The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:12 pm**

Hi,
I have an area of concrete driveway (12m x 6m, reducing to 5m under bay window) to lay between my house & the lawn. I'm determined to try PIC (I've heard all the warnings but am 'confident' I can get it right - I'll put another post on for specific PIC questions when I've formulated them ! I'll also post pics - whatever the outcome)

For now, what I need to know is how do I go about laying it and jointing it ??

Would keyways (or 'joggle joints' as I've read on this site)between bays be OK.

I don't want the bays to be too big so I can't screed it between 'rails' and/or it all sets before I finish stamping but I don't want to be ordering a load of separate concrete deliveries (and peeing off my helpers !) either

I plan to oreder integrally coloured concrete & just add release agent

I've just had 20 tonnes of type 1 delivered today & am in the process of barrowing it round & wackering it down (you should see my blisters !!)

All advice is much appreciated.

Mark

Posted: **Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:54 am**

12 * 6 = 72 m2.

This is too much PIC for a novice team to do in one day IMO.

And you definately want two loads for this.

Why not get some onsite support? Some of the PIC suppliers will send a man out to oversee your job and ensure it is done well for as little as Â£250 a day.

You could even get him on the barrow if you buy him a few beers afterwards!

Posted: **Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:55 am**

Thanks for the reply Ted. Yes , I realise it is too much for one goes - I was thinking of 2-3 go, but not sure of a) bay sizes & shapes & b) how to join these.
After I've done this front of house job, I have a new garage & extension to build, then I'll be stamping the rest of my hard landscape (it sounds a mansion, but believe me, it's not !!).

I would still like some advice on how to join bays & sizes & shapes of bays to lay - any experts out there to help ?

The only local PIc installer is just starting up & I've not heard good things about them !

Regards
Mark

Posted: **Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:07 pm**

I've had some advice from someone in the industry who has basically said the following. I can lay the concrete slabs in rectangles (ie 6x3m) so long as I divide it into squares using crack control joints. For joining bays he has advised that there should be no need to use dowels or keyways, but just use use a concrete - concrete joint, but use a fillet of wood (attached to top of formwork) to form (in effect) a crack control joint at the top of the first bay.

Does this sound reasonable ?

Mark

The Brew Cabin

Concreting driveway - How to join bays