What type of concrete?

gone_fishing · 02-22-2009, 08:46 PM

I need to pour a small step in order to level a transition from family room to new office. My plan is to cover over the rough concrete in the picture below and make the step about 1 1/2" high. Once dry I will seal and put a wood step over it as the transition.

First, what type of concrete do I use to make sure it is secure.
Second, what tips, tricks, concerns should I watch out for?

Thanks,
Kevin

Bob Mariani · 02-23-2009, 07:15 AM

An 1 1/2" step is a no-no. Bond the old cement after cleaning and drying. Make a plywood form and mix a bag of cement. No special cement is needed. but a step must be at least 6 1/2" and no more than 8 1/4"

gone_fishing · 02-23-2009, 07:27 AM

Bob...it's not really a step. What I am doing is leveling the transition with the family room. It's about 2" total so the concrete would be about 1 1/2 with a plank of wood on top to finish it off.

Bob Mariani · 02-23-2009, 08:51 AM

Still working on this?

Protect all the wood (jams) from contact with the concrete with some tar paper. Nail or screw with tapcons a board at the lower end to make a form and just use some self leveling compound. Be sure to use the primer first.

gone_fishing · 02-23-2009, 09:05 AM

I didn't think you could use the self leveling that thick. This is part of a pretty big project. I've done all of the work myself except for 1 day of help with drywall.

Bob Mariani · 02-23-2009, 09:12 AM

look at the directions on a bag of it. 2" should be within limits...

drillbit · 02-23-2009, 10:21 PM

I'm no expert, however I have recently poured my own threshold.

I got one bag of portland cement and one bag of sand. I experimented a little.

The mix I liked was 3 parts portland to one part sand mixed with an admixture.

It seems to have worked out.

I made a mold/stopping point on both sides of the door with the proper slant and troweled accordingly. I also mixed the concrete thick so it would not want to level so much and knocked it a few times with a rubber mallet to remove air bubbles.

The finish sanding will be minimal after full curing.

That was my process. Good luck. My threshold goes to outside so I will seal it as well.