is a concrete floor. Building is 40 years old.
Someone commented that there should have been steel reinforcing in the cement under the tile? Is that true?
*No rebar, but maybe some 6" x 6" reinforcing mesh.
+1
Personally I think it is asking for trouble. Keeping rebar 2" from an outside edge in a 4" slab is impossible-- and it will rust and cause spalling in a few years. Use fiberglass- or air entrained concrete.
Jim
I have doubts about the effectiveness of the fiberglass addition to the concrete. We had that reinforced concrete installed on a walkway at my condo buuilding in Colorado, when some older concrete was replaced, and it has cracked in numerous places within a couple of years.
Down here in south Texas where we are we just use doubled over chicken wire on anything less that 100 square feet. Pour the stuff a little on the watery side and raise the wire up with a rake. As you Texans probably know we have the opportunity to have a lot of cracks in sidewalks and driveways and home slabs but we've never had a crack with chicken wire on small stuff. By the way, my late father in law was the contractor that poured Greenway Plaza in Houston with NO cold joints. He kinda knew his business and the chicken wire was his idea.
Lonesome Dove
Concrete cracks. Get used to the concept.
Rebar, or a substitute, has, as its main purpose, preventing displacement of the cracked slab. If not for the rebar, you'd have hunks of concrete sticking up whose only purpose is to trip you.
to the front doorway.
Don't know. But why a slab and not pavers or flagstones? Wouldn't bother mixing/pouring/finishing concrete for a 4x4 slab. There's a lot of advantages to pavers/flagstones. Won't cost much for 4x4.
leads to the front doorway.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Never thought about using pavers.
Andy
-snip-
I don't know why I didn't suggest them earlier. For a space that size, they are a better choice on a lot of counts-- Variety of styles- ease of install- ability to change the size- shape or style if the spirit moves you.
check Craigslist for free/cheap ones. Spend a lot of time on prepping the base and you won't need to touch them again for decades. [I spray mine with a weed killer in the spring]
Jim
Pavers are OK if that is what you want. My wife built over 100 houses with paver lanais, pool decks and driveways but growing stuff in the cracks can be a problem. I had all I wanted in small batches for free.
I use pavers like tile
and use flagging over concrete for walking around surfaces.,
My growing season is short enough that I spray once in May or June with a 120day weed killer/preventer and I'm good for the season.
That's an interesting application-
Don't care for that- though. All the downsides of flags *and* concrete.
I do like that your wife is the mason, though. Mine, God bless her, was the idea and inspirational guide.
Jim
I'd suggest yes. Easier than redoing the job later. I'd put rebar metal mesh in. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
I used some reinforced concrete mix (bought at home despot) a number of years ago to fix a sidewalk crack. Despite feathering it out on the edges, and numerous expansive clay cycles it has held up like the day I installed it.
It ain't cheap, but I continue to be impressed with it's longevity.
Jon
I have not really seen a down side yet and we started with this flagging over 20 years ago. The area expanded from an initial 500 sq/feet to well over 2000.
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