QA

Quick Answer: How To Lay A Slab Of Concrete

Can I pour my own concrete slab?

Used for walkways, patios, and floors, concrete slabs are inexpensive to install and durable enough to last for years. When you pour your own concrete slab, you’re giving yourself a design material that is adaptive to many of your outdoor design needs, while saving money that would have been spent on a contractor.

How much does a 12×12 concrete slab cost?

How much does a 12×12 concrete slab cost? The average cost to pour a 12×12 concrete slab that is 4” thick is between $888 and $1,584, with professional labor and materials included.

Should I put sand under concrete slab?

Pour concrete over a solid, well-drained base Because concrete slabs “float” on the soil, soft ground or voids underneath may cause unsupported areas to crack under heavy weight like vehicles. Pack about 4 in. of sand or gravel over clay and other poorly draining soils to provide even support.

Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

Do I need plastic under my concrete slab?

No. You don’t “need” a vapour membrane under a shed concrete slab but it is still a good idea to install one. The reason is that the vapour barrier stops moisture from the wet concrete escaping into the ground under the concrete.

How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab?

Regarding this, “how many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab?”, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need approximately either 74 bags of 60lb or 56 bags of 80lb premixed concrete for a 10×10 slab, at 5 inches thick slab, either 93 bags of 60lb or 70 bags of 80lb premixed concrete are required, while at 6.

How thick should a concrete slab be?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.

Is it cheaper to mix my own concrete?

One of the least expensive ways to get concrete is to mix your own. Otherwise, you risk getting a weaker concrete once it cures, which could lead to cracks or crumbles within a couple of years. Consider renting a truck, since mixing the bags one at a time limits your ability to get consistent results.

Can you use quikrete for a slab?

Concrete is one of the most economical, versatile and durable building materials available. Build a sidewalk, patio, or floor with QUIKRETE concrete mixes no matter your skill level.

How many bags of cement do I need for 12×12?

To determine how many bags of concrete you will need, divide the total cubic yards needed by the yields, at 4 inch thick, for a 12×12 slab you will need 1.76 yards of concrete, so number of 80lb bag of concrete = 1.76 ÷ 0.022 = 80 bags, No. of 60lb bag = 1.76 ÷ 0.017 = 104 bags & No.

How much is a 10 yard truck of concrete?

Concrete Cost Per Yard With concrete delivery and pouring, most pay $119 to $147 per cubic yard depending on the PSI of the cement. A full 10-yard truckload with delivery costs $1,169 to $1,444, which is enough to pour a 20×24 driveway.

Is sand or gravel better for concrete?

The Importance of Gravel and Sand in Concrete More volume means less air and a stronger product. The size of the gravel also helps to determine the concrete’s strength. Though larger pieces of gravel produce more friction and make it harder to mix, they also make a stronger concrete.

What kind of gravel do you put under concrete?

More gravel is better, but 3 inches is the minimum amount of gravel you should have with a 4” slab. Use ¾” washed and screened gravel, then compact it to level.

Will concrete crack without rebar?

Without rebar reinforcement, concrete is highly prone to cracks due to tension forces. Rebar helps prevent cracks from growing wider largely by preventing cracked slabs from moving apart.

How long does it take for 4 inches of concrete to cure?

Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.

Is sand a good base for concrete?

Simply put, sand isn’t sturdy enough to work well as a subbase for something like a driveway. It is also difficult to maintain a level sand surface when pouring concrete, and therefore difficult to maintain a uniform thickness of the concrete slab.

Can you pour concrete over gravel?

Laying a concrete driveway over an existing gravel one is possible, but it is not generally recommended. However, if the gravel in your driveway is small enough, it is possible to create a cement driveway over the existing one.

What kind of foam goes under slab?

Two of the rigid foam insulations most commonly used below grade and under slabs are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). Although both are closed cell insulations, they perform very differently over the long term.

Does a 4 inch slab need rebar?

Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project. The general rule of thumb is that if you are pouring concrete that is more than 5 inches in depth, you are probably going to want to add in some rebar to help reinforce the entire structure.

How much does an 80 lb bag of concrete cover?

30 cubic feet, 60 pounds of concrete mix yields . 45 cubic feet and an 80-pound bag yields . 60 cubic feet.

What is a cheaper alternative to concrete?

There are a few different types you can find in the home improvement store that can replace concrete cement used for driveways and walkways. These include pea gravel, crushed stone, and quarry process. Cheaper than other surface materials and low-cost to install.

How much does it cost to pour a 10×12 concrete slab?

Cost of concrete per square foot Slab Size Square Feet Average Cost 10×10 100 $600 10×12 120 $720 10×20 200 $1,200 12×12 144 $864.