New garage time!

[ovrszd]

Good stuff Eddie.

In regards to the pumper, biggest advantage in this particular situation is the concrete would be dropped straight down on the pad rather than shooting it horizontally.

 

[dragoneggs]

Good stuff Eddie.

In regards to the pumper, biggest advantage in this particular situation is the concrete would be dropped straight down on the pad rather than shooting it horizontally.

This is my fear.. shooting sideways could play havoc with the PEX. And did we establish that the shoots could reach the entire pour area?

 

[ovrszd]

This is my fear.. shooting sideways could play havoc with the PEX. And did we establish that the shoots could reach the entire pour area?

In memory I think he mentioned an 8x20 area that they can't reach? Moving concrete 8ft with a come along is very painful. Requires a pile which laterally pushes on all the underlayment materials.

Again, I wish I was his neighbor. I'd show up.

 

[dragoneggs]

In memory I think he mentioned an 8x20 area that they can't reach? Moving concrete 8ft with a come along is very painful. Requires a pile which laterally pushes on all the underlayment materials.

Again, I wish I was his neighbor. I'd show up.

I'm kind of glad at my age I'm not his neighbor! :laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

In memory I think he mentioned an 8x20 area that they can't reach? Moving concrete 8ft with a come along is very painful. Requires a pile which laterally pushes on all the underlayment materials.

Again, I wish I was his neighbor. I'd show up.

Pulling concrete that is falling off of the chute 8 feet isn't the hard part. This is why I question those that are suggesting he hire a pumper.

The work is in the screeding. Any teenager can pull mud, it's mindless and pretty simple. Working the screed is what matters, and doing it quickly, while achieving a flat surface while walking between rebar, or in this case, on top of PEX, is where all the problems are going to happen.

 

[ovrszd]

Pulling concrete that is falling off of the chute 8 feet isn't the hard part. This is why I question those that are suggesting he hire a pumper.

The work is in the screeding. Any teenager can pull mud, it's mindless and pretty simple. Working the screed is what matters, and doing it quickly, while achieving a flat surface while walking between rebar, or in this case, on top of PEX, is where all the problems are going to happen.

I know you've pulled a lot of concrete. Have you ever done it with 1.5-2" of depth clearance?

 

[dragoneggs]

I know you've pulled a lot of concrete. Have you ever done it with 1.5-2" of depth clearance?

And worrying that the PEX will be disturbed? Seems he will have to work delicately and cement isn't usually associated with delicacy.

 

[EddieWalker]

I know you've pulled a lot of concrete. Have you ever done it with 1.5-2" of depth clearance?

I was going to say no, because I've never messed with PEX in a pad before. But then I got to thinking that most everything that I've done is 3 1/2 inches thick. Put some 3/8s rebar in the middle of that and it's an inch and a half of mud above the rebar. So now I'm thinking that I do it all the time. Every time.

 

[fatjay]

Got the manifold hooked up. Never messed with pex before, I feel like copper is easier, but when I'm doing copper I'm only doing 2 lines. Copper is harder to cut, takes time to heat, have to dip in flux, solder. Pex is clip, put fittings on, and get it aligned and screw on. The challenge was the close fittings, and being short lines and pex wanting to bend and not line up nicely. And the twisting. I have horrible arthritis in my thumbs, I can twist something about 3 times and then it locks up and burns.

Tomorrow I'll pick up a 1" NPT plug so I can pressure test. Hopefully no leaks.

 

[chim]

We've done some foundations, walls and pads. Most of what we've poured has been for electrical duct banks or thrust blocks. Not much into flatwork. We've had concrete trucks bring an extra piece or two of chute when we knew reach was a problem. Sometimes the added length decreased the drop to the point we had to help the concrete down the chute. That still might be easier than pulling the concrete after it drops. A possible benefit might be that the concrete would have more of a straight drop?

 

[dragoneggs]

fatjay, that looks to be a well laid out and professional install. Good luck with the pressure test.

 

[fatjay]

Platform to be suspended above the garage on the walls. 3 sheetts of plywood will go on top. That way we can move inside the area on top and pull/screed. stand, kneel, lay. it's 24' long and 4' wide. I also have 2x 20' aluminum planks that can run from the platform to the front or back wall. There's a half inch deflection with me standing in the middle, and there's hooks on the outside that will prevent any potential lateral movement.

 

[dragoneggs]

Platform to be suspended above the garage on the walls. 3 sheetts of plywood will go on top. That way we can move inside the area on top and pull/screed. stand, kneel, lay. it's 24' long and 4' wide. I also have 2x 20' aluminum planks that can run from the platform to the front or back wall. There's a half inch deflection with me standing in the middle, and there's hooks on the outside that will prevent any potential lateral movement.

Oh boy... now that is a shop aid! :thumbsup:

 

[chim]

The platform looks like a good way to work while keeping feet off the PEX. The work surface will be almost 2' above the concrete. Do you think the reach will be unhandy? Would it be worth looking at hangers on the ends so the platform would hang inside the walls rather than sit on top?

 

[pmsmechanic]

The platform looks like a good way to work while keeping feet off the PEX. The work surface will be almost 2' above the concrete. Do you think the reach will be unhandy? Would it be worth looking at hangers on the ends so the platform would hang inside the walls rather than sit on top?

I was thinking along the same lines. It would sure make moving the concrete easier. Also I don't have a lot of experience with concrete but would using a cement vibrator help to move the concrete around and also to make sure the chairs get filled with concrete.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this platform works. For the life of me, I don't get what it accomplishes, or how anybody will be able to work concrete if they are on it.

 

[747driver]

I am with Eddie on this. You will lose all your leverage trying to pull and screed the concrete when being above the work. I hope you will be doing a video of this operation and prove us all wrong. I also hope you re-consider the time frame for the trucks to arrive. If not you are setting yourself up for what is called a 'cold joint'. I wish you all the good vibes as you proceed !!

 

[dodge man]

I’ve not seen the concrete vibrators used as much on flat work. They tend to be used more for foundations and is really important when you have a lot of rebar where you worry about voids forming among the rebar. I have seen it used on flat work and just a quick touch does help the concrete flow. To much of it can cause the concrete to segregate.

 

[dragoneggs]

I am with Eddie on this. You will lose all your leverage trying to pull and screed the concrete when being above the work. I hope you will be doing a video of this operation and prove us all wrong. I also hope you re-consider the time frame for the trucks to arrive. If not you are setting yourself up for what is called a 'cold joint'. I wish you all the good vibes as you proceed !!

I get the leverage aspect. My arms are getting tired thinking about it.

 

[ovrszd]

I was going to say no, because I've never messed with PEX in a pad before. But then I got to thinking that most everything that I've done is 3 1/2 inches thick. Put some 3/8s rebar in the middle of that and it's an inch and a half of mud above the rebar. So now I'm thinking that I do it all the time. Every time.

Yep. How many square feet at a time?