New builder porch. Screed or concrete only

[noseall]

If you pour in the morning you are in a better position to get a nice finish (later on) regards the concrete.

Mix it wet so that it is workable.

Tamp it so that the air escapes and it levels off. Walk away and have a cup of tea and a Kitkat.

Go back and knock down the peaks so that it is fairly flat. There will be water lying on top. Go out for lunch and then do a bit of shopping.

Trowel the concrete so that you work the 'fat' on the surface. If there is give in the surface then it's still not ready for the final trowel. Go watch Jeff Stelling.

Once the concrete has resistance it will be ready for a grind and polish. It's hard work but its the only way of guaranteeing a tight (flake/dust free) finish to the conc.

If any of this phases you leave the conc 50mm or so down and opt for a screed.

 

[noseall]

PS. Imagine what it is like to work concrete in the winter! Floodlights and 4:00am finishes!!

 

[mrbg07546]

We are bringing floor level to lever of bottom of door opening. I was told by the window fitter the door will be on the outside skin. Do I then fill base of door cavity with concrete? How is this void typically filled

 

[mrbg07546]

Ok live coverage coming up. We are waiting for the mot type 1 to get delivered. However I have made a wooden float(and a Romanian to go with it) as suggested and a compacted from skip waste

 

[noseall]

Do I then fill base of door cavity with concrete? How is this void typically filled

With a float finished concrete (single pour) slab, all opening details, below DPC, need to be done in advance. You need to remove a couple of courses of masonry and allow the conc, membrane, insulation etc to go up to the door threshold. Finish the jambs by returning the masonry according to the size of the opening.

 

[23vc]

Still trowelling it?

 

[mrbg07546]

Lol. Our hardcore got delivered at 1pm so we got delayed. We finished concrete get at 4. I went back at 8 to trowel it and it was still wet. Having said that a decent finish! Even though I didn't get to do the semi dry metal trowel trick. Thanks for your help all