

                            CONCRETE SLABS


                Handling large amounts of wet concrete is hot heavy
          work. Get some help and tell them to bring shovels. The most
          common use of concrete slabs is for patios and driveways.


          HOW MUCH CONCRETE

                Because of the price of concrete the volume of the
          concrete to be used should be accurately estimated.

                Ready mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard.
          There are twenty seven cubic feet in a cubic yard.

                A 1O by 1O foot slab has a volume of;

                33.33 or 34 cubic feet if 4 inches thick.
                41.66 or 42 cubit feet if 5 inches thick.
                5O.OO or 5O cubic feet if 6 inches thick.
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                34 cubic feet divided by 27 = 1.25 cubic yards.
                42 cubic feet divided by 27 = 1.55 cubic yards.
                5O cubic feet divided by 27 = 1.85 cubic yards.

                If you convert all the measurements into feet and then
          multiply you will find it easy to find the cubic foot volume

                3 inches = .250 or 1/4  of a foot.
                4 inches = .333 or 1/3  of a foot.
                5 inches = .416 or 5/12 of a foot.
                6 inches = .5   or 1/2  of a foot.

                Ready mix orders round off the the nearest 1/2 yard.
          Unless your ready mix company is different than mine.


          EXCAVATING THE SITE

                Before excavating check with your local building code
          office. Some areas require building permits. They can also
          tell you about any under ground utilities and building lines
          or codes if any.
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                Use a measuring tape, stakes and a dry line to lay out
          the excavation.

                Figure six inches larger than the slab to have space
          for the form and stakes.

                The common pitch for a patio or driveway is 1/4 inch
          per foot.

                For a 12 foot slab the pitch would be 3 inches.
          (1/4 X 12 = 3).

                The pitch must be excavated to maintain the thickness
          of the slab.


          DRAINAGE

                If you find the surface of the soil along pitch of the
          slab is level. It might be a good idea to start the slab 3
          or 4 inches above the level of the soil and fill in after
          the slab is poured.
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                This would give proper drainage from the house or
          building.


          BASE

                Unless the soil is hard or mostly clay you will need a
          base. A good base of 3 or 4 inches is required to prevent
          cracking and heaving.

                Level and tamp the gravel or stone add sand and tamp
          again. Wet the sand just before pouring. Dry sand will soak
          up water and weaken the concrete.


          WIRE MESH

                The mesh will not prevent cracking but it will keep
          cracks tight. The mesh should be placed about 1 to 1 
          inches from the bottom the concrete.

                Keep the mesh at least one inch from the edge of the
          form.                                    page down


                              *** EASY DO TIPS ***

          Read all five parts on concrete before starting a concrete
          project.      END 