Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 18, 2000 09:00pm | #1

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   There are plenty of ways to suspend concrete. The easiest would be to simply put the slab on conventional wood framing engineered to support the extra dead load. I think a structural slab would not be cost effective for a small scale project like this.

   What you need to ask about is the desired result and not the means. Clients often confuse the two. What finish do they want on the patio? If all they want is concrete, then any savings in using an "inexpensive" finish will be offset by the other problems involved. If they want a tile or paver finish, there are plenty of ways to do this over conventional framing that may or may not involve a slab. It may turn out that they don't need a patio at all, but a deck.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 18, 2000 10:27pm | #2

   *How far "down south" are you. Far enough that basements are uncommon. If I understand correctly the lot slopes away from the house. The patio would be on the "high" side. They want to create basement storage space under this? Full basement on the rest of the house?More info, Dave

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   Guest_ | Feb 18, 2000 11:03pm | #3

   *Mike as usual gives some good advice. Here are my thoughts.Commercial Buildings have the same design, and it is called a "Robinson Deck" here in SoCal, and consists of corregated (ribbed) steel spanned between load bearing colums. A fairly thin (about 3") layer of concrete is poured on top of the steel. I haven't built these in years but the design has been around for at least 20 years, and continues today. I would see a commerical contractor in your area for more details.The foundation could be a CMU or poured cements, on top of which is placed either TJI's or steel I beams. Of course, one would excavate for their storage.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 18, 2000 11:51pm | #4

   *I know of two common ways to do this.One is the poured concrete on corrugated steel that scooter mentioned. (We call it century deck)The second is prestressed concrete planks that are delivered by truck and just set in place with a crane. Often, a thin layer of concrete is poured over these also just to level the surface.With both methods, the supporting structure must be designed to handle alot of extra weight.

2. 
   TGoertzen | Feb 23, 2000 11:36am | #5

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   I'm currently building a concrete dock/pier on a lake in Montana. the design is a helical pier driven to refusal, grade beam footing, "Sono tube" columns and a suspended concrete deck. The deck is 8' wide by 100' long (w/ wings) by 8" thick. The span between these "frames" is 12'. The deck has two mats of #4 bars at 12" EW. We use Aluma shoring to build the support for the slab, deck this with plywood (to be used elsewhere on the project), bulkhead the edges, place the mats and pour the deck. You can finish however - exposed aggregate, broom, smooth, sand blasted, etc.... You eliminate the framing whether wood or steel post and beam. This makes for a great dock and could be a direction for a patio/deck.

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 24, 2000 11:46pm | #6

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   Hello Wendy,

   Try this link http://www.dnaco.net/~fsi/precast/flexdeck.html

   Dan

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 03:35am | #8

   *Where exactly are you. We operate pretty much all over Texas and Oklahoma. We place concrete in this fashion all the time. Your question is loaded with many variables that dictate how your project should be designed. Consult a local P.E., That person will know a design and a contractor to install it.

4. 
   DrawingGal | Mar 02, 2000 03:35am | #7

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   I am designing a house for a couple that wants a concrete slab on their patio. They also want storage under the patio because of the slope of the lot. Since I am down south the land here is level. I am not familar with this and need to know how this is done. The builder told the couple that that would be no problem. After the meeting he told me to check into it. HELP!!