Concrete Pad

[Bobby]

I need to pour a concrete pad 4X4 ft to set a ramp to a dock on. The pad will be in a very steep dirt bank with tree roots. About how deep should it be and should one use re bar or wire mesh?

[Jim Elbrecht]

I have no experience in doing this- but I think you'll need to expand a bit if you want real help. . .

Riverbank, lake bank, pond bank? Maine or Florida? Sand, Gravel, clay? Want it to last a year- or 50?

What purpose will it really be serving? as an anchor to the dock, or a sundeck?

Jim

[gfretwell]

4" should work and you can probably get away without wire. If you can bum a little piece from a guy pouring a slab at a construction site it will give you a little extra strength. This is the kind of thing you find in the dumpster.

[Bobby]

The pad I need to form is to support the end of a ramp that goes to the dock. The ramp is 60 feet long from the lake bank and about15ft higher than the water.

[tbasc]

I should think that the edges should be 8 inches deep and the rest 4 inches thick. This assumes there is no need to deal with frost heave. A #4 bar laid in the thickened edge would be a good idea with tree roots in the area. A long ramp may need a thickened slab with a piece of reinforcing at the foot. T

[jtees4]

Old metal fencing works as a free or cheap substitute. i would recommend some wire mesh in there. 4" should be OK. There is also a thing called fibermesh concrete. You can use this if you don't use any wire mesh. Mesh is better, but fibermesh is better than no wire mesh at all.