So I have been reading a lot about the problems with pouring new concrete over old concrete and here is my situation…
We are having a contractor repitch the area around our back stoop which constantly floods, and then pour a concrete walkway and slab for garbage cans. He didnt have enough of the right color concrete to do our walkway in one day. So he poured a base of the darker (wrong color) on Saturday and is coming back on Monday with the lighter (right color) to finish the surface. I dont imagine he will be adding more than an inch to what he has already poured. So will he have the problem of the new concrete adhearing or curing at a different rate? I doubt he is planning to do any wire mesh in this layer…he didnt in the first layer either.
He also poured the concrete right up against the concrete foundation of the house without an expansion joint. Will this lead to cracking later on?
Should I tell him to start over and do this properly? (One pour, with mesh and an expansion joint?)
Any advice or calming words would be appreciated.
Thanks,
JVV
Replies
He wouldn't be doing that at my house. It might be okay but if it spalls or cracks 2 years from now where will he be?
All of the textbooks and pro's say your supposed to have expansion joints and mesh and rebar and all of that stuff......if i were pouring footings, slab for a garage or something than yes, rebar and wire mesh are a must. For a walkway and a little slab for your garbage cans you dont need all that stuff PROVIDED YOU HAVE GOOD SOIL DRAINAGE under that concrete. You would be surprised at how little the stuff will move. He should not have proceeded without consulting with you first, its his job to give you exactly what you want.
two day pour
I would not ever recommend doing that.
A couple of questions:
Did he leave the top surface of the first pour very rough? Did he use a bonding agent with the second pour. These things would help, but in no way be as good as doing it right in the first place.
Depending on size of the pour, among other things, reinforcing, expansion and control joints should alway be considered .