Hello, this is my first post and I appreciate any feedback. In the back of my house, I have an existing concrete patio that is in great shape. I want to add a concrete walkway leading to a round concrete pad where we will have a firepit. My question is when I pour the walkway and circular pad should we think about doweling the sidewalk to the existing concrete patio or should we just butt the sidewalk up to the existing patio with isolation joint? We live in Wisconsin. I guess my question is if it is prepped correctly and compacted should I expect much heaving as to where to the sidewalk would be above/below the existing patio. I am attaching photos to give an idea of what I am describing. Dowel or not?
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I would not dowel. With frost heave and slab only being 4” thick your dowels can possibly blow out the concrete when the slabs lift or it may create cracks. You are best to keep them separate. If it were my slab I would get a small piece of sill sealer and place that between the old and new pour to separate the transition some. The new slab will stick to the old which can possibly create future cracking. A full on expansion joint may be a little over kill, but could be used as well. It’s better if the walkway raises 1/4” or so with the freeze thaw vs cracking from being connected to the patio. Also, if you do 2” of crushed limestone compacted before you pour that will do a lot to prevent frost heave and will create a very strong walkway.