Browse Forums Paving & Concreting 1 Jun 27, 2013 9:55 pm I have been getting quotes for exposed aggregate for driveway and paths. Some companies are quoting 100mm reinforced for the whole lot and others are 100mm drive vs 80mm for paths. Can ppl advise whether it should be done 100mm all the way or is 100mm for paths overkill? Should paths be reinforced? I have family in large wheelchair, would 80mm be fine under that kind of weight? I understand there are standards as well, any other advice recommendations would be appreciated. Id rather pay a bit extra if it is more durable. Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 2Jun 28, 2013 4:41 pm 100mm for driveways and 80mm for paths should be fine provided: 1. You make sure the base is properly prepared see http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=778 2. Proper contraction joints are constucted at the correct distance apart (No more than 25 x slab thickness) The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 3Jul 01, 2013 10:24 pm thanks... i asked a couple of contractors about what base is needed and they looked at me weirdly and said no need? Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 4Jul 02, 2013 5:56 am Typical of a lot concretor's unfortunately. A lot of the ones I know have: Learned on the job and know all the shortcuts but not why they do anything. Are long gone before cracks start. Before you get advice from a concrete contractor ask to see their trade qualifications! The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 5Aug 28, 2013 9:52 am Hi mazstar, I have done a bit of DIY landscaping and made a few paths both out of concrete and poured limestone. I agree with bashworth. 100mm for driveway and 80mm for paths will be fine, although correct subgrade preparation is essential. To me it is the most important thing. If a slab is poured on a properly compacted and graded subgrade of suitable material it should last forever provided it has sufficient joints to expand and contract. Re-inforcing to me is a cop out for incorrect subgrade prep, and is not something I want in my slabs as it can be prone to rusting. (I live near the beach). Google pavingexpert.com and you can learn all about the correct methods of paving and concreting, there is a lot of excellent advice on there. Take note of the different types of joints, you need joints for both expansion and contraction. cheers Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 6Aug 28, 2013 11:18 am 80 mm is fine if it is 80mm all the way. Trouble is 80mm then could mean +/- 20mm. This why I would prefer to go 100mm all the way. This basically gives you some redundancy for a small price. Reinforcement mesh is very important because concrete is very weak in tensile strength and the steel counteracts this. Re: Thickness of concrete driveway and paths 7Aug 28, 2013 11:53 am Fair enough, B-star, I agree that is why I said correctly graded sub grade ie no undulations. Yes re-enforcement is essential in a driveway, but for all my paths I avoid it. I rely on sufficient compaction of the sub grade (to depth), suitable material (cracker dust is wonderful to work with) and suitable edge containment so that the subgrade cannot move. And lots of foam filled jointing. If you cannot guarantee a firm subgrade that will not move or expand and contract (clays), then you may require it. BTW remember to ensure you have worked out your falls before you complete your subgrade so that you can ensure even slab thickness and do not end up with a drainage problem, which can cause the subgrade to move too. (which will crack your slab) To my understanding early saw cuts are to control shrinkage cracks, so doing them now would be pointless. Control joints may reduce ugly cracking during periods of soil… 3 9828 Hi all I need a guidance on how far I need to space expansion joints in the concrete driveway and its type (keyway/foam.) Contraction joints are at 3m max for a 125 slab. Thanks 0 10921 |