Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Questions on Plans For a New Sidewalk
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Timinindy
04-05-07, 07:29 AM
I want to pour a 17.5' by 5' (~ 8" thick) sidewalk over an existing sidewalk and tie this in with a landing that's between the house and some concrete stairs. I have created a Photobucket folder with several pics and the plan sketch here:
http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/TiminIndy/
The plans for the part I'm planning now are titled Plan Sketch - Phase 1. I'll probably be waiting to do the other half. This is for a rental property (a duplex where I currently live in the other half).
The existing concrete has most likely been there since `48. The sidewalk is very crumbled in places, but it doesn't have cracks or signs of settling or heaving. It puddles very badly because it sits below the level of the lawn. My thought was that I could just pour over this, considering that I plan to make it around 8" thick.
The tricky part is the landing, which is basically just a convenient place for the tenants to keep their trash cans. It is bordered by the house on one side (concrete block with stucco) and concrete block walls that support the stairs on 2 sides. I want to cap this and the bottom step with about 2" of new concrete to make a continuous 'L' shape that drains away from the house and onto the lawn (3" decreasing to 2"). I figured I don't want to attach it to the house or walls, so I would need to use the expansion material, but I also want to make the joint water tight so water doesn't get down there and so nothing grows there. I'm not sure what I would use to seal the joint.
I figured I would need crack control joints where the cap over the landing and the cap over the bottom step meets the thick slab, as well as the diagonal rebar method Pecos gave us for around the corners of the steps. I'll also need to determine how much additional reinforcement is needed throughout (rebar, fiber mesh, both?) I plan to clean the area with a power sprayer, and I need to know if I should use a concrete adhesive where I'm doing the thin cap. If it will help, I can order a higher grade or fiber reinforced concrete.
I added a picture of the plan that shows where I was thinking I would need expansion material (red lines) and crack control joints (green lines). I haven't figured out placement or depth of the rebar. Please, anybody, feel free to correct my assumptions.
Finally, regarding the railroad tie retaining wall in the picture: I also plan to replace this, so I guess I should do that first. I had considered a stone or concrete wall there instead, but I think it will be a lot cheaper and easier to just put new RR ties, and that will look fine for the area for now. I thought I would just line the RR ties with tar paper so the concrete doesn't attach to it, or do I need expansion material there so I have an edge to screed off of? The single level of RR ties on the lawn side will be removed so the sidewalk meets the lawn.
As always, thanks in advance for any input or advice!
http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/TiminIndy/
The plans for the part I'm planning now are titled Plan Sketch - Phase 1. I'll probably be waiting to do the other half. This is for a rental property (a duplex where I currently live in the other half).
The existing concrete has most likely been there since `48. The sidewalk is very crumbled in places, but it doesn't have cracks or signs of settling or heaving. It puddles very badly because it sits below the level of the lawn. My thought was that I could just pour over this, considering that I plan to make it around 8" thick.
The tricky part is the landing, which is basically just a convenient place for the tenants to keep their trash cans. It is bordered by the house on one side (concrete block with stucco) and concrete block walls that support the stairs on 2 sides. I want to cap this and the bottom step with about 2" of new concrete to make a continuous 'L' shape that drains away from the house and onto the lawn (3" decreasing to 2"). I figured I don't want to attach it to the house or walls, so I would need to use the expansion material, but I also want to make the joint water tight so water doesn't get down there and so nothing grows there. I'm not sure what I would use to seal the joint.
I figured I would need crack control joints where the cap over the landing and the cap over the bottom step meets the thick slab, as well as the diagonal rebar method Pecos gave us for around the corners of the steps. I'll also need to determine how much additional reinforcement is needed throughout (rebar, fiber mesh, both?) I plan to clean the area with a power sprayer, and I need to know if I should use a concrete adhesive where I'm doing the thin cap. If it will help, I can order a higher grade or fiber reinforced concrete.
I added a picture of the plan that shows where I was thinking I would need expansion material (red lines) and crack control joints (green lines). I haven't figured out placement or depth of the rebar. Please, anybody, feel free to correct my assumptions.
Finally, regarding the railroad tie retaining wall in the picture: I also plan to replace this, so I guess I should do that first. I had considered a stone or concrete wall there instead, but I think it will be a lot cheaper and easier to just put new RR ties, and that will look fine for the area for now. I thought I would just line the RR ties with tar paper so the concrete doesn't attach to it, or do I need expansion material there so I have an edge to screed off of? The single level of RR ties on the lawn side will be removed so the sidewalk meets the lawn.
As always, thanks in advance for any input or advice!