 by Harold W. Conner
Table of Contents
Preface,vi
Acknowledgments, vi
Chapter 1. Understanding Concrete
Introduction, 1
Concrete Basics, 2
Cement Hydration and Water, 2
Problems from Too Much Water, 2
Problems from Too Little Water, 2
Hydration and Curing, 3
Mix Design, 3
Concrete Strength, 4
Slump, 4
Admixtures, 4
Air Entrainment, 4
Air Entrainment Variations and Precautions, 5
Accelerators, 5
Calcium Chloride, 5
Accelerating Concrete without Admixtures, 6
Retarders, 6
Water Reducers, 6
High-Range Water Reducers, 7
Finishing, 7
Uniformity, 8
Concreting in Extreme Weather, 8
Controlling Cracking, 8
Poor or Nonexistent Jointing Causes Cracking, 8
Controlling Cracking with Good Jointing, 9
Wire Mesh, 9
Fiber Reinforcement, 9
Reinforcing Steel, 10
Special Cement, 10
Summary of Basic Requirements, 10
Chapter 2. Building Siting and Layout
Plot Plans, 11
Location of Utilities, 11
Making a Plot Plan, 11
Layout and Site Preparation, 13
Setting Batter Boards, 13
Setting Elevations, 13
Excavations, 13
Layout Guidelines for Concrete Slabs, 14
Recommended Slopes, 14
Recommended Thicknesses, 14
Setting the Grade for Floor Slabs Using a Level 15
Setting the Grade Using a Story Pole, 16
Preparing the Subgrade, 16
Fill, 16
Dampening, 16
The Subgrade in Hot Weather, 16
The Subgrade in Cold Weather, 16
Preventing Earth Collapse, 16
Vapor Barriers, 17
Pre-Treatment for Termites, 17
Radon Considerations, 17
Summary of Layout and Subgrade Preparation, 18
Chapter 3. Forming
Footings, 19
Metal Stakes and Spreaders, 20
Combined Stem Wall and Footing (Monolithic), 21
Stepped Footings, 21
Pier and Grade Beam Foundations, 22
Corner Fastenings, 22
Forming Curbs and Gutters, 23
Forming a Slab on Grade, 23
Forming a Curved Slab or Curb, 24
Forming Walls, 25
Reusable Job-Built Plywood Form Panels, 26
Reusable Prebuilt Plywood and Steel or Aluminum
Frame Forms, 26
Insulated Concrete Forming Systems, 28
Forming Door and Window Openings (Blockouts), 28
Forming a Single Wall, 29
Installing Inserts in Walls, 30
Forming Stairs, 30
Typical Low Exterior Stairs, 30
Riser Bracing for Wide Stairs, 31
Fastening Riser Form to Concrete or Masonry Wall, 32
Stair Support, 32
Open Stairs, 33
Summary of Forming Concrete, 34
Chapter 4. The Floating and Troweling, 42
When to Start, 42
Hand Floating and Troweling, 42
Power Floating and Troweling, 42
Finishing Stairs, 43
Early Stripping Method, 43
Late Stripping Method, 43
Grout Dressing, 43
Finishing Walls, 44
Placing and Finishing in Hot, Dry, or Windy Weather, 44
Placing and Finishing in Cold Weather, 45
Summary of Ordering, Placing, and Finishing the Concrete, 45
Chapter 5. Jointing, Reinforcing, and Curing
Jointing, 47
Control Joints, 47
Locating Control Joints, 48
Control Joints for Topping Slabs, 49
Control Joints for Curbs, 49
Cutting Control Joints, 49
Sealing Control Joints, 50
Structural Slabs and Control Joints, 50
Basement Slabs and Control Joints, 50
Isolation Joints, 51
An Alternate Way to Form Isolation Joints, 51
Other Examples of Isolation Joint Locations, 52
Construction Joints, 53
Installing Wire Mesh, 53
Where to Place Mesh, 53
Control Joints and Mesh, 54
Ductwork and Mesh, 54
Size of Mesh, 54
Reinforcing Steel, 54
Cover for Reinforcing Steel, 54
Bending and Lapping Reinforcing Steel, 54
Curing, 55
Curing without Adding Water, 56
Polyethylene Cure, 56
Waterproof Paper, 57
Liquid-Membrane Curing Compounds, 57
Clear Wax Base, 57
Clear Wax-Resin Base, 57
Clear Resin Base, 58
White-Pigmented Compounds, 58
Black and Grey Compounds, 58
Other Membrane Cures, 58
When to Apply a Curing Compound, 58
Joints and Membrane Cures, 58
Deicers and Membrane Cures, 58
Curing by Adding Water, 59
Wet Burlap, 59
Sprinkling or Fogging, 59
Ponding, 59
Curing in Hot, Dry, or Windy Weather, 61
Curing in Cold Weather, 61
Protecting Concrete from Construction Traffic, 62
Expansion Joints and Filler Material in Slabs, 62
Summary of Jointing, Rein Blowups, 69
Eff lorescence, 69
Discoloration, 70
Flash Set, 70
Cold Joints, 70
Dished Surface or High Edges, 70
Patching and Repairing, 71
Patching Spalled Areas with Concrete, 71
Patching Spalled Areas with Epoxy, 72
Making an Epoxy-Mortar Patch, 72
Patching Spalled Areas with Latex Mortar, 73
Other Patching Agents, 73
Resurfacing Slabs, 73
Applying a Bonded Topping, 73
Applying an Unbonded Topping, 74
Correcting Bugholes and Form Marks, 74
Patching Tieholes, 74
Repairing a Broken Corner, 75
Repairing Honeycomb, 75
Making Concrete Watertight, 76
Special Measures to Protect Against Moisture, 76
Protecting a Slab Against Moisture, 77
Roofing Felts, 77
Polyethylene Film, 77
Butyl Rubber Sheeting, 77
Asphalt Paneling, 77
Protecting Wall Joints Against Moisture, 77
Summary of Concrete Problems, 78
Chapter 7. Special Finishes
Colored Concrete, 79
Four Ways to Color a Slab, 79
Quality Control for Colored Concrete, 79
White Concrete, 80
Mixing, Handling, and Finishing, 80
Dry-Shake Technique, 80
Applying Dry-Shakes, 80
Hardness and Wear and Slip Resistance, 80
Exposed-Aggregate Finish, 81
Exposed-Aggregate Finish by Seeding, 81
Nonslip Finishes, 82
Floated Swirl, 82
Burlap Drag, 83
Wire Combing, 83
Broom Finish, 83
Other Special Finishes, 84
Rock-Salt Texture, 84
Travertine Finish, 84
Flagstone Pattern, 84
Flagstone Pattern-Alternate Method, 86
Stamping Concrete with Tools, 86
Other Designs, 87
Summary of Concrete Finishes, 87
Chapter 8. Flowable Fill
Uses of Flowable Fill in Residential Construction, 89
How to Order Flowable Fill, 89 
Chapter 9 Safety in Residential Concrete Construction
Tool Safety, 91
Electrical Safety, 92
Safe Lifting, 92
Preventing Falls, 93
Safe Excavations, 93
Personal Protective Equipment, 93
Protection from Chemical Hazards, 94
The Role of OSHA, 94
Summary of Safety, 95
Glossary of Basic Concrete Terminology, 97
Sources of Additional Information, 101 |
