Base Coarse for under garden paths.

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3puttssuck

744 posts

Ultimate Geek

#160470 7-Jan-2015 20:39

Tomorrow I am going to use a walk behind compactor to get some garden paths ready for concrete. I have laid a good amount of AP20 inside the boxing. I have a couple of spare bags of cement, would it help to throw it around on top before wetting and compacting to make a nice and firm surface for the concrete to be poured on or would it be a waste ?
Thanks.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#1210219 7-Jan-2015 22:49

Kind of depends on how thick and what strength concrete you are laying on top. 50, 75 or 100mm thick? 20MPa concrete or site concrete? Are you using any reinforcing? If you've already got cement why not mix your own? Putting saw cuts into it within 24hrs and keeping the surface damp will be more beneficial than a little cement in the basecourse

3puttssuck

744 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1210236 7-Jan-2015 23:01

1eStar: Kind of depends on how thick and what strength concrete you are laying on top. 50, 75 or 100mm thick? 20MPa concrete or site concrete? Are you using any reinforcing? If you've already got cement why not mix your own? Putting saw cuts into it within 24hrs and keeping the surface damp will be more beneficial than a little cement in the basecourse

75 mm thick, no reinforcing, (Pointless in my mind, in a 900 wide garden path) 20 MPa . Too labour intensive to hand mix 3.5 Cubes and push it 60 metres.
Far better to get a truck in at $200 per cube.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1210616 8-Jan-2015 15:09

Compacted AP20 should be strong enough for a path, throwing cement on top would be a waste IMHO.

greenbone

176 posts

Master Geek

#1211444 9-Jan-2015 22:34

if anything the cement will pull water from the mix and weaken it (which is why you should dampen the basecourse a bit before pouring in summer)

75mm 20mpa is fine for a garden path

source: have layed many many sqm of concrete