icrusbound
New Member
Hi, and thanks in advance.
I am pouring a 6' x 60' side yard next to the slab. I am in San Diego where I have not seen it really freeze since I showed up here 35 years ago. There was previously a brick path there with about 8" of concrete next to the slab that transitioned into the brick. It seems in my research that there is a bit of a camp split between the expansion joint evangelists and the tie-in die hards. I am inclined to have an expansion joint and let the new concrete move independently of the existing slab. However, after laying the forms and digging up the earth, I have discovered that there are large amounts of slab slop (my newly coined term that you have to pay a 75 cent royalty to use) that extends into my form area just below the surface of the earth, such that I would have to cut and chip about 2 inches deep by somewhere between a few inches to a foot wide to 60 feet long to get a 4" smooth vertical surface to have an expansion joint. The alternative is to use this concrete to attach to and drill rebar through into the existing slab to attach my new walkway to. The walkway will not bear heavy traffic, it will be welded steel mesh reinforced, and I have a drop of about 1.25" for the 6 foot width.
So, my question is, what is the best way to proceed? It would likely take me a few days to cut all of the offending concrete away were I to decide on the expansion joint route. Raising the forms above the problem area is not an option. Are there any options I have missed? If I fix the new walkway to the slab and things go sideways, am I risking my new slab only or possibly my existing foundation (which appears to have a footing about a foot deep)
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Anthony.
I am pouring a 6' x 60' side yard next to the slab. I am in San Diego where I have not seen it really freeze since I showed up here 35 years ago. There was previously a brick path there with about 8" of concrete next to the slab that transitioned into the brick. It seems in my research that there is a bit of a camp split between the expansion joint evangelists and the tie-in die hards. I am inclined to have an expansion joint and let the new concrete move independently of the existing slab. However, after laying the forms and digging up the earth, I have discovered that there are large amounts of slab slop (my newly coined term that you have to pay a 75 cent royalty to use) that extends into my form area just below the surface of the earth, such that I would have to cut and chip about 2 inches deep by somewhere between a few inches to a foot wide to 60 feet long to get a 4" smooth vertical surface to have an expansion joint. The alternative is to use this concrete to attach to and drill rebar through into the existing slab to attach my new walkway to. The walkway will not bear heavy traffic, it will be welded steel mesh reinforced, and I have a drop of about 1.25" for the 6 foot width.
So, my question is, what is the best way to proceed? It would likely take me a few days to cut all of the offending concrete away were I to decide on the expansion joint route. Raising the forms above the problem area is not an option. Are there any options I have missed? If I fix the new walkway to the slab and things go sideways, am I risking my new slab only or possibly my existing foundation (which appears to have a footing about a foot deep)
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Anthony.