Pic driveway - Help please !!

[katmark]

I HAVE REPOSTED THIS FROM SITE WORKS SECTION

Hi Tony,

I currently have a large area of old untidy concrete around my house. I've just had the front of the house dug up & I'd like to redo it by stamped concrete. My main concern is over jointing the concrete in bays/panels. I've laid plain concrete a fair bit, but have never used anything other than concrete-concrete or expansion joints before, but now I'm a bit older & wiser I want to do it right first time. I'll be doing the work myself, only with help of friend(s), so don't want to try too large an area first, especially as I've never stamped before.

The dimensions of the plot are 12m along front of house x 6m to the lawn/small wall ( narrowing to 5m, as house has bay window).I'm Ok with subbase, fall (1 in 60 away from house & same to road) & plan to use 4'' thick concrete, as per PIC spec. The area will have cars (2) parked on it. I have digital photos of the area, but can't attatch !

My questions are along the lines of:
How big do I make the panels & how do I lay them out ?
How do I join the panels (type of joints), especially if I do more than 1 at any one time ? (ie do I need formwork left in place and sealed over ?).
Can these joints be done with keyways or are dowels needed ?
How far apart do crack control joints need to be & which way do they run?

Plus any other advice you may have

Also, for PIC concrete , is it OK to have the colour in the mix & just apply an antiquing/release agent before stamping ?

Much appreciated
Mark

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

My friend (if I'm allowed to comment) - I dont want to disallusion you, but I've been down this road before you and it would be unfair if I didnt tell you that you would be better off avoiding the stamped concrete route, the main reason being it does not look as good as a proper paving product, and with concrete 100mmthick and 3 metre expansion joints there is still the possibility of cracking. I made my own steel stamping frames, worked out matches in the modules, etc etc, and whilst I was quite proud of the outcome, very few of my friends and family were. You can get an alternative product at reasonable cost (I make one, but dont want to push it) please check them out before persuing the stamped route.

[lutonlagerlout]

just as an addendum i pored a 4 m2 oversite lat week in 35 degree heat at 11A.M i went back at 6P.M. and there were 12-15 surface cracks
the concrete was c35 and luckily enough its getting screeded later on but beware the heat when pouring 'crete
regards tony

[MikeParki]

I HAVE REPOSTED THIS FROM SITE WORKS SECTION

Hi Tony,

I currently have a large area of old untidy concrete around my house. I've just had the front of the house dug up & I'd like to redo it by stamped concrete. My main concern is over jointing the concrete in bays/panels. I've laid plain concrete a fair bit, but have never used anything other than concrete-concrete or expansion joints before, but now I'm a bit older & wiser I want to do it right first time. I'll be doing the work myself, only with help of friend(s), so don't want to try too large an area first, especially as I've never stamped before.

The dimensions of the plot are 12m along front of house x 6m to the lawn/small wall ( narrowing to 5m, as house has bay window).I'm Ok with subbase, fall (1 in 60 away from house & same to road) & plan to use 4'' thick concrete, as per PIC spec. The area will have cars (2) parked on it. I have digital photos of the area, but can't attatch !

My questions are along the lines of:
How big do I make the panels & how do I lay them out ?
How do I join the panels (type of joints), especially if I do more than 1 at any one time ? (ie do I need formwork left in place and sealed over ?).
Can these joints be done with keyways or are dowels needed ?
How far apart do crack control joints need to be & which way do they run?

Plus any other advice you may have

Also, for PIC concrete , is it OK to have the colour in the mix & just apply an antiquing/release agent before stamping ?

Much appreciated
Mark

looks like you are doin the same job as me !! I am sorry i cant help you but do you know anywhere i can hire the mats ?

[katmark]

I've found a place that hires (and sells) matts etc Try www.elitecrete.co.uk

Just had a look & their prices seem much more reasonable than the likes of creative impressions etc