concrete ppl! im useing piece's of my old sid walk that i busted up in my new walk whats the biggest i can use

Question

im usine old pieces that are hard and not chalky, im kinda straped for cash for this project so i thought that i could take some of the larger pieces about 3''x5'' and lay them in the form and pour concrete over them that has smaller pieces about 1''-3'' wide mixed in, also with sand. what i really want to know is will the new concrete bond with the old in a suitable manor that my side walk will not crack. the only reason i could thinnk that this would not be a good idea is because the larger pieces would be to large possibly?

Answer 1

if your not going to do it the right way why bother?

Answer 2

By code (in California, anyway), you have to set in a steel mesh (about 6" square openings) as reinforcement before pouring concrete for a sidewalk.

The new concrete will adhere somewhat to the old chunks. But, the bond will be very weak, and will soon crack and break. Then, you have to replace the sidewalk again.

So, what do you think is more cost effective: Doing it right once in the first place, or doing it wrong and having to do it over the right way?

Answer 3

the concrete should be 3inches thick if using fill rock.....my gut feeling is that the sidewalk will crack........the pieces will not bond.........

lic. gen. contractor