The Shortest Ever Thread

[Chittychangchang]

Get some 2x2 concrete/stone flags!
Weigh about 40kgs each, just remember to walk them as they crack easy.
If you can do 20 shoulder presses with one without becoming part of the foundation, then you can join Ant's TD exclusive 20 pull up club.
Not to be confused with Dillingers /Lulu's pull up club

[Wasp]

FFS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pragmatic]

What weight is the tractor?

Them John Deer ones are fooking heavy.

[Chittychangchang]

Could easily turn that cement to dust over a rainy season.

Hope you're using hardcore, reinforced stuff...

[Pragmatic]

Could easily turn that cement to dust over a rainy season.

A need for Portland cement and the correct slump mix.

[Klondyke]

Herewith how it's made Thai style (ca. 1,500 Baht/m3) - next day you can walk on it

[ootai]

Quote from Wasp

OOTS ....... that looks strong ! Indeed it is.

Quote from pragmatic

A need for Portland cement and the correct slump mix.


The slump test is a quick and easy site way of checking the water-cement ratio. If there is too much water then the concrete is weaker.
Going from a WC ratio of 0.5 out to a W/C ratio of 0.6 decreases the concrete strength by 50%.
What to people do to make it easier to move? Add water which not only weakens the concrete but can cause segregation of the cement and aggregate weaken also weakens the concrete.

So what's the solution? Get stronger than necessary concrete in the first place hence my statement about ordering 25MPa concrete and then placing a pad thicker than necessary to compensate for what they do to the concrete during it being placed.
Concrete is (according to Klondyke above) B1500 per cubic metre. The stuff I bought for the shed was B1800 per cubic metre about 4 years ago so probably B2000 now.
On a pad 4m x 15m and 100mm thick versus a pad 4m x 15m and 150mm thick the volume is 3cubic metres.

So the price difference is:
4 x 15 x0.1 x 1500 = B9000

4 x 15 x0.15 x 2000 = B18000

So for a measly B9000 you get something that will be there in 25 years versus something that will start breaking up within 5 years.

UP to you!!!

Anyway rather than make another post, because that would help pragmatic and his prediction of 100 posts, I will add a few pictures to show the difference.

This is an area in front of our old house the concrete was placed at varying stages over the past 10 years by the family


You can see that it is not lasting very well.


And here where the water runs of when they hose it down it is disappearing rather quickly.


This is at the back of the new house and has had a truck driven onto it and parked here. Concrete placed about 4 years ago


This is the latest "slab placed at the shed and was put in about 6 years ago, still beautiful.


This was placed about 8 years ago and is still in very good shape.


Another angle of the latest slab at the shed, still no issues despite the abuse it gets from tractor and plough.


Here is a corner of the same slab that has been undercut by the water from the tap nearby but still no signs of it cracking off.


Hope this helps Wasp.
Cheers

[OhOh]

Some important IMHO points:

1. Reinforcement mesh in the top and bent down the sides, 50mm cover top and sides. To stop cracking and edge reinforcement. If your base is larger than the available steel mesh sheets, lap one over the other where they join by 32 x mesh steel dia, approx. 400mm. This ensure the mesh laps together structurally.

2. The mesh needs to be held in position, top of mesh to top of slab = 50mm with "chairs", otherwise the concrete crew will tread it down to the bottom.

3. Once laid and finished off, the top surface needs to be kept damp. The mix needs additional water spray, some lay temporary sacking to protect the slab finish, as the Thai sun will evaporate the concrete top layer moisture, very quickly and the concrete will not " chemically mature" and hence be weaker.

4. Form 5mm wide by 10mm deep slots across and down the length of the surface, every 2m approx.. This will ensure any cracking will remain in the bottom of the slots.They can be filled with bitumen once the slab has dried, 2 or 3 days.

5. If you do intend to build a room, walls, doors, windows and roof, in the future lay a DPM (Damp Proof Membrain) at the bottom and up the sides. This will stop any moisture rising to the surface from ground water.

6. If you do use a DPM lay 50mm of sand on top of the gravel sub base to ensure no punctures of the DPM during construction.

[David48atTD]

Is that an Etan?

If so, pics please!

[Chittychangchang]

Hey WASP

why not personalise the cement...



Get all the locals making their mark, then throw a party afterwards

[Jack meoff]

Boom tish...

[Pragmatic]

Get all the locals making their mark, then throw a party afterwards

They'd steal the concrete.

[Pragmatic]

If you do use a DPM lay 50mm of sand on top of the gravel sub base to ensure no punctures of the DPM during construction.

For some unknown reason, Thais put sand down before they lay wet concrete. What's that all about?

[Chittychangchang]

If it's as thin as the layer of cement planned, then they could roll it up like a carpet and carry under their arms.

[Pragmatic]

For some unknown reason, Thais put sand down before they lay wet concrete. What's that all about?

Monkey see ............? Been laying concrete a good few years but I can't figure that out. Anyone?

[OhOh]

^I don't know why Thais do it but in my contracting experience with a major civil engineering company theprocedurewas this:

The location and extent of the hole was marked with wooden stakes, level boards and a hole is dug, a possible inspection is made by an "official" to confirm the depth and soil type, if specified a gravel pad is placed, if specified a sand covering is placed - this can be to protect any DPM, to more accurately level the base or reduce the amount of concrete seeping into the gravel sub base (the finer particle size as compared to the gravel layer. )

Any edge shuttering is placed, theDPM is laid, steel mesh/bar reinforcement is placed at the correct level and position, concrete is laid, concrete is vibrated with pokers or plates, concrete surface is "finished" with hand floats or mechanical floats and lastly the concrete surface is kept "moist", to ensure the moisture is not lost due to wind or sun (this ensures the correct chemical reaction occurs to guarantee strength).

[Chittychangchang]

The tricky part with flagging is brushing the concrete between the cracks.

[Pragmatic]

The tricky part with flagging is brushing the concrete between the cracks.

Don't you mean 'brushing the sand/cement' mix between the cracks. How I used to lay paving slabs was to lay the slabs on a sand/cement bed. Then to finish I'd brush in a sand and cement mix. Get rid of the excess and then spray the area with water to set the bedding mix. Laying slabs here in Ting Tong Land isn't done well because they do not bed the slabs down with a maul.

[Chittychangchang]

All one needs is a spirit level or a keen eye.

Thank you for the correction on the sand/cement mix.

However, I just use cement.

I find is gives a more silvery finish.

As for spraying with water,I wait and let nature take its course.

The damp wet climate here provides adequate setting juice.

[Pragmatic]

However, I just use cement.

Using brushed in silver, or washed, sand locks the slabs much better. But each to their own.

[Chittychangchang]

I reckon so, had to brush in more cement into the cracks a few times since I laid my patio several years ago.

To be fair,tbf I prefer a nicely rolled carpet of tarmac.

I recommend wasp go down this route, providing he can source some quality tarmac.

[OhOh]

As for spraying with water,I wait and let nature take its course.

The damp wet climate here provides adequate setting juice.

My references and knowledge pertain to the UK. I can only say that IMHO the UK is wetter and has lower temperatures. We also have had no rain for 2 months in my part of Thailand along with 35 to 40 Deg. C temperatures.

But, "it's up to you".

[Maanaam]

"The Shortest Ever Thread

"
Sorry to disappoint.

[Wasp]

Well can we NOT get to 50 ? ............................. Please .

[pseudolus]

NO.

THREAD CLOSED