Concrete estimate sounds high to me???

newbury · Nov 24, 2013

blackrat said:
Thanks guys. The price was for everything. He said nothing about rebar but did say he includes fiberglass. I guess that is in the mix???

This guy just happened to stop by. He wanted to estimate my 1100' driveway. No wat I could afford that so I did not get an estimate. I have 2 more people right now. I was both of their kids basketball coach so maybe they will cut me "some" slack....

Wade

If you don't know what fiberglass is be careful. On another forum there's a guy complaining about a 16'x20' concrete pad poured a year ago that slopes down 5" over the 16'. He thought it was going to be level, but he was busy at the time and didn't pay attention.

I am ALWAYS leery of contractors that "just stop by". Around where I frequent GOOD contractors are always booked.

Ken45101 · Nov 24, 2013

We had major driveway work done a few years ago and it was $2-3/sq ft (6" thick) depending on volume and the work involved. It was $1/ft for the concrete and the rest was labor. I think these guys were cheap but they did a good job. I did the digging and grading.

EddieWalker · Nov 24, 2013

Like already mentioned, be extremely cautious of anybody out looking for work. Odds are very good that they have burned so many bridges that they don't have a reputation anymore and a very long history of poor work, or not even doing the work.

The biggest problem with concrete is that if it's done wrong, you have a very expensive, very hard, very difficult problem to deal with.

I'm not a fan of fiberglass added to concrete. I will help some with cracking, but you have to deal with it sticking up through the surface. You can burn it off, but it's no substitute for rebar. Some contractors like to use wire instead of rebar. It is a lot cheaper and faster to use, but it's pretty much worthless in holding the concrete together. The problem is that when spreading the concrete, you step on it and force it to the bottom of the pour. Everyone will tell you that they pull it up while spreading it, but that's just show and it never works. Once you pull it up, you step on it again and down it goes. If you are doing a sidewalk, it's fine, but I wouldn't use it for anything else. Spend the extra money on rebar and use chairs to keep it off the ground. If there isn't concrete all the way around it, it's not doing anything.

And the most important thing of concrete work is the prep put into the soil. If the ground isn't solid, it will settle over time, and move on you throughout the year with the freeze thaw cycle. Movement of dirt means a higher likelihood of cracking in your concrete. All concrete cracks, but how bad is controlled by rebar and soil prep.

Eddie

SPIKER · Nov 24, 2013

I had 60 yards put down, I did all the prep work including grading adding foam and reflective insulation. added 6x6 10gauge wire mesh and tied to 1" standoff and radian tubes on top. Heart of Ohio Amish area northern middle of state cost $7500 for 5 or 6 man crew and 6000PSI mix 5~8" thick. 38x50 inside barn, and 12x50 lean too, 20x16 exterior pad, and a triangle pad 25x16x25 in front of barn. that came out to 125/yard in place with smooth on everything inside the barn broom finish on rest.

click photo for full size in PB and move left or right for a few videos and a ton more photos...

Mark

JeffinIA · Nov 24, 2013

Nothing wrong with Fibermesh in Concrete , Yes It can leave a Hairy finish if the top of the concrete is over worked and is broomed to early. It is also a SECONDARY Reinforcement, Used with rerod it can be the best protection you can buy. Vibra screeds Are ok but really should only be used on interior floors . The vibration can knock the air out of the surface of the concrete and can result in deterioration of the top of the slab. Yes I Know, everybody uses them (and most are lucky) If your in the southern states this is probably not a problem as you don't have as many freeze thaw cycles as we do.

timberland · Nov 24, 2013

I just paid 700 labor to form and pour 8 yards. On top of that I paid 106 per yard for 3500psi concrete and 125 for the rebar. About 1800 all together. Money well spent..

Diamondpilot · Nov 25, 2013

I had a 40x15 pad done in front of my barn in 2010. I graded and framed. They poured 10 yds and I paid for the concrete and wire mesh.

The labor to pour and finish was $600. Total cost was $1675 for 4000psi with fiber, wire, and finish work.

Chris

Cat_Driver · Nov 25, 2013

I add Stainless steel fibers to all my concrete. Out here I 4" poured a slab on beach sand no prep other than making it smooth wetting it down. Been 6 years and not one crack, and I drive a 10K skid steer on it often. I poures a set of steps same way, I hand mixed bag concrete in my bucket on the loader. Steps

Fiber Reinforced Concrete Association - FRCA

Steel & Micro / Macro blends: A recent development in the field of fiber reinforced concrete that has emerged in the marketplace has been the combination or blending of steel and / or macro-synthetic fibers with various types of micro-fibers to help control plastic shrinkage cracking (ie: micro-synthetics) while at the same time providing concrete with enhanced toughness and post-crack load carrying capacity achieved only with the use of steel and macro-synthetic fibers. These fibers are typically dosed at the prevailing are solid no cracks.

paulharvey · Nov 25, 2013

If I where you, I would ask abiut pour and finish prices. You form, buy tge mud, place rebar, wire, ect; and contract two or three amigos to actually finish it. Then you know exactly how level it is, how much rebar it the footer, ect. You get a much lower price (maybe $500-800) because its only a couple hour job, not two days, and you can form at your leisure.

Of coarse you end up paying for mud, form boards, rebar, wire, and if you use it, visqueen.

BTW, I come up with 9.25 cy, so I would order a full 10 cy truck. You will want to string line it all and check grades. I prefer 6" for any driveways, but 4" done right will hold. Consider a 6"/8" footer with rebar where you drive onto and off of it. If you stay with 4", make sure you compact the holy heck out of the dirt, and use WWF and maybe fiber too (not a fan personally).