- By brittney
- In Uncategorized
How to prepare a site for concrete
You know you need a slab. You’re searching for the right team for the job – find our pro tips for looking for a concreter here. Maybe you’ve even started getting quotes in for the job, read “how can I save money on concrete” blog coming soon. I bet now you’re thinking what next? What do I actually need to do to prepare my site for concrete?
You’ve come to the right place. Here’s a brief explanation of what needs to happen on site before we can pour concrete. Just remember that every site is unique and brings its own challenges. That’s why the experts will take time to make sure they’ve thought of all of this and more before the job gets done.
1. Permits
Whether you’re building a shed, pouring a concrete driveway or undertaking a multi-unit development, you’ll first need to check with your local council to see what permits you might need to comply with local building regulations.
2. Site survey
Any site, from a small DIY job to a large commercial site, will need a survey done before groundwork can happen. This is to check for any underground services such as utility lines or sewage pipes. Dial Before You Dig is a FREE national referral service created to help with this. Your concreter will also need to assess the site for access, fence lines, tree stumps etc and will double check measurements (length, width, and depth).
3. Digging
Here’s where the hands-on preparation starts. The objective here is to clear the area of rocks and soil until it’s at its required depth. A professional concreter will ensure accurate site cuts to minimising delays and setbacks. A foundation that requires structure above ground is likely to require pier holes that will need to be dug with an auger.
For a larger site a Bobcat is a valuable part of any concreter’s team. It’s a quick and efficient piece of machinery that can move and flatten ground and dust prior to the construction of formwork, ensuring precise and level earth.
4. Backfill
After excavation, the area will then need to be backfilled with structural fill made up of either sand, gravel or crushed stone. This helps to provide strength to the concrete and deliver an even pour. Once the backfill is in situ and is at the specified moisture content, it will be finish-graded to the specified cross sections, lines, grades, elevations and tolerances.
5. Compacting
Next, the soil will need to be compacted to the required elevation and shaped to a smooth and even surface. Depending on the size of the job, this can be done with a heavy hand tamper or a vibrating compactor.
6. Forming and reinforcements
Formwork are temporary or permanent moulds that the concrete is poured into. They provide clean and uniform concrete flatwork (e.g. floors and driveways) and determine the final grade of the concrete.
Small concrete projects don’t usually require much in the way of reinforcing, but larger pours will need rebars, spacers and ties. Rebars increase the tensile strength of the concrete, helping it resist cracking and breaking under tension.
A waffle-slab foundation is an above-ground type of foundation used to provide load-bearing capacity in expansive, rocky or hydro collapsible soils. The foundation is created by placing a series of single-use plastic forms set directly on the ground to create a grid of ribs, then pouring a post tensioned or rebar concrete slab. Sometimes, expanded polystyrene blocks are used instead of plastic forms, to prevent air spaces under the slab. The completed slab then sits on the ground, bearing on the ribs created between the forms. The void areas underneath the slab allow for soil movement.
And now you’re ready to pour!
Here’s where we get to the fun stuff! Choosing the perfect finish for the job. Exposed aggregate and coloured concrete is a great way to bring life into concrete. Stay tuned to hear about our range of decorative concrete services available for domestic jobs.
The team at Beaumont Concreting would love to help you at any step along the way of your concreting project. Just call us on 02 6153 3412.
