How big of a slab could I do by myself?

[Midniteoyl]

Our local cement plant has a 4 yard minimum, so that doesn't surprise me that you didn't get charged.

Dunno what it is here, but up in Wisconsin, the local yard would deliver a minimum of 1 cu/yd on Saturdays for $89. It got cheaper per yard the more you got. Took advantage of that several times. Of course, this was in the early to mid 90's, and concrete isn't anywhere that price anymore, especially for a short load..

 

[MossRoad]

About 30 years ago I wanted to pour a small sidewalk extension to accommodate some pre-cast steps to go over the deteriorated original steps at our front door. I needed about 1/2 a yard, as I recall. The local yard had a penalty for anything under 4 yards. The penalty was the same price as a Harbor Freight electric mixer and enough bags of cement to do the job myself! That was my first foray into DIY cement.

I did in myself, it turned out fine, I still have the mixer and have used it a few times for fence and garage addition projects. Otherwise, it sits in the back of the garage waiting.

 

[Runner]

Another thing, that one form board... That is a side effect of solo screeding. Do, yes, im gonna pull the 2x6, but im gonna have to do some shady crap to fill that 1.5"×5.5"×6 ft gap, not going to leave the board; but i also wasnt fixing to screed an 18ft wide section

Would like to hear how you deal with that joint. I have a place where the slabs have separated about that much and I'm trying to figure out how to fill that gap. I guess I could just stuff it full of foam and pour elastomeric sealant in the top 1/2" or so, but not sure if that's the only/best way.

 

[paulsharvey]

Would like to hear how you deal with that joint. I have a place where the slabs have separated about that much and I'm trying to figure out how to fill that gap. I guess I could just stuff it full of foam and pour elastomeric sealant in the top 1/2" or so, but not sure if that's the only/best way.

Im thinking about double stacking expansion joint, and using polybulatyle caulk; but i might get some non shrink grout instead. Either way, it sounds like a not today problem

 

[paulsharvey]

On wide cracks, ive seen multiple fixes; ranging from cut and replace, epoxies, to "great stuff" expanding foam, cut off and caukked over. Epoxies are great, but they are Dang expensive. One "fix" ive seen tried several times, but never hold up, is grind it down skim coat over the top. Doesn't seem to matter what bonding agent, high strength grout, ect you use, skim coating with 1/8" to 1/4" just doesn't hold up, even to foot traffic

 

[paulsharvey]

Got the next section formed up, should be right at 8.5 CY, once im done fine grading. Kept wetting the slab down 3 times per day, since Friday night, and tonight, with 48-52 hours on it, went ahead and parked wife's car on it. Wanted make sure the approach slab wouldn't rub the low plastic on the charger, and it did not, so thats good. Did some dressing up around the first slab, and gonna have to get some grass seed. Might be a touch early for winter rye, but I know it will atleast come up.

Been mining fill from in the woods most of the day; the outside corner of "slab 3" is coming up about 18", plus the grass I stripped off; so ive been wetting that down and walking it in as well. Kinda targeting Vets day to finish; i will be off work, but businesses should all still be open

 

[MossRoad]

Are you using a compactor on the fill?

 

[paulsharvey]

Are you using a compactor on the fill?

I pleed the 5th. Im gonna walk it in well, tire roll it, soak it, and use a hand tamp, but no. Do I know i should? Absolutely. On the plus side, our soil is called Archer Fill, and its a fine, reddish rounded sand. It compacts to max density pretty easily, so for slabs its great. Its not good at being cohesive; which is probably why all almost all houses in my area are monolithic thick edge slabs. They basically "float" on the fill.

 

[MossRoad]

I pleed the 5th. Im gonna walk it in well, tire roll it, soak it, and use a hand tamp, but no. Do I know i should? Absolutely.

OK You should be fine. I'm just leery of sand as fill without compaction.

I've used sand for fill before, but I always laid in 2" lifts and ran a compactor over it. The garage addition I showed before I added crushed limestone in 2" lifts over undisturbed soil and ran over it with the tractor a bazillion times. Plus I did a 5.5" slab with rebar.