 natedjElectedPremium
join:2001-06-06
Columbia, SC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·Earthlink Cable ..
| reply to dbamber
[Masonry] Re: Pouring concrete steps said by dbamber:You need to find somebody who can build a proper form, and get a ready-mix concrete outfit that ...blah blah blah blah blah ... and it ended up costing them far more when things go bump in the night. Good Luck!
Another pessimist silenced.
--
Good judgement comes with experience...Experience comes after bad judgements |
|
| I am not a pessimist,I'm looking at the photos of the before and after I posted after of the forms, and you tell me if there is not a SLIGHT difference between the before and after of the reinforcements to the forms, and then call me out. The most difficult concrete pours are a one sided form,and the original pictures posted showed a drastically under reinforced forms for a one sided form. So flame away! Please tell me how many times you have been involved with pouring concrete. |
|
|
|
Reviews:
 ·Start Communicat..
1 edit | said by dbamber:I'm looking at the photos of the before and after I posted after of the forms, and you tell me if there is not a SLIGHT difference between the before and after of the reinforcements to the forms, and then call me out. The most difficult concrete pours are a one sided form,and the original pictures posted showed a drastically under reinforced forms for a one sided form. Yes, there is a big difference. Except I also said that I was going to add more support before you posted, two times. |
|
Reviews:
·Start Communicat..
| reply to stevek1949
said by stevek1949:That top step looks taller than the others. Could there be a possible trip hazard? Or are my eyes playing tricks on me? I've measured everything several times because I'm CDO (It's like OCD, but the letters are in order like they're supposed to be).
But because you said that I'm still going to measure it again.
But I'm pretty sure your eyes are playing tricks on you.
The bottom step is bigger, but I'm going to be adding more gravel to make it smaller. I wanted part of the step to be below grade. |
|
Reviews:
·Start Communicat..
| reply to Msradell
said by Msradell:It looks very good especially considering it's the 1st time you've done anything like this! Be careful though for all of your friends will ask you to help them do theirs.
A friend and my father in law were helping me out with this. And they were making jokes about that. They said it's my Italian genes coming out (I have an Italian last name, though you have to go back three generations and two countries ago to find any Italian culture).
Strange thing is that I actually enjoyed this work. I wouldn't mind helping others out. And I may have such a job coming up with some friends that will be in much the same situation: they're getting their foundation fixed and will have to get their steps knocked out to do the job. Though theirs should be much simpler.
My friend actually suggested I rent my mixer out. That's not a bad idea too. |
|
Reviews:
·Start Communicat..
| So I measured the top step (the one on to the porch), and yeah, it's a half inch taller (7" instead of 6.5"). No idea how you saw that in the picture.
So there's another lesson learned: I should have drawn a line on the wall so I knew where to screed the step to.
It's a shame it's too late to fix it now. |
|
| reply to cybersaga
It looks very nice. I'm interested to see the final pictures at the end of the week when it's dry.  |
|
 stevek1949We're not in Kansas anymore
join:2002-11-13
Virginia Beach, VA | reply to cybersaga
said by cybersaga:So I measured the top step (the one on to the porch), and yeah, it's a half inch taller (7" instead of 6.5"). No idea how you saw that in the picture.
So there's another lesson learned: I should have drawn a line on the wall so I knew where to screed the step to.
It's a shame it's too late to fix it now.
My eyes are CDO! |
|
Reviews:
·Start Communicat..
1 edit
2 recommendations | I took the tarp off Thursday night. It rained all day yesterday. Today I added more gravel and some top soil and grass seed for the side. I'm not thrilled with the finish. The colour is a bit uneven (though some of the colour difference you see in the picture are just parts that haven't quite dried completely from the rain this morning). The third step has a low spot where water settles, though it'll dry quickly (I think I stole too much cream from that spot when finishing other parts). I can see some of the aggregate exposed in the rounded part of the bottom step. I think I worked that part too much and stole too much cream from there too. I had a hard time with the edging around the curve. I definitely know what I'd do differently next time to avoid all this. But, structurally it's sound. And it certainly does the job. Someone came to our front door last night for the first time in a couple years: pizza delivery. So here are the total costs of the project: Concrete: 24 bags (23 for the pour, 1 for touching up), $98.16 Admixture: 12 bags, $46.68 (the store gave us a discount for buying a whole case of 12) Fibers: 1 bag (well, half actually), $6.95 Rebar: I only bought 2 6' lengths, the rest was given to me, $12.98 Rebar ties: given to me Wood (2x4's): Mostly left over from other projects, but I bought 5, $14.45 Wood (1/4" MDF, 4x8' sheet): I can't remember and I can't find my receipt now but probably around $25 Plywood (3/4"): left over from other projects Edger: $5.89 Corner trowel: $8.49 Push broom: $7.49 Wire mesh (to keep the stones away from the side): $10.69 Dust masks: $8.99 Foam float: $7.19 Total: $252.96 +13% tax: $285.84 |
|
| I think the finish will look better with a bit of weathering. You can always seal and paint it too, just mix in some grit with the paint for traction. |
|
