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In my basement, running along an outside wall, I have a section of concrete floor that has been dug up, exposing the dirt underneath. The dirt area is about 14 feet long, by 4.5 inches wide, and anywhere from maybe 1/8" to 1/2" deep.

If I just get some regular concrete mix and trowel it onto/into the section, will that hold? The dirt is/should be pretty compacted.

(If you're wondering "why is your concrete barely an inch deep at the edges of your basement?" I believe the answer has something to do with the house being 90 years old and someone, at some point, maybe having broken apart the inside of the footing.)

 

[Canarywood1]

In my basement, running along an outside wall, I have a section of concrete floor that has been dug up, exposing the dirt underneath. The dirt area is about 14 feet long, by 4.5 inches wide, and anywhere from maybe 1/8" to 1/2" deep.

If I just get some regular concrete mix and trowel it onto/into the section, will that hold? The dirt is/should be pretty compacted.

(If you're wondering "why is your concrete barely an inch deep at the edges of your basement?" I believe the answer has something to do with the house being 90 years old and someone, at some point, maybe having broken apart the inside of the footing.)

Regular concrete mix wont do you any good,since the coarse aggregate is larger than the depth you want to cover.

The only thing that may,and i stress MAY work is a sand and cement mix since the depth is minimal and your patch doesn't have anything to hold onto it's really iffy that it will work, the more i think about it the more i doubt it will hold, hydraulic cement would maybe have a better chance of working.

 

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Regular concrete mix wont do you any good,since the coarse aggregate is larger than the depth you want to cover.

The only thing that may,and i stress MAY work is a sand and cement mix since the depth is minimal and your patch doesn't have anything to hold onto it's really iffy that it will work, the more i think about it the more i doubt it will hold, hydraulic cement would maybe have a better chance of working.

Good point about the size of the aggregate. Maybe the sand and cement mix would work if I unwrap some metal hangers to lay down first, or some sort of mesh?

I've started to wonder if something like this may work: http://www.sakrete.com/products/detail.cfm/prod_alias/B1-Trowel-Grade-Leveler

I've used something like it to level out depressions in subfloors, and you can spread it really thin. Not sure how it would hold up with just dirt under it, but given that the dirt's compressed, and this is the very edge of the room (no foot traffic) it would be subject to less pressure or flex than its normal application.

 

[Canarywood1]

Good point about the size of the aggregate. Maybe the sand and cement mix would work if I unwrap some metal hangers to lay down first, or some sort of mesh?

I've started to wonder if something like this may work: http://www.sakrete.com/products/detail.cfm/prod_alias/B1-Trowel-Grade-Leveler

I've used something like it to level out depressions in subfloors, and you can spread it really thin. Not sure how it would hold up with just dirt under it, but given that the dirt's compressed, and this is the very edge of the room (no foot traffic) it would be subject to less pressure or flex than its normal application.

Sounds similar to hydraulic cement,in that it won't shrink,give it a shot.

 

[concretemasonry]

eebd -

Hydraulic cement is not formulated to work in areas where the new concrete is wider than the thickness. It is intended to be used in relatively narrow cracks/joints so it can be packed in a zero slump(or drier) condition since it expands and sets in minutes. It does a good job of waterproofing cracks/joints IF it is applied correctly, but it worthless as waterproofing coating. I used for many years in concrete repairs and for water control.

To fill a void the size you have you would need many small batches and work very quickly.

 

[Ranger Har]

Why not just dig out some of the dirt? It's not that much to do, then you can mix your cement and pour.

 

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Result

Just thought I'd follow up on the outcome in case anybody finds this helpful in the future.

I ended up going with the sand/cement mix. So far it's held up nicely, though as I'd said before it's in an area that doesn't get much traffic.