Small Concrete Job

[Parks 788]

@Firpo - as @dennishoddy mentioned, a rental concrete mixer would make quick work of mixing concrete and with just a small slab you could park the mixer right next to the forms and dump the mix right out of the tub into the forms. No wheelborrows needed. Looks like you live in Lawton. United Rentals has a location in Lawton. I work for United but manage the branch in McAlester. Call them to make sure the have a concrete mixer available. Tell them you need it over the weekend. If you pick it up on Friday after about 3pm and get it back to United by Monday morning about 8-9am they should only charge you for a one day rental since they are not open over the weekend for you to return it. Use it for two days at your convenience and pay for one day rental.

 

[CHenry]

Would a rental concrete mixer with a gas engine and quick crete be the best route? Cheaper than buying new to rent for the day.
Forms are easy to set up, it doesn't need "finished" just made level with a broom finish or boarded off. Throw in some scrap wire, pipe or some rebar and it's a done job.

A tank doesn't weigh enough to need any reinforcing steel in the slab. No different than a sidewalk. That tank won't weigh as much as half a truck

 

[dennishoddy]

A tank doesn't weigh enough to need any reinforcing steel in the slab. No different than a sidewalk. That tank won't weigh as much as half a truck

Eh, I put in a 500 gallon propane tank at the gun range after we built the clubhouse for heating.
Put it on cement blocks. Didn't take long to sink into the ground from the weight.
Yes, one doesn't need a full length slab, but a nice platform on each end isn't hard to pour and will never sink depending on the soil conditions in that area.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

I've seen a lot of those dry pour videos. They nearly all fail. Pour it wet, pour it once.

 

[CHenry]

Eh, I put in a 500 gallon propane tank at the gun range after we built the clubhouse for heating.
Put it on cement blocks. Didn't take long to sink into the ground from the weight.
Yes, one doesn't need a full length slab, but a nice platform on each end isn't hard to pour and will never sink depending on the soil conditions in that area.

I was referring to a.full.slab with rebar. Overkill. And I'd use a whole slab just for mowing purposes lol

 

[dennishoddy]

I was referring to a.full.slab with rebar. Overkill. And I'd use a whole slab just for mowing purposes lol

Why is a full slab with rebar overkill? I've built three patio's and a base for a hot tub at our home that never have a visible crack. Yes, I know concrete's properties and I know your background, but I'm a gorilla builder that puts in concrete semi trucks could travel over without visible cracks.
Every concrete person I know now says the new fiber concrete doesn't need rebar.
Every time I go to a friend's place to see a new patio or outside cooking/recreation area it has major cracks in their concrete weeks after it's installed. Even with saw cuts.
Be it the installer or concrete I don't know, but what I do know is that my method has zero visible cracks.

 

[CHenry]

Why is a full slab with rebar overkill? I've built three patio's and a base for a hot tub at our home that never have a visible crack. Yes, I know concrete's properties and I know your background, but I'm a gorilla builder that puts in concrete semi trucks could travel over without visible cracks.
Every concrete person I know now says the new fiber concrete doesn't need rebar.
Every time I go to a friend's place to see a new patio or outside cooking/recreation area it has major cracks in their concrete weeks after it's installed. Even with saw cuts.
Be it the installer or concrete I don't know, but what I do know is that my method has zero visible cracks.

Now your talking about driving a truck over the tank slab LMAO. I never said that. A driveway, house stem wall and slab need reinforcing, yes. But if you lay a sidewalk with rebar in it, that's a waste of money. ALL concrete cracks. Saw cuts are for controlling the cracks. A propane tank isn't heavy enough to justify reinforcement but it's also small enough that it would cost much to put wire mesh in. I'd just put down 3" of sand and concrete. The sub base has more to do with not cracking than reinforcing unless your building for a 5000 lb dead load on top. 3500 psi concrete on top of a sand base is very stout depending on the dead load afterwards.

 

[dennishoddy]

Now your talking about driving a truck over the tank slab LMAO. I never said that. A driveway, house stem wall and slab need reinforcing, yes. But if you lay a sidewalk with rebar in it, that's a waste of money. ALL concrete cracks. Saw cuts are for controlling the cracks. A propane tank isn't heavy enough to justify reinforcement but it's also small enough that it would cost much to put wire mesh in. I'd just put down 3" of sand and concrete. The sub base has more to do with not cracking than reinforcing unless your building for a 5000 lb dead load on top. 3500 psi concrete on top of a sand base is very stout depending on the dead load afterwards.

Jesus, did I not say I know concrete and its properties while giving examples of failures while acknowledging your background?
I also explained my position and why I do what I do. No visible cracks in my jobs. What's the issue?

 

[CHenry]

Jesus, did I not say I know concrete and its properties while giving examples of failures while acknowledging your background?
I also explained my position and why I do what I do. No visible cracks in my jobs. What's the issue?

Apparently there's no issue other than we are arguing the same point I think. I was just clarifing because you didn't seem to respond as if I made myself clear earlier. Which I'm guilty of sometimes.
I'm not using reinforcement in a tank slab because it's overkill but I am using more than cinder blocks, depending on the soil properties.