Barn entrance ramp install

[Scooby074]

Ive read at least one thread on TBN about repairing or instaling a entrance ramp for a barn.

In my case, the lip on my floor has been a pain in my side for years! There used to be asphalt up to my concrete, but for the last while its been missing and cracked, allowing weeds to grow through and causing me grief when pushing in vehicles or driving low clearance things into the barn, such as lawnmowers.

First step was to remove broken pavement and dirt from the area. I did this a few weeks ago and forgot to take pics. of the action

I did take a couple pics of the lip and general area. THe lip is only 4" up, but it might as well be a mile when trying to push a dead vehicle up the hill and into the barn. Ive tried putting 2x4's etc to act as a ramp, but its still bad, and thats not a really good solution.

 

[Scooby074]

After cleaning, i laid out for rebar. Some will say rebar for this small a ramp is unnecessary, I disagree because i want the top of my ramp to remain even with my floor.

My doorway is 10' and i spaced the 10mm rebar every 2' Rebar is 1.5" down from the surface of the slab. I would have liked to be in the Centre, but it wouldnt work with my drill and the existing asphault.

This concrete is 30yrs old and is SUPER hard. Im using my Bosch hammerdrill and a Bosch 1/2 bit, but drilling this was a killer.

The Bosch is a good concrete drill, but not a GREAT concrete drill. Sure makes me miss the Hilti drills i used to use at work I would have drilled these same holes in 1/4 the time. Plus the SDS system is way nicer. Jacobs style chucks suck, but this is a multipurpose drill for me and as such i need a regular chuck.

Did i mention that this concrete was HARD

 

[Scooby074]

Next was cutting and bending the rebar.

I tried to have 4-6" into the slab and 6" - 8" inside the new ramp.

My new ramp will be 16" on the base, giving me a slope of 1:4

After i cut the rebar, i gave it a bent to approximate the slope of the ramp

 

[NSBound]

...but drilling this was a killer.

Did i mention that this concrete was HARD

Just LOOKING at your drill sitting there made me tired!

 

[Scooby074]

I then blew out the holes for the rebar.

I had some concrete adhesive left from another job, so i squirted it into the holes to try and lock the rebar in place and keep water out of my slab so it wont crack with a freeze thaw cycle. I know epoxy is the proper thing, but i had this adhesive, so might as well use it up.

I also want the ramp to stay tight to the slab so water and dirt cant get in.

In the next few days i need to get some concrete and mesh. And see if i can find some expansion joint material locally. Ill post up some pics after the next stuff is done.

 

[Scooby074]

Just LOOKING at your drill sitting there made me tired!

LOL.

I dont know if this stuff was just old and hard, or it was some extra PSI mix, but wow. Ive drilled old concrete before, with this same drill, and it went thru pretty easy. this stuff was 2x worse.

 

[Scooby074]

I priced the expansion strips from Quikrete..$125 for a box of 40 I only need 2-5' sections but its sold as a case lot

Any equivalent products that are cheaper?

Im going to keep lookin.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Talk to a concrete guy/pool guy he probably will just give them to you.

 

[EddieWalker]

How big is the ramp going to be? Pressure treated wood works pretty good, but for small pads, 30 pound roof felt works good too.

Eddie

 

[Scooby074]

Ill look for a concrete guy, but im hoping to pour tomorrow .

Eddie, the ramp will be 4"Hx16"DX10'W

Felt likely will work, but im a little concerned with it in our climate,its going to be exposed to salt and some pretty nasty weather. Im hoping for something that will last 20 years.