Patio help

bob22

"If I wasn't going the dowell road, could I put one of the flexible joint strips instead?

I had a friend tell me to just pour right against the old slab."

Why wouldn't you go the dowel road? Two folks in the concrete business have suggested that is the right way of doing it. Is your "friend" a concrete guy?

Dornier

No, he isn't. Were he, i most likely wouldn't be asking advice from the experienced here. He has, though, done a multitude of driveways, walks, etc that to my knowledge are still intact.

I like to bring all opinions into a discovery--it's just how I learn.

Money is the big obstacle, and as I said the slab barely looks to be three inches and is a bit ragged along it's bottom edge. It's 21 yrs old--the original. I've only been here 6 mos.

If it wasnt absolutely necessary I'd hate to risk damaging the original patio.

That's all.

itsreallyconc

jomama's in your state so listen most closely to him,,, me, i'm in ga but have placed conc in 27 states, some tunnels ( hudson & lincoln ), & some hi-rises ( world trade ctr, plaza hotel, suisse bank ),,, jo thinks dowels to transfer whatever anticipated/imagined - i don't,,, in that thickness slab, you'll play hell trying to hammer drill any load transfer OR tie bar holes w/o damaging the existing slab,,, i'd also opine #3 bar OR the conc won't have resistance to frost but you already hired a guy you evidently found competent ( licensed & insured, too ) & his references didn't rat him out to the contrary - let him do his work,,, on the day of the big event, STAY IN BED ! ! !

placing & finishing conc is NOT all science,,, there are intangibles such as experience, skill, & a feel for the work,,, good luck !

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if you hear it from a guy in the apron store, be VERY suspicious the mtl/method will work,,, when it time to build something together, they won't answer phones NOR help
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jomama45

Not necessary, just preferred for the long term use of the patio IMO.

I would dowel mostly because I wouldn't trust the base under the existing patio, it's somewhat unknown. If the dowels are placed below the center of the slab, even in a thin slab, I wouldn't worry about them. 1/2" of concrete cover or so is a completely different story.