Hi all! I'm new to the board and was hoping for some advice for a DIY beginner.
I'm going to be pouring a 5m x 3m slab for my conservatory project and intend to use A142 steel mesh to reinforce it. My questions are - How much is a fair price for it in m cubed? and, since it needs to have 50mm above and 50mm below (in a 100mm slab) how do you put in in place and avoid it sinking into the fresh poured concrete?
Thanks for any advice and forgive my ignorance!
Gazdai
As Mark says, place the mesh on solid supports - in your case 40 - 50 mm thick pieces of broken slab would do or you can buy saddles to sit the fabric on. Place enough supports to keep steady when walked on during the pour. Tie wire the pieces together to stop them moving or kicking up.
Cost of concrete depends where you are, mix required, additives and whether straight pour or using barrow boys . You only need 1.5m3 so maybe better with mix and barrow service, or you may end up paying for the empty space on ready mix wagon.
Once you injure your back, you've got that injury for life.
If you've got the space get it delivered & poured right where you want it.
If i remember correctly mesh goes below the halfway line (concrete good in compression crap in tension). Spaces must be of a material which will not cause corrosion of the reinforcement or spoiling of the hardened concrete, ready made 'chairs' or the plastic rings, broken brick, not big bits of stuff.
The views expressed are entirely my own. Please checkup on my comments. I could be wrong
I'm not too worried about my back as I'm a keen bodybuilder and train it hard all the time. There is no way to pour the concrete exactly where it needs to set, so should I be mixing it myself or buying it in and barrowing it to the dig? It's actually gonna be nearer 2m cubed I need altogether...
Mmmm tough choice,
well its 2 options then.
1. Get materials to where you need them (pos hire mixer), mix & go.
2. Ready mix & wheel barrow.
I'd have to go option 1 myself as i live in a terraced house with no access to back garden apart from through the house, my shed base was a mare. But if i had external access to round the back i'd go option 2, couple of helpers, & Bobs your aunt Dorothies uncle.
The choice, as they say, is yours.
The views expressed are entirely my own. Please checkup on my comments. I could be wrong
