Hello everyone,
we are currently looking for a surface material to use as a walkway to our front door and for a small parking space in front of the house.
The walkway to the house is 1.4 m (5 feet) wide and 11 m (36 feet) long. The parking space is 3 x 5 m (10 x 16 feet).
For both the parking space and the walkway, I would prefer not to install the surface over a gravel bed, but to cast it in concrete. The reason is that we did not like the appearance of most paving options because of their dimensions. By using concrete, we can use porcelain stoneware tiles with a thickness of 2 or 4 cm (0.8 or 1.6 inches) for both the walkway and the parking space.
However, the options we find visually appealing cost around 60-80 euros per m², which is actually too expensive for us since we have other projects around the house as well.
Since we want the slabs to be as large as possible and an exposed concrete look would be ideal, I thought about simply concreting the walkway and parking space myself. That means I could build formwork for the edges and then, depending on the desired look, create a small, narrow joint inside the formwork to simulate a tiled surface, for example, making the slabs 1.4 m (5 feet) long and 1 or 1.5 m (3 or 5 feet) wide to minimize the number of joints.
If you search “concrete walkway” on Google and look at images, you can already find the desired results.
Now to my question: is this even possible and durable, or will the slabs crack over time?
Is there a minimum thickness I should consider, and do I need reinforcement within the individual elements?
Thanks for your help.
we are currently looking for a surface material to use as a walkway to our front door and for a small parking space in front of the house.
The walkway to the house is 1.4 m (5 feet) wide and 11 m (36 feet) long. The parking space is 3 x 5 m (10 x 16 feet).
For both the parking space and the walkway, I would prefer not to install the surface over a gravel bed, but to cast it in concrete. The reason is that we did not like the appearance of most paving options because of their dimensions. By using concrete, we can use porcelain stoneware tiles with a thickness of 2 or 4 cm (0.8 or 1.6 inches) for both the walkway and the parking space.
However, the options we find visually appealing cost around 60-80 euros per m², which is actually too expensive for us since we have other projects around the house as well.
Since we want the slabs to be as large as possible and an exposed concrete look would be ideal, I thought about simply concreting the walkway and parking space myself. That means I could build formwork for the edges and then, depending on the desired look, create a small, narrow joint inside the formwork to simulate a tiled surface, for example, making the slabs 1.4 m (5 feet) long and 1 or 1.5 m (3 or 5 feet) wide to minimize the number of joints.
If you search “concrete walkway” on Google and look at images, you can already find the desired results.
Now to my question: is this even possible and durable, or will the slabs crack over time?
Is there a minimum thickness I should consider, and do I need reinforcement within the individual elements?
Thanks for your help.
It doesn’t matter for the parking area. There is only soil underneath, so I can excavate deeply here.
For the walkway, I only have a maximum of 7 cm (3 inches).
Alternatively, I could use 2 cm (0.8 inches) porcelain stoneware tiles for both the walkway and the parking area.
So basically, the substructure would be made of 5 cm (2 inches) concrete with the tiles laid on top. However, this doesn’t quite achieve the desired effect.
The option to pour concrete for the tiles/area came up mainly for cost reasons.
For the walkway, I only have a maximum of 7 cm (3 inches).
Alternatively, I could use 2 cm (0.8 inches) porcelain stoneware tiles for both the walkway and the parking area.
So basically, the substructure would be made of 5 cm (2 inches) concrete with the tiles laid on top. However, this doesn’t quite achieve the desired effect.
The option to pour concrete for the tiles/area came up mainly for cost reasons.
Hello abc
7 cm (2.75 inches) of concrete is quite substantial.
Make sure to include reinforcement, placing it well in the middle. That provides a 3 cm (1.2 inches) cover.
For the basement ceiling, possibly apply a thick layer of bitumen, put a membrane on top, and then pour the concrete. Excavate deeper in all areas where there is no basement ceiling underneath.
For the parking area, use 15 cm (6 inches) of concrete.
You won’t be able to handle waterproof concrete (WU concrete) yourself. Prepare a strong mix of 1:3 (cement to aggregate). Always mix it consistently. Don’t cut corners. That way it will work.
Smoothing the surface has always been my challenge.
Steven
7 cm (2.75 inches) of concrete is quite substantial.
Make sure to include reinforcement, placing it well in the middle. That provides a 3 cm (1.2 inches) cover.
For the basement ceiling, possibly apply a thick layer of bitumen, put a membrane on top, and then pour the concrete. Excavate deeper in all areas where there is no basement ceiling underneath.
For the parking area, use 15 cm (6 inches) of concrete.
You won’t be able to handle waterproof concrete (WU concrete) yourself. Prepare a strong mix of 1:3 (cement to aggregate). Always mix it consistently. Don’t cut corners. That way it will work.
Smoothing the surface has always been my challenge.
Steven
That’s also my consideration—whether it will work at all without waterproof concrete. I could pick up the waterproof concrete directly from the concrete plant using a trailer. That way, I would save the small quantity surcharge on delivery.
I would have treated the basement ceiling with a thick layer of bitumen anyway, just to be on the safe side.
I’m very uncertain because the opinions here really vary between “feasible and will hold” and “stay away from it.”
I would have treated the basement ceiling with a thick layer of bitumen anyway, just to be on the safe side.
I’m very uncertain because the opinions here really vary between “feasible and will hold” and “stay away from it.”
Hello abc
I don’t think efflorescence will occur. Where would it come from on pure concrete? Even if it does, just sweep it away with a broom. Efflorescence is to be expected on brickwork.
If you have smoothed the concrete surface nicely, sprinkle some cement on it and work it in with a float. Not too much cement, like when you season a piece of meat well with pepper. This will make the surface rock hard.
Steven
I don’t think efflorescence will occur. Where would it come from on pure concrete? Even if it does, just sweep it away with a broom. Efflorescence is to be expected on brickwork.
If you have smoothed the concrete surface nicely, sprinkle some cement on it and work it in with a float. Not too much cement, like when you season a piece of meat well with pepper. This will make the surface rock hard.
Steven
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