Getting ready to pour my long awaited slab.

[Dave Shepard]

We got the form done today. 8'x60'. Long enough for a12' and 24' extension. Going to do a two foot grid of rebar next. I can't wait to get my stationary legs on the mill and bolt everything down. 8)



 

[YellowHammer]

Nicely done.  From the photo, it looks like the mill is already tugging at the leash to get on its new pad.   
Congratulations on the upgrade, especially now that the weather is turning wet and soggy. 

[jmouton]

  that will be real nice when its done ,,,  we did the same thing  except  ours is 35 x 14  ,  we did 2x2 on our rebar too  worked good until i dropped  a 32 inch  16 ft  oak log  on it and cracked it  ,, oh well  it is alot nicer to be on concrete than  gravel   ,,,get it done before it starts  gettin real cold concrete does not cure very well in cold ,,,,   i do concrete for a living  ,,,


                                                                                                            jim

[jmouton]

oh ya   ,, by the way dave ,,,  use 6 bag concrete with only limestone ,,,, none of this other crap called cementicious ,,,its not good and not as strong even if your concrete dist says it is ,,


                                                                                                          jim

[Chuck White]

Dave, will you be putting down plastic sheeting for a vapor barrier?

You could get condensation coming up through the concrete, and you could have the gravel sucking the water out of the mix without it, neither of which is good!

[Andries]

That pad will be a big improvement.
I'm jealous Dave, it'll be level, strong, easier to clean, and best of all, it'll stay put!
As the frost comes into the ground here, I'll have to constantly be fussing with re-aligning my setup 'til mid-winter.
Then, as Spring comes, time to start all over.  :

[isawlogs]

Having a dry area to work off of...  8)  Get your hands on some rubber mats to walk on. Your feet will love you for it !!!!!   

[Dave Shepard]

I think we are putting down 6 mil poly, but we are putting something for sure. Waiting to hear if we are putting the rebar in tonight. I might need to find a miner's headlamp, though. :D

[scsmith42]

Looking good Dave!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I sure would like to write "Goat was here" in the wet cement.  :D

[jmouton]

just put your hoof print instead,,  poston,, :D :D :D


                                                                                                             jim

[Dave Shepard]

Rebar and plastic is in. Moved the mill out of the way. Did some rough grading and got a pile of gravel staged. Now I just have to watch the weather.



 

[barbender]

With the cost of Redi-mix, I always screed my base with sand to get it right on so I don't have to waste so much mud. I've seen guys pour a house and garage slab and have 6 yards extra That's because they spend minimal time on the prep and then just order way too much mud too compensate. This is my most extreme example of this, I've seen a lot of more minor examples- my point is it usually pays to spend a little extra time on the prep. It's satisfying to know there is only 1/2 a yard left over, rather than 2 1/2. Either way, your sawmill and you are going to be happy on that slab, Dave!

[Dave Shepard]

My grade is pretty DanG close. Put the form boards on and had to lift the far right corner about 1/2", and had to dig in the close end about 1" for a few feet. I knew the close end was a little high, but it was dark, and it was the finish end and time for supper. :D I set the grade in the stone using a laser level. I rake it off until I get a "high" beep. That is usually less than an inch total deviation. Hard to be more accurate when you are working with a coarse aggregate.

[landscraper]

With the cost of Redi-mix, I always screed my base with sand to get it right on so I don't have to waste so much mud.

So I'm not the only tightwad after all!  With 3000psi going for $115 a yard down here (just got a 5% price increase announcement for the new year too - hurray!) I can't afford to waste a wheelbarrow load due to sloppy forms and grading.  I tell my guys all the time that we don't get bonused on being thicker than spec, just penalized for being thin.

[rasman57]

Rebar and plastic is in. Moved the mill out of the way. Did some rough grading and got a pile of gravel staged. Now I just have to watch the weather.

Looking good!  What does the plastic barrier do for your slab? 

[Banjo picker]

It will help keep it dryer...stop water from wicking up from the ground.  Banjo

[Dave Shepard]

 We did our pour today. Ran short, despite being assured they could get more than enough on the truck. Fortunately there was another truck ten minutes away that had just finished a pour and had enough left to finish mine with less than a wheelbarrow left over. 8) It was floated, then finished with a "Fresno", which left a great finish for what I'm doing.



 

[brendonv]

Thats going to be awesome

[Dave Shepard]

Yes it is! Next, I need to figure out how to span 60'.

[Darrel]

Yes it is! Next, I need to figure out how to span 60'.

It's called cantilever. I know of no other way.

[mapleack]

For the 60' span I'd check scrap yards for steel roof trusses. The kind you'd see in a walmart or lowes store ceiling.

[Peter Drouin]

Nice job, 8) 8)

[jwilly3879]

Poured my garage slab last week, 20x30, enough for the wife's car, a place to work on stuff out of the weather and to store my tools which are scattered through 3 different sheds on three pieces of property. 14 yards of 4000 psi concrete.

[Dave Shepard]

 I got about half way through the demobilization process this afternoon. I have to attach the BX tomorrow and then start the leveling process. It's sure going to be nice not having that axle in the way! Just waiting for the next person to ask me if my mill is portable. Sure, if you can pick up a 15 ton slab with a mill bolted to it. ;D