ALL -
I'm part-way into prepping to lay concrete for a backyard porch. it will be 4" thick. part is in the middle of existing concrete porch and the other part will be an extension. i've attached a photo (in the middle, is the 9'x9', portion of old porch to be replaced. And, to the left, towards the porch uprights, will be the new extension of ~4-6'x25').
Is there a video for beginners i can watch so i get the jist of what i'll be doing? youtube has many, but they seem to be partial jobs or teasers (to lure into paid advice) or other application that is different and so doesn't help.
in our area, we've relatively hard pullman clay loam soil and it packs hard. but i'll be digging out about 3-5" and will backfill much, especially in the area where the porch is being replaced (a drain line was replaced there six months ago). i've heard sand, but i'm seeing videos with people using a ground compactor. and that is $ to rent. can i just fill it in with soil and top-off with sand? there is a lot of loose rock where the sewer drain line was replaced. should this loose rock with lots of void be removed? backfill with soil and hose down with water?
it might be best if an experienced person let me know if my ideas are right. then, i'll be confident to begin. 1.) Stake out area to be dug. 2.) dig out about 4" of ground in this area. 3.) tie "leveled" string around stakes even with current porch portions? 4.) nail up the "forms," using 2"x4" boards? 6.) measure all areas to be filled with cement. backfill with soil and then water down to pack? 7.) Top off with sand? 8.) put a layer of metal mesh in. 9.) pour cement leveling with a scoop shovel as it enters and leveling by sliding a straight 2"x4" ontop of "forms." 10.) smooth with the smoothing tools we found from days long ago? will this plan provide a smooth, strong cement porch? It will just be the two of us and neither of us have experience in laying this type of cement. just animal barn pens and such with the help of many others
I'm part-way into prepping to lay concrete for a backyard porch. it will be 4" thick. part is in the middle of existing concrete porch and the other part will be an extension. i've attached a photo (in the middle, is the 9'x9', portion of old porch to be replaced. And, to the left, towards the porch uprights, will be the new extension of ~4-6'x25').
Is there a video for beginners i can watch so i get the jist of what i'll be doing? youtube has many, but they seem to be partial jobs or teasers (to lure into paid advice) or other application that is different and so doesn't help.
in our area, we've relatively hard pullman clay loam soil and it packs hard. but i'll be digging out about 3-5" and will backfill much, especially in the area where the porch is being replaced (a drain line was replaced there six months ago). i've heard sand, but i'm seeing videos with people using a ground compactor. and that is $ to rent. can i just fill it in with soil and top-off with sand? there is a lot of loose rock where the sewer drain line was replaced. should this loose rock with lots of void be removed? backfill with soil and hose down with water?
it might be best if an experienced person let me know if my ideas are right. then, i'll be confident to begin. 1.) Stake out area to be dug. 2.) dig out about 4" of ground in this area. 3.) tie "leveled" string around stakes even with current porch portions? 4.) nail up the "forms," using 2"x4" boards? 6.) measure all areas to be filled with cement. backfill with soil and then water down to pack? 7.) Top off with sand? 8.) put a layer of metal mesh in. 9.) pour cement leveling with a scoop shovel as it enters and leveling by sliding a straight 2"x4" ontop of "forms." 10.) smooth with the smoothing tools we found from days long ago? will this plan provide a smooth, strong cement porch? It will just be the two of us and neither of us have experience in laying this type of cement. just animal barn pens and such with the help of many others