Site-Built Concrete Chute Extension
Ensure a smooth pour with some common framing lumber and a piece of inexpensive corrugated roofing
When it comes to pouring concrete, being prepared is the name of the game. There are lots of neat tricks for making smaller concrete forms, say for a deck footing. It gets trickier when you increase the size of a project to something like a concrete walk. And trickier yet if you need to pour a full-on concrete foundation. If you are ordering concrete, you have to specify the right mix. If you are mixing small batches on site, you’ll want to get familiar with the process. Otherwise it can be back-breaking work. If you pour enough concrete, this tip will definitely come in handy at some point.
When the ready-mix truck runs out of chute, it’s easy to extend your reach with the site built extension shown above. It’s made of corrugated steel roofing that has been nailed to two flat 2×6 stringers and bent into a U shape. It maintains its profile with the help of 2×4 ties nailed across the top, and it is secured to the truck chute with a length of chain. Wet concrete is mighty heavy, and I consider 2×6 stringers to be the absolute minimum. My 16-ft. chute is strung on 2x10s, but it’s somewhat overbuilt. Without the 2×4 ties, the chute can be used as a slide for concrete blocks, as the corrugations eliminate much of the drag. Sure beats using a wheelbarrow.
AI Dorsa, None
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #20
