Sidewalk Project

[RxRatedZ71]

I am looking to put in a sidewalk along the side of our house and around back to connect to the back patio. The total length is about 65'. I believe the sidewalk it will connect with is 39 inches wide. According to online calculators, it appears to be about a 3 yard pour, if we do it 4 inches thick. I have gotten a few quotes from contractors and I been appalled at their prices. Some were up to $2400 :confused2: for what I consider a short sidewalk. It doesn't appear to be that hard of a job. Form it, compact it, pour it, screed it, mop it, trowel it, let it sit, broom it, etc. Here are my questions.

1. What is concrete going for in your area and what is the minimum that trucks will usually deliver out? My neighbor just poured his driveway entrance and said it was a full 10yds and cost him $1140. So my project should cost about $350, right?

2. I've heard of bender board being used for the forms to help with curves but my neighbor suggested to use a wood fiber based siding about 4" in width. Is that the same as bender board?

3. Gravel vs sand for a base....sand is MUCH cheaper

Your wealth of knowledge is greatly appreciated!

 

[RippySkippy]

I just poured a large drive way and sidewalk, and the costs from contractor to contractor were amazingly different. I went with the contractor that I felt the most comfortable and seemed honest...and it worked out well.

Our cost was $3.25 per square foot (6", .5" bar on 4' grid, broom finish), stained and stamped sidewalk (.5" bar) is $8.50/sqft. Don't over think the forms...our bendy sidewalk was formed with a 1x4 screwed to wooden stakes. it provided the right amount of rigidity to keep the curves from getting too sharp.

There are some contractors out there that see small projects like this as a prime opportunity to cash in. Most just don't want to mess with small pours...just a fact. Talk to your local concrete company for contractor recommendations...I got some great leads from them.

 

[bigtiller]

I am looking to put in a sidewalk along the side of our house and around back to connect to the back patio. The total length is about 65'. I believe the sidewalk it will connect with is 39 inches wide. According to online calculators, it appears to be about a 3 yard pour, if we do it 4 inches thick. I have gotten a few quotes from contractors and I been appalled at their prices. Some were up to $2400 :confused2: for what I consider a short sidewalk. It doesn't appear to be that hard of a job. Form it, compact it, pour it, screed it, mop it, trowel it, let it sit, broom it, etc. Here are my questions.

1. What is concrete going for in your area and what is the minimum that trucks will usually deliver out? My neighbor just poured his driveway entrance and said it was a full 10yds and cost him $1140. So my project should cost about $350, right?

2. I've heard of bender board being used for the forms to help with curves but my neighbor suggested to use a wood fiber based siding about 4" in width. Is that the same as bender board?

3. Gravel vs sand for a base....sand is MUCH cheaper

Your wealth of knowledge is greatly appreciated!

Your right, it's as easy as that. But you'll be exercising muscles you never knew you had, and it might be kind of hard to stand up the next day.

If everything goes according to plans, these small projects like this are fun to do and something new is usually learned by everyone involved. And if it doesn't turn out like you thought it would, so what, your not out that much money. Go for it and--

.

 

[BarryinMN]

Concrete is easy enough from a distance.

The devil is in the details. With 65' will you being transporting the mud with wheelbarrows or a skidloader? The truck is only scheduled for 'x' minutes per yard onsite... The mixing plant knows short loads tend to stretch onsite time & they charge more per yard or for onsite delays.

Form setup is critical as near the foundation poor drainage will give lots of problems. I simply use the vinyl garden edging for angles & radius.

Long & skinny sidewalks make for fast, labor intensive finishing - have enough tools & manpower. Dumping extra water in the mud to extend finishing time makes for chalky, weak surfaces, subject to spalling.

For DIY concrete the secret word is hustle. If the mud sets up ahead of you a great job turns into a degrading mess until you drag out a sledge, bust it up, haul it off, & start over.

 

[Western]

This will be a "gravy" project, you will enjoy it.

1, Concrete prices vary from each area, here in DFW around $79 a yard. You also will have to find out what the minimum load is before they charge you an extra fee. For instance, here the 2.6 yards (figured at 65') you need would come to $205.40 +tax. Here there is a 4 yard minimum, thats an extra $100 since your order would be under the minimum. Only way you'll know for sure is to call a couple concrete plants close to you.

2. What your neighbor said to use for bender board is perfect foe a side walk at 4", support stake it well.

3. Sand if you even need that.

Thoughts: You'll need re-bar, or concrete wire mesh. You may be able to go with the fiber reinforced for the side walk since there wont be any heavy traffic, talk to the concrete company.

Make sure and plan for expansion joints. You can either cut them in while cement is semi wet, dry, or use concrete expansion material available your hardware store (some). I'd put one about every 10-12'.

Get yourself an edging tool (cheap) like this. Will look great when your done.
Take a Look at our Affordable Floor Edgers and Concrete Edging Tools

Fill a cooler and have fun!!!

 

[BeezFun]

I'd try to hire a finisher to do this as a side job for you, have him tell you what to do and you do all the work, he shows up on pour day and takes charge of the finishing. I'd expect to pay $25/hour cash around here, not sure by you. Concrete around here is $110/yard, they give you 5 minutes/yard to unload then they charge an extra fee if you need more time. You'll need some helpers for the finisher, more if you can't get the truck next to the pour. We don't use sand around here because all the little critters love to dig into it and make nests, like chipmunks and skunks. We use something like CA6, it's a mix of gravel and fines that lock together to keep the little buggers out, or at least makes it a lot harder for them. You are probably capable of finishing this yourself, but you will end up with a nicer job that is likely to have a more durable finish if you hire someone. There's no substitute for experience, you probably don't want to learn on something you have to look at for 20 years.