anyone know how to lay rebar? Need a driveway done

[urbanXJ]

So the genius builders at Beazer Homes are flat out claiming they don't need to use rebar in the driveway.

Anyone know someone I can pay to lay the rebar? You possibly? I can help.

I'm to far into this house to back out due to no rebar, and the warrantee on the driveway is only a year.

So, I don't think the builder will mind if I put inthe rebar after they do the wood frame.

[dbuck]

I CAN PROVIDE YOU SOME basic pdf details, but for a 4" drive though, you could get away with doing W6 W2.9XW2.9 welded wire fabric on some rebar chairs. It is not uncommon at all for builders to do driveways without rebar.

if you're insistent on rebar, I'd probably suggest #3 bars on 15"-18" centers.

[bluewave18]

mesh would be fine. You may want to ask though. They may not pour it at all if you do it

[sbfuller]

let them pour it then have some friends come over with some heavy trucks and crack it then ask for a replacement

[urbanXJ]

Yea, I decided it but it still me off

This is what the said about the driveway warantee

"Warranty department said they are not having issues with this and that cracks are covered if they are more than ¼ inch crack or ¾ inch displacement."

how long is the warantee

"one year"

facepalm

[sbfuller]

just go jack up the frond end of a one ton and slam it down on a jack stand... there is your crack.

, even the front end weight on a jack may be enough to crack 4" concrete

[dbuck]

Originally Posted by urbanXJ

Yea, I decided it but it still me off

This is what the said about the driveway warantee

"Warranty department said they are not having issues with this and that cracks are covered if they are more than ¼ inch crack or ¾ inch displacement."

how long is the warantee

"one year"

facepalm

LIKE I said ....you'd be suprised how many residential driveways get zero reinforcement. it's not uncommon in places with stable soil.

[Volfy]

Unless you plan on rolling heavy trucks on your driveway, wire mesh is fine. Reinforcement needs to be matched to the concrete. Having one much stronger than the other is no good.

If you want an upgrade, ask the builder if they could spec fibermesh concrete. It's a very modest cost upgrade but greatly improve fracture resistance.

Wanna make your driveway stronger without paying you builder an extra dime? Go there after the concrete is poured, right after it hardens to the touch, but before it dries... and cover the whole thing with plastic sheets or tarp to trap in the moisture. The longer you keep the concrete wet, the longer is the hydration process, the stronger the ultimate strength. Heck, you can stay out there and spray water over it all night if you want.

[dbuck]

Urban, this was land of Pears? incorporated or not?

Just texted my cousin who is a PM for Perry Homes. They do not pour with reinforcement in Montgomery County, but he does in Harris County....

also agree with recommendation for fibermesh concrete additive mentioned above.

[urbanXJ]

Yea, pearland, highland crossing is the sub (just off of McHard)

They want $500 bucks cash to tell me what anything costs (yes this money goes to the cost of the thing)

There are two builders, Pulte and Beazer. Pulte uses rebar but Beazer does not.

regarding keeping it wet, I think I will just put a sprinkler out and go home

[dbuck]

http://pearlandtx.gov/home/showdocument?id=1229

if incorporated, call down to inspector and ask if reinforcement is req'd in residential drives. not sure if the above is for commercial only...or applies to residential as well.

[bluewave18]

Cover it with plastic. You put a sprinkler on it and leave and you are likely to end up with a rough slab. When I did slabs we sprayed with white latex and covered with a sheet of plastic. The longer it takes to cure the stronger it gets

[Ulric]

Sorry, but viewing the life of a home, driveway.... I'd say reinforcement of some type should be a requirement.


some misc links...

http://www.dulley.com/msbuilder/lib/ms121.shtml

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concr...ys/basics.html

http://vanmiddeconcrete.com/work/rebar-installation/

[Volfy]

They are really operating on the cheap if they don't at least lay down wire mesh. That stuff cost very little labor time to lay down.