Concrete drive makeover

[wreckedit]

I would like to scim a driveway with about 2cm of concrete with a view to tidying it up. Could you tell me if it can be done successfully?.

 

[wonderdust]

in a word no, not thick enough

 

[wreckedit]

in a word no, not thick enough

Many thanks. I was wondering if the base concrete is stable and say 100mm thick would not a scim stuck to it remain stable as well?

 

[masona]

Just to make sure when you say 2cm, that is 20mm or 3/4" ?

I have seen this done many time and all ended up with hairline cracked. For that thickness I think the only way is tarmac.

 

[TexMex]

Quary tiles bedded on sand/cement might provide an alternative solution?

 

[JerryD]

Quarry tiles can be very slippery, especially on frosty mornings, by all means use some type of slabbing but maybe something with a texture to it?

 

[wreckedit]

Many thanks for replies. I mean 20mm thick and could go to 30mm. So in that case I may well try paving slabs.

 

[wreckedit]

Just incase somebody has another look at this topic I've been looking at what might be the problem with scimming a drive. I made a test patch on a plastic sheet with less than 20mm of concrete and pressed 10mm pebbles into it. Even though the weather was frosty it dried okay but when I looked at the bottom it was full of tiny air bubbles. This is probably the reason for a poor result and cracking occurring. So I would need to get the air out to see the difference. I know that paving slab makers use vibration but how do I vibrate it?. So I am looking into the prospect of sucking the air out with a vacuum pump. I have found that a fridge/freezer motor and an empty gas bottle may do it. I have yet to try, so will let you know how I get on in the future.

 

[TexMex]

I know that paving slab makers use vibration but how do I vibrate it?

That's the idea of tamping. The compression and vibration of the tamping process should force the air out to the surface.

You can now get ready mixed "Self Compacting concrete". This uses "Super Pasticisers". You simply pour, and allow to set. The extra plastic nature of the liquid concrete allows air to simply bubble out. I know it is more expensive than the run of the mill stuff. On large jobs this is offset by the reduction of labour involved in the pour.

Although this stuff is self leveling, it should not be confused with the normal "self leveling concrete", which usually has a large air content (even when set) and is therefore relatively low strength.

I don't quite see how you are going to use a vacuum pump in your experiment, but it would be interesting to hear of your results. You may find it worth while to do some research into "super plasticisers". Perhaps you could come up with an alternative to the full blown "self compacting concrete" implementation.

 

[wreckedit]

Thankyou, Texmex, for your reply and compliments of the season to you.
I'll be trying out the vacuum experiment in the new year.

 

[johnhiggins]

check out this site and the forum and you will get many ideas

john(aintree paving)

www.pavingexpert.com

 

[wreckedit]

John, thanks for the info. I see that on the site a concrete specialist is not to far from me so I'll give them a call. Compliments of the season to you.

 

[legs-akimbo]

Richab you can buy or hire a tool that looks like.....well a big vibrator!
There is I think a more technical term for this which escapes me at the the moment, but basically it is a steel shaft around a couple of foot long that you place into wet concrete. as its name suggests it vibrates the concrete in the manner which I take it you wish to do.
Theese vibrators are used in raft foundations when there is one big pour of concrete.

 

[Thermo]

its a vibrating poker, so you were half way there. Mind you if you used it as you implied no wonder your legs would be akimbo!!

 

[masona]

Oh poor leg-less

I have use them many time and they are called Poker Vibrator and the other one is Tamper Vibrator which you just use nuts & bolts to the middle of wooden tamber board such as scaffoldboard, very light work this way.