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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:13 pm
by Ted
I have laid a bit of concrete before and think I should be able to do PIC on a small patio I want to create. I am confident that I can get the levels right and get the slab nice and flat. As I will order ready-mix, this will also ease things. So the main worry for me is just keeping the mats nice and tight together so I get a good impression.
But, having found this site, I read that many PIC contractors do poor jobs much of the time...
What are the most common errors these PIC guys make?
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:30 pm
by lutonlagerlout
all of them mate
concrete not flkat
concrete gone off
too much dye
too little dye
no expansion joints
no sub base
ad nauseum
tony 
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:49 pm
by Ted
Well I reckon I can get it as flat as needs be.
As it is only 20m2 I seriously doubt I am going to be pressed for time imprinting.
I am going to get integral colour ready-mix; Lafarge offer this. It costs a bit more but one of the things I have noticed about PIC in this country is that it looks a bit crap on the edges as they only float the colour in to the top of the slab so the sides are still grey. When I watched a contractor pour a driveway in LA, USA, where my aunt lives he used integral colour so I am going to too. This guy said those colours you float in are crap.
I know about control joints and expansion joints. I don't need expansion joints but I am going to cut control joints as I am only doing a 4" slab.
And I have already prepared my sub-base of 125mm of hardcore, blinded with a layer of course sharp sand.
So, if I have the above sorted, I should be able to lay a good PIC slab?