How big of a slab could I do by myself?

[paulsharvey]

About a decade ago I needed concrete for an area that would be hard to get a full size truck mixer into. I found a a place that rented “you tow it” concrete. Basically a trailer mounted mixer that held 2 cubic yards of concrete. They load the dry mix and you add the water at home and turn on the mixer. Those units can be truck towed and get into as tight a spot as you can back it into. Break up your slab into 2 yard sections.

But, also in most places there are small concrete contractors who will do small jobs. Maybe search a bit more.

There is one local guy that will deliver in this set up, and about 1h away there is a rental company you can do it yourself. Only thing difference, it's redimix, and you don't add water. The catch with the rental place, the 1 cy of concrete includes 1 hour of rental; but the issue, it's 1 h away, you need to pour, clean up, and then... what take it back and hope 2 hours it hasn't gone too far to finish. I would want to at very least float and edge. After 2 hours, on a cool day, sure you can still work a cream back up, and broom, but on a hot day...

 

[jyoutz]

There is one local guy that will deliver in this set up, and about 1h away there is a rental company you can do it yourself. Only thing difference, it's redimix, and you don't add water. The catch with the rental place, the 1 cy of concrete includes 1 hour of rental; but the issue, it's 1 h away, you need to pour, clean up, and then... what take it back and hope 2 hours it hasn't gone too far to finish. I would want to at very least float and edge. After 2 hours, on a cool day, sure you can still work a cream back up, and broom, but on a hot day...

Sounds like you need a helper to drive the trailer back after your pour while you work on finishing the concrete.

 

[newbury]

How much "r etard" can you put in and have it still bond like it needs to?
I see they now have machines that will build walls by putting down layers like squeezing toothpaste from a tube.
Can one pour say 2 foot wide sections next to each other and have them bond?
(note-I tried to write the word I had read used for slowing down the curing, but it all turned into astericks)

 

[paulsharvey]

How much "r etard" can you put in and have it still bond like it needs to?
I see they now have machines that will build walls by putting down layers like squeezing toothpaste from a tube.
Can one pour say 2 foot wide sections next to each other and have them bond?
(note-I tried to write the word I had read used for slowing down the curing, but it all turned into astericks)

If you look at the old cast in place concrete buildings, they absolutely would pour a 24" layer, and raise the forms. Take a look at the "Lightner Muesem" in St Augustine, and you can clearly see the individual layers. It looks like it was originally built in 1887. I assume they either A added vertical wet set dowels between each pour, or B, it just has a cold joint, and the layers are wide enough that gravity does the rest?

For the 3d printed ones, not really sure how they are dealing with cold joints, or if the concrete is really just the shell, and thermal mass, and the "structure" is steel?

I dont actually know how much you can ****** concrete, but you can add bonding agents to help adher them together, as well as dowels, and epoxies. We did a mast arm foundation repair with a 6000 psi epoxy...

 

[newbury]

I would do 3, 5+ x 12. I did cold joints (construction joints) tied with rebar (not expansion joints). Has held up beautifully.
View attachment 1906273

Are those pads in the picture 5'x12'?
Looks good.

 

[Runner]

Are those pads in the picture 5'x12'?
Looks good.

They are 6 x 12.

 

[bigtiller]

ok I'll bite
what's BFI?

Body Fat Index

It describes the percentage of total fat in the body by measuring weight and height.

It is a little more accurate than a BMI measurement.

 

[garry1p]

I poured a slab using 60 lb bags pretty much like runner, I did buy a mixer from Harbor Freight only problem was if you did not keep grease on the gear it would lock up. Not a big deal just something you had to be aware of.
Kind of a pain to clean at the end of the day since I was pretty much worn out. It took me several weeks working on weekends.
I also laid down a sheet of 4X8 plywood making it easier to move the mixer around.
I don't remember how many bags but I was working alone outside so the weather had to be considered
I also made it less than perfectly smooth.
Only thing I could recommend, no matter how you do it, pace yourself and know your limitations once you start a section you have to finish it.

 

[MossRoad]

How much "r etard" can you put in and have it still bond like it needs to?
I see they now have machines that will build walls by putting down layers like squeezing toothpaste from a tube.
Can one pour say 2 foot wide sections next to each other and have them bond?
(note-I tried to write the word I had read used for slowing down the curing, but it all turned into astericks)

retarder

 

[EddieWalker]

I personally will only use rebar in a concrete pad. It will be set on chairs so it's in the middle of the pad. Wire is impossible to walk on and keep in the middle of the pad. The most common lie told with concrete is that they will pull it up while spreading it.

I have my rebar done before I pour my first pad. The form that divides that pads has notches in it so it fits over the rebar. When the concrete is dry, the form comes off, and then goes to the edge of the next pad.

Pouring one pad in a day wears me out, so I do them once a week. During the week, I buy another pallet of concrete, move my forms, clean up the area and stage everything for the next pour on Saturday morning. I'm in no rush to finish, and the more time I take to get everything in place, the easier it goes.